A Venetian Dream

What do you think of the new look of my blog? I think I'm in love with this background--much more than the last one!

I had planned to head to good ol' College Station this evening for the A&M vs. Arkansas State game. But Willy has been acting weird this week, and the vet was finally able to come out today. He said Willy was showing symptoms of founder, but it could also be an abcess. I'm hoping its and abcess because it's way less serious. Either way, I have to keep an eye on him this weekend. I will probably still go to the game tomorrow though. We'll see! There's your horse care lesson for the day. :-) 

On to my favorite photos of the trip. I've got a lot, so I've broken them up into two posts. We took a plane from Rome to Venice, and a nice bus to the boats. I knew it was a city with water for roads, and I'd assumed we'd have to take boats everywhere. Luckily, there were sidewalks and side streets. Only the main thoroughfares were water. Venice doesn't have any cars either, so it's kind of like being in a different time period. We arrived in Venice at just the right time to take photos and took a waterbus down the main canal to our hotel.

Lots of buildings lean in Venice. I guess because there is so much water and the whole town is slowly sinking. Also, here is one of the bridges over the smaller canals.

No trip to Venice would be complete without encountering a gondola. Here is one in all it's glory. Most gondoliers we saw wore striped shirts and hats--just like you would imagine!

This is the Accademia bridge. We disembarked here, crossed over the bridge and walked into our hotel-- the Fondazione Levi. It was a hostel where profits went to fund Venetian music. I really liked how close to the water we were. All 4 of us fit in a loft-style room, and this was the cheapest hotel we stayed in during our trip.

We were starving by the time we got checked in and it was getting dark. The sky was getting darker quickly because a storm was blowing in. We tried to find a restaurant in the guidebook, but when it started raining we ducked into a restaurant on another canal. It was a good choice. The guys had pizzas and I had spaghetti "pirate," which was mixed seafood with just a hint of tomato sauce. So so sooo good! We watched the lightning storm play out over the water, and I was kicking myself for not bringing a tripod. The photos would have been incredible. :-( 

The next day we got on a waterbus to see St. Mark's Square. I was so enchanted with Venice in the evening. It's a magical place and it looks like a movie set. So I couldn't wait to see the inside of St. Mark's Basilica because I'd heard so much about it.

This is the chapel across the canal from St. Mark's Basilica. 

This is a waterfront view of the square with the bell tower. To the right is Doge's Palace.

This is Doge's Palace. I was intrigued by the lacy architecture. Have you ever seen anything like it?

More of the Doge's palace. You'll notice I don't really have any photos of St. Mark's Basilica in this post. To be honest, I was really disappointed in the square--except for Doge's palace. First, there were hundreds, maybe almost a thousand tourists milling around. Go ahead and laugh, because we were tourists too, but it was like theme-park tourists... not like the tourists in other places we visited. Really annoying. And the line to get in the basilica was out the wazoo... it would have taken hours to get in. Plus, half of the famed square had leftover stage equipment from a concert the night before. One quarter of the square was fenced with giant walls for renovation, and the rest of the square was overrun with souvenir carts, tourists and pigeons. Plus, the outside of the basilica was covered in scaffolding for renovation. I didn't even want to take photos of it because I couldn't find anything visually uncluttered. OK, done with my complaining. We were in VENICE. How can you complain? David took this photo. We were on the other side of the line for the basilica--that's why there's hardly any one in it. :-)

Zach took some photos of the Basilica and I'll put them in the next post. Here's one of the many little bridges crossing the side canals. I just love it! It's just like a painting!

Venice is known for it's glass blowing. The nearby island Murano is world famous for jewelry and other glass things. I had no idea what they'd look like... I guess I was expecting crystal, but I was totally taken with the artistic beauty. I bought more souvenirs in Venice than any other place. Mostly jewelry that I love to pieces! I also got a picture frame and a wine bottle topper made of glass. Here are some examples of the creative pieces we saw.

This is definitely the longest strips of licorice I have ever seen! more than 3 ft. long!

Jonathan took this photo and I love it!

I'll post the rest of the Venice magic soon!

So Vatical

I've kept you waiting long enough. It's time for another installment from my Europe trip! First, I have to tell you about this past weekend. I went to San Antonio for a Beth Moore conference with some friends from A&M, and it was great to spend time with some of my favorite ladies!

OK, on to Italy! I last left off in Rome. July 22 Jonathan, David, Zach and I got up early to see some sights before we left town. Our first stop--mandatory--was a cafe. I ordered a cappuccino, which I quickly discovered was a delicious alternative to super-strong espresso, and nothing like the gas station varieties here. Look how cute it is!

Our first destination was Old Rome, about ten minutes away from our hotel. We had to capture ourselves in early-morning glory in front of the Forum. :-)Unfortunately, the Forum was closed because people were excavating. While we were glad they were discovering new treasures, we were a little disappointed we couldn't go in. I was amused by the sign telling us to keep out. Really, isn't it funny?It worked out for the best though, because we only had a little time to explore Roma that morning and I think we would have spent hours in the ruins.Next stop was, in my mind, the Eiffel Tower of Rome. THE Colisseum. Of course, the magnificent building is in ruins, but it's still impressive. I had expected it to be smaller, like everyone said, but it was a substantial size. 
This is the Arch of Constantine. I don't have my guidebook right here to fill you in, but I am reminded of the Arc du Triomphe in Paris... What do you think?This picture just boils me up when I look at it. :-) This man dressed like a Roman guard grabbed David and convinced him to take a photo with him, and then all of us with each of our cameras. This is the photo that came out of my camera. Oh, how fitting. After we took our photos, the guy and his sidekick told us it would be 5 euros... EACH. So enjoy this photo. It cost me almost $10.We opted out of going inside the Colisseum because the line was wrapped around the building, even at that early hour, and it cost money... plus I was still annoyed about the tourist trapping photo guys. :-) Looking back, I kind of wish we did go inside because I've seen other people's photos and the inside is very cool. In any case, here is a view of the inside!After our morning jaunt, we grabbed a cab back to the hotel, ate some breakfast, packed up our gear and took another taxi to the Vatican by about 11 am or so. (I told you we got up early!) We initially decided to wait in line with all our bags at St. Peter's Basilica to see the inside. We were worried we'd have to miss the Sistine Chapel because it was part of the Vatican Museum a mile away. HOWEVER... if any of you readers are thinking about visiting the Vatican... listen up. We were approached by a lady who informed us of an English-speaking tour starting almost immediately. We decided to join it, and I'm pretty sure it was the best investment of our entire trip. The tour was run by Eden's Walks, and our guide's name was Grant. I highly recommend using them. The tour was very educational, fun, reasonably priced, 2.5 hours long and helped us skip the line to the basilica. We walked over to the Vatican museum where we got to stow our luggage(YES) and got an in-depth yet quickly moving tour of the vast buildings. Our guide spent 15 minutes explaining the history of the Sistine chapel with all the juicy drama between the artists and the Pope at the time. Interesting and entertaining stuff. It allowed us to simply enjoy the chapel by the time we got inside. This presentation in itself was worth the price of the tour! In the photo below, the pinecone looking thing used to be a wine fountain!!This round monument was given to a Pope. Popes always get gifts from people, but apparently they didn't have any room in the museum, so they stuck the artwork outside. It's supposed to represent the earth slowly breaking apart, and the two halves can rotate on those gears.Our tour guide said this was an important sculpture... I wish I remembered more about it now, but it's crazy how intricately you can carve up marble hmm?Here begins my obsession with ceilings in the vatican. I just love the relief carving and the immensity of it.This is the ceiling from the Hall of Maps. On the walls are painted maps of all the known world at that time. The purpose of this room was to intimidate callers coming with their requests of the Pope. All kinds of pomp and circumstance surrounded this hallway, and the guards did their best to make the callers feel insignificant... all of the artwork on the ceiling is facing the opposite direction, so that visitors have to turn around--the direction the pope comes from--to see it, to show the Pope's importance. Sneaky sneaky! Our guide says the Vatican is not the only building to have this kind of construction. Remember the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles? Same purpose--to show how awesome the leader is.There were tapestries, sculptures and more painted ceilings, but I wasn't sure when the Sistine chapel was coming and i didn't want to have my camera confiscated, so I put it away and just enjoyed the tour. The Sistine chapel was stunning. My neck hurt just looking at it. I can't imagine how they painted it all! 

At the conclusion of our tour, the guide gave us an overview of the history of St. Peter's Basilica. Directly to the right(in this photo) is where the disciple Peter was martyred--long before the church was built. The basilica is the 2nd largest church in the world, and the most impressive i've seen. I can't even describe to you the majesty of it. It's overwhelming. There are hundreds of life-size sculptures in this piazza of saints.
The ceilings were my favorite part of St. Peter's basilica. I'm not catholic, and I'm not familiar with the history behind each of the Popes or saints immortalized in marble, but it was still beautiful artwork.

Zach took this photo. Isn't the light streaming through the window beautiful?

When we were thoroughly pooped from touring the Vatican, we caught a cab to the airport and headed to Venice. I think my photos from Venice were my favorites from my entire trip. I can't wait to show you! But for now... ciao!

What's your decorating style?

My interior designer friend Stephanie had this quiz on her blog, and I thought it'd be cool to try!

CLASSIC CHIC
Your home is a serene and elegant haven displaying some beautiful pieces of furniture. You take real care putting a room together and are justly proud of the classic look you have created. Such interiors may have that effortless style but they take time to evolve and require a discerning eye to achieve that welcoming feel of lived-in grandeur.


Living Room
Your living room is a welcoming haven of grace and fine taste. If it was good enough for the Ancient Greeks and good enough for Georgian England, it's good enough for you! In interior design, the classic look is predicated on the ideals by balance, proportion and moderation. It is, to many, intrinsically pleasing to the eye, which is no doubt why it remains an enduringly popular look. In the living room, it's a style that errs towards formality. Glamorous accessories should be used in moderation but can heighten the sense of grandeur and period grace. Earthy (but not muddy!) colours work well in both rural and urban settings, while leather is smart and tactile. Curled up on the sofa with a good book, your living room's the perfect place for some "me-time".


Bedroom
Your bedroom has that classic look that never goes out of style. Sleep is fundamentally important to our well being. In busy towns and cities, noise can often hamper a good night's sleep. Soft furnishings really do absorb sound, and touch is such an important sense in the bedroom, from crisp, linen sheets to wool or even sheepskin underfoot. Elegance and relative simplicity are keynotes in your bedroom, using vibrant colours to make a bold statement.


Dining Room
You're a bonafide alpha-male entertainer. At home, cool, sleek, masculine lines and colours give your dining area that slick, 'stealth wealth' feel. You can avoid it all becoming too clinical through careful use of colour and texture. Avoid harsh primary colours and opt instead for linen napkins in subtle, muted colours, say, or dine by candlelight to add a touch of glamour to evening meals. When it comes to entertaining, you love gutsy, wholesome, seasonal food.


Home Office
Your home office is formal and sober. Gone are the days when the home PC was the preserve of nerdy geeks. These days, most of us need a home office: a simple table and chair in one corner of the room with adjustable task lighting and adequate filing is all it takes (and may be all the space you can afford). Clean, simple lines and an absence of clutter suit the home office very well - but don't neglect to introduce an element of your own personality to the space, even if it's nothing more than a favourite photograph in an elegant frame.


Conclusion
You combine period influences with clever solutions to the practicalities of day-to-day modern living.



I thought this was a pretty cool test! Those of you who have been to my apartment(whether here in DFW or in College Station) do you think this fits me? How about YOU take the QUIZ and let me know what your results are!

When in Rome...

First off-- yes, I know this is the cheesiest title ever. Maybe I should call it Roman Holiday. My creative juices are not running at the moment, but I do want to apologize for the delay in posting! Like I said, the Olympics have taken over my evenings, along with other stuff. I've been put to shame by my fellow bloggers. Your prolific posts have spurred me on!

Zach played his first soccer game today, one of his first in quite a while, and I went to watch. The light was good, and I think i was nominated as team photographer! They won 7-0. Look for pics in the next few posts. :-)

I left off last in Rome after a day in Pompeii. The following day, July 21, Zach and I had one goal in mind before my brothers got in town: LAUNDRY. We left Hotel Smeraldo(Doesn't that sound like it belongs in the movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame?) and set out to look for a laundromat. Out hotel was located near Old Rome, and was a tangled bunch of charming side roads and alleys. Navigating was... interesting. :-)

While Zach examined the map our hotel gave us, I surveyed the scene and took some pics.
This car is way smaller than a Smart Car and really cute!

I'm not exactly sure what this building was, but it's beautiful. It was near our hotel.Another beautiful building during our morning excursion. We did manage to find a laundromat, had some lunch and made it back to the hotel in time to take a taxi to meet my brothers at the airport. The metro system in Rome was not conducive for most of our travel during our time there, so we were glad to take a taxi. We took Jonathan and David back to the hotel to drop their stuff off and took them on a night tour around Rome. Thank you, Rick Steves guidebook for the idea! Our first stop was Campo di Fiori. Zach and I had walked through there that morning and it was an open market. As evening was descending, it turned into this teenage hangout where Italy's cool crowd loitered.

Next, we walked into Piazza Navona, which was this huge area with an obelisk in the middle and artists selling their wares all around. Kind of like Montmarte, only much larger and of course, Italian. Piazza means plaza... not pizza! I think most intersections of roads have a piazza in the middle I felt like calling it pizza at first. Four Rivers Fountain, shown here, was also in the piazza. Each of the spouts represented a major river on the major continents when it was carved. Pretty cool huh?The piazza was so pretty! Rick Steves recommended a gelateria called Tre Scalini. Apparently, they had world-class chocolate desserts, so I just had to try! I had the tartufo--which means "death by chocolate"-- and it was phenomenal.

Our next stop was the Pantheon! SO Roman. I was really excited to see this piece of ancient history. My brother David took this photo. Just pretend all the other tourists aren't there. :-)

After visiting the Pantheon, Zach and I looked for the restaurant we'd picked out for Jonathan and David's first evening in Italy. After some backtracking, we finally found miscellanea. Cheers to Italy!

Next on our tour was Trevi Fountain. Not only was it a tourist spot, but it was also a place where actual Romans hung out. The energy was contagious and we had fun! David and I at Trevi Fountain!

This is some of the sculptures on Trevi Fountain.This is a monument to a man Zach said was also featured in the movie Gladiator. 
Finally we arrived at the Spanish Steps! This is a famous spot in Rome. All these people are Romans and tourists. This is just a random night and all these people were hanging out! This fountain behind us is shaped like a boat.
On our way back to the hotel, we came across Piazza Vernazza. I think this is a monument to Vittorio Emmanuelle-- who we later discovered was the first king of France, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! Pretty much at least one street and one monument in every Italian town we came across was dedicated to him.And nowww... I present something really cool Zach recognized right by our hotel. Largo Argentina is a "hospice for cats" in ruins... right in the middle of Rome! There are hundreds of cats hanging out there. I think it would be fun to be a cat and live in these ruins. 

We made a friend!

So concludes our night tour. I had to split up my Rome photos, so stay tuned for part II!