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| Gondolas on the canal |
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| Scene outside hotel |
We landed in Venice on the 14th and spent the night at the Hotel Arlecchino. It was very nice and cozy, but using the shower was somewhat of a challenge. The flight had taken what seemed like forever and the trip from Philadelpia to Frankfurt was ablsolutely miserable!!! The last leg to Venice was much nicer improved all our moods. After settling in with the luggage, some of the Speck crew went out for an explore and the rest of us napped and cleaned up. The latter group included Don and me. Once the allotted resting time had passed, we met for dinner and a walk through Venice. Dinner was very nice at an outdoor table by the canal. I chose the meat menu, which included a course of lasagna, then chicken and a very nice dessert creme dish. The braver souls of the group took the seafood route. I'm not sure what exactly was in the main course, but I know at least one of the ingredients was octopus.
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| The seafood choice |
Once dinner was over, we took the vaparetto to Piazza San Marcos and arrived about dusk. Here we got our first look at the Doges Palace, San Marcos Cathedral and were able to see San Giorggio de Maggiore across the canal. Some of our group walked back from St. Mark's, but Don and I rode the vaparetto again because I wanted a view of the grand canal at night. Unfortunately we did not get to sit in the back until almost back to the hotel so pictures were limited, but it was a beautiful sight.
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| Our first dinner in Venice |
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| Speck's at the Doge's Palace |
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| St. Mark's lion on the Doges Palace |
