Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Honeymoon: Venice delight

We decided to head over to Murano after checking out Saint Mark's Square our first day in Venice. We took a vaporetto boat and just chilled. Here Stacy and I showed off our matching camera gear :-)

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos damask

Murano is a small island near Venice, famous for their glass ware.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos Venice Murano

Once we got there, we needed some gelato to get us going.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos Venice Murano Gelato

Nothing goes better with gelato than a cappuccino. Not sure why I was hunched over. :-)

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice murano gelato cappuccino

Last time I went to Venice, I got a beautiful glass necklace. I broke it in 2009 and I cried because I thought I'd never get another. I really never thought I would ever go back. haha! We ended up finding one just as beautiful from actual Murano--where the jewelry is actually made! Zach found me stunning earrings and a ring there too. Here I am modeling all of it all at once, cause I'm cool like that.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice murano jewelry glass

Stacy and Jason got some beautiful goblets from the island. Here are some examples of the glass in Murano.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice murano glass

We saw this couple on the trip back to Venice:

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

After our jaunt in Murano, we dropped off our purchases at the hotel and went to find a restaurant Rick Steves' recommended, called Ristotecca di Bartolemew. It was inexpensive and very good. We were fans. :-)

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice ristotecca di bartolemew

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice ristotecca di bartolemew

That restaurant was located near the famous Rialto Bridge.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice rialto bridge

On our way back to the hotel, we happened across a store that sold Nutella. My favorite!!!

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice nutella

Check out the giant container!

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice nutella

It also had desserts of every kind. Chocolate cell phones and CD's, you name it.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice dessert chocolate

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice chocolate dessert

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice dessert

We stuffed ourselves with the delicious desserts and cappuccinos and walked back to the hotel through the square. One of the most magical places on earth, I'm convinced, is Saint Mark's Square at night.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice saint marks square

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice saint marks square

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice saint marks square

Random lights--so pretty!

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

The next day was part II of our Day After session. Check it out if you want to see us freezing our butts off. :-) The photos were amazing though!

At our wedding ceremony, we locked a huge antique lock together, following an Italian tradition. In Italy, lovers lock a lock together--usually at some bridge or famous spot--and throw away the key. In Venice, our first Italian stop on our honeymoon, Stacy captured the moment. Thanks!!

Stacy Reeves photos venice

Stacy Reeves photos venice

We shot first thing in the morning, so we were done by 10:30 am. By this point, we'd had time to people watch in Italy--great fun. The fashion--in Venice, anyway-- was distinct. Shiny, puffy coats with fur accents, boots and skinny jeans, scarves and aviators were de rigeur. Here's our impression of an Italian couple. :-)

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

We took the Secret Itineraries tour of the Doges Palace. We saw hidden rooms, torture chambers and the cell where Casanova was held. Very interesting!

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice doges palace

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice doges palace

I totally could live at the Doges palace.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice doges palace

hmm, the statue looks strangely like Zach...

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos

pigeons!

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

This uber fat one reminded me of Pierre. He moved like a pigeon parade float.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos

Here's an example of the fashion we saw everywhere. It could also have been Donatella Versace, but there were lots of women that looked exactly like this.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

Venice is a shopper's paradise. There are so many interesting stores. Here was a sticks display--just like our wedding!

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

While shopping, I got a beautiful Carnivale masquerade mask. I hope this year we can have a halloween party with masks!

Bridges are everywhere in Venice.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

This gondola had damask upholstery! Love it!

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice gondola damask

We went to dinner at another restaurant in the Rialto. We shopped on the historic bridge first though, and I picked up a scarf and hat because it was cold at the time.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

We followed up our meal with gelato. :-) After dinner, we got on a vaporetto and took it the wrong way home... so we spent an hour enjoying Venice from the water at night. :-) We had to say our goodbyes to Stacy, Jason and Jason's parents at that point. They went on to Rome, and we would be going on to Siena and Florence.

Zach and I stopped by a wine bar called Hell's Kitchen for a late night drink. It was an affiliate of our hotel. We had the nicest waiter named Oscar, and we really enjoyed our wine and cheese.

The next day, we said good bye to the Bridge of Sighs.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice bridge of sighs dona palace hotel

Here was our giant door key. Just had to share. :-)

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice dona palace hotel

On the vaporetto, headed to the train station.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

Peggy Guggenheim museum

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice peggy guggenheim

And one more fabulous Italian lady. I hope I look this awesome when I'm her age.

Abigail Elizabeth Boatwright photos venice

That's all for now! Next we'll be visiting Siena and taking a tour of Tuscany!

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