Celebrating our first year of marriage
with a trip to Venice Italy!
We got to eat lots of pizza!
And explore the Grand Canal
And see leaning bell towers
called Campanile in Italian
We had fun exploring all around Venice
Canals and alleyways
instead of roads and side-walks
Everyone hangs their laundry out to dry =D
Our first Italian gelato
A ride on the vaporetto (waterbus)
on the beautiful, sunny afternoon
A day trip to the island of Murano
famous for their glass-works
The next day we took a trip to
the island of Burano,
famous for their lace and colorful homes
ITALY!!!!!
The school and museum of lace in Burano
The little island of Torcello was fun to explore with an old church and bell tower to go up...
... And the throne of Attila the Hun,
well maybe anyway!
Later that afternoon we explored the Doge's Palace which houses an armoury, Edmund enjoyed looking at the collection!
The rooms were extravagantly decorated and each one seemed to get bigger and more outrageous than the last one.
In fact, our "wow's"
got louder and longer the more we saw!
Then we got to cross the bridge of sighs, where in the past, those convicted of crimes were led away to the prison
Sighing as they saw their beloved Venice for the last time through these windows!
Then a concert at the church where the famous baroque composer, Antonio Vivaldi, worshipped, served as priest and taught. The concert, of course, included Vivaldi's most famous work, The Four Seasons!
On our actual anniversary it was another beautiful day and we were able to go to the top of the bell tower in Saint Marks Square
A young lady offered to take our photo... she asked us in French! But we knew what she meant and we were glad for a picture to be taken of us on our anniversary!
The view of Saint Marks Square
Another treat was an audio tour of the famous Gran Teatro La Fenice where many famous operas have premiered since the 1700's!
Another pizza break!
We decided to splurge and have a gondola ride!
It had just rained a bit earlier that evening and so the waterways were empty, we had the whole Grand Canal practically to ourselves!
The lighting was so nice
as it was just getting dark outside
and it gave everything a beautiful glow!
The Grand Rialto
The other side of the Grand Rialto, our gondolier told us that they just started working on the bridge for the first time in something like 200 years, I responded, saying, "we chose the perfect time to visit Venice!"
The next day we had a nice time going through the Museo Correr,
there were many giant globes to inspect!
And lots of beautiful Murano glass chandeliers!
We decided that if we ever live in a mansion or somewhere able to pull off a chandelier that we will go back to Murano and get a work of art!
LATTE!
We had an interesting time trying new things while we were in Venice some of the things we tried were cuttlefish, spider crab, spaghetti alla carbonara (it's got ham, cheese and egg!)
Spider Crab
Spaghetti alla carbonara
Ravioli with fish sauce...
We decided that generally speaking we like the American version of Italian food, people enjoy Olive Garden every chance you get!
We took a night ride along the Grand Canal
on the vaporetto
The next day we decided to take another trip across the lagoon to the island of Lido which is the island that is the natural break between the Adriatic sea and the lagoon
Doge's Palace in the background
Venice is across the water
Once we got back to Venice we went to get Gelato at the same place we got it on the first day, we had tried it several other places and kept thinking of our first amazing gelato so we decided to go there again. Yep, it was the best gelato in town!
We also went over to the island San Michele which is also called Cimitero because it's a giant cemetery, namely we got to see the grave of the famous composer Igor Stravinsky
Our bed and breakfast, Al Palazzetto!
Giant Nutella was just about everywhere!
We went to probably one of the coolest Natural History Museums we've ever been to explore, though everything was in Italian!
Another Murano Chandelier
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
A beautiful church with works of art by Titian, Bellini and Donatello!
Our last meal in Italy!
Smallest cups of coffee ever!
We were so blessed to go and experience the city of Venice! It rounded off our first year of marriage with one last hurrah! When we look back on this past year and see the providences of God and His abundant blessings, we are quite overwhelmed at His love for us. And yet, we often forget that His greatest act of love is not through material blessings or trips around the world but is in the truth of the Gospel that He invites us and enables us, through the spotless blood of Jesus Christ, to become His children!
1 John 3:1a (NIV)
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
We continue on this journey of marriage walking hand in hand in the light of Jesus' mercy and grace!
More in love with each other on
April 26th 2015,...
...than we were on April 26th, 2014!
Great story! I really appreciated all the comments you made to go with the pictures. Italy is on my bucket list. Thanks so much for posting.
ReplyDeleteLOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! I finally got Daddy to look at these. : ) Thank you soooo much for sharing your beautiful anniversary trip with us! Now I know why there is a street in Venice, Florida named The Rialto. (Not nearly as impressive, though.) xoxoxoxxo
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