December 3, 2010

SNAPSHOTS FROM VENICE

I returned last night from a very restful and lovely week in Venice. My dad attributes an earlier trip to the city when I was sixteen - replete with a loud dinner party and two handsome Casanovas etched in my memory - for sparking my lifelong love affair with Italy. I think he's right - Venice brings back special memories.
Our favorite restaurant in Venice is Corte Sconta so of course we paid a visit and devoured homemade pasta dishes, the freshest of seafood, flavorful red wines, and a pumpkin gelato and chocolate cake that make my mouth water just thinking about it.
The Rialto Bridge, with its iconic arcade of arches and pediment, is what romantic evenings and dreamy nights are made of. And the gondolas in the foreground? Absolutely stunning works for engineering and art!
The Views! Every corner you turn, every bridge you cross, every canal you traverse...there is beauty in Venice!
I was also quite inspired by the stripes I kept seeing around the city. It's nice to remember that a pattern we hold as simple and commonplace actually holds great history.
One of my favorite things about being in Europe is the scale of its cities and attributes. Streets are narrower, doorways are shorter, portions are smaller, and that constant reminder that bigger is not necessarily better thrills me.
A nice evening in a beautiful palazzo listening to a concerto was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. My dad is a huge classical music buff and though I resisted the genre growing up, I thank him for my appreciation for it today.
What would a visit to Venice without a day trip to Murano be? Here are two glass pieces I fell in love with. It is now on my biggest wants list to own a Murano glass, yellow chandelier like the one on the right one day. My two favorite glassmakers from the trip were Venini and Seguso.
But most amusing of all was the fact that a good portion of the time, Venice was under water. The sirens would go off alerting the town that high waters were coming and nobody would flinch. It's just another typical day when you live in a city made up of hundreds of little sinking islands. We had a blast buying 10 dollar rainboots and splashing around the city!

Thanks for all your kind comments while I was away! It's good to be back - I missed you!

23 comments:

Unknown said...

oh i miss Venice! - one day i WILL return! - great pics- glad to have u back!

Chassity (Look Linger Love) said...

Looks like an amazing trip. I've been to parts of Italy, but not yet Venice. Must go.
Oh, and welcome back!

Splendid Sass said...

Sounds like a wonderful visit! I have never been to Venice, but I certainly wouldn't mind being lucky enough to go. Thanks for sharing.
Teresa

Sarah Klassen said...

I've missed you tons, Crystal! So glad you had such a wonderful time in Italy—I've been thinking of you and hoping that you're having too much fun... thanks for sharing these images of your trip—they're fabulous! I can only imagine how amazing it would be to actually be standing in these destinations... when I go, you will be the first person I contact :)

Also, love your note about bigger is not always better—I couldn't agree more! Such beautiful streets, buildings, decor, and food!

xoxo
Sarah

Venice chauffeur said...

During travels like this, I think it is wise to take advantage of chauffeur services to catch up on emails on your daily commute to and from work or run errands at multiple locations while your chauffeur waits for you outside.

Cori Magee said...

I love all your images! Thanks for sharing :)

Jessica at six eighty eight said...

I was just in Venice in September and absolutely loved it. Looking at your pics brings back fantastic memories! :-)

The Iconic Blog.com said...

Looks like a great trip!x

quintessence said...

Although I have been to Italy many times, I have actually never been to Venice! I've been all over, from Rome to Umbria to Tuscany, Milan, Piedmont and the lakes in the north, even Elba - but never to this beautiful city. I am living vicariously through you and look forward to more photos and recommendations!

elissa, ebb & flow said...

venice is magical. i spent a few days there last year and can now die happy. it was beyond words. glad you had a great trip!

JeannLiew | Luminnej said...

Amazing! Been a quiet fan for quite a while, love what you have been doing here, you have a great sense of style and taste which I adore:)

a little bit of sunshine said...

i have always wanted to go to venice! thank you for sharing your pictures!!

Eighty-Eight Ideas said...

It looks amazing!! What a great way to celebrate your fantastic success!! All the best, Connie Cusick

Stacey said...

Venice was one of my favourite places to visit when i lived in Vicenza, Italy! I'm so happy that you had a great time! Welcome back:-). XX

Natasha said...

Oh, I would love to visit Italy. I think it is one of my dreams to do so. You are very lucky.

Velvet and Linen said...

I'm so jealous! Venice is my favorite city in the world.
Thank you so much for sharing your visit with us.
Welcome home.

xo
Brooke

Yahnay said...

Sounds like you had a fabulous trip. Venice looks beautiful, hopefully I can visit some time soon.

Alcira Molina-Ali said...

What a wonderful time you must've had -- a grand and loving gesture on your parents' part. Clearly, they know what makes their little girl tick ;)
I hope you get yellow chandelier you dream of -- and many other things besides.
Best, Alcira

nerochronicles.com

bazaarofserendipity said...

sooo jealous! so glad that you got to go and have such a blast!

Helena - A Diary of Lovely said...

Welcome back Crystal, looks like such a fab trip, I cant wait to visit Venice one day

Daniella said...

So, so lucky! I would love to go to Venice... what a beautiful city. There's so much of Italy to see though... i'd need a whole year! Must have been a much needed break for you :)

Melanie's Randomness said...

Venice is somewhere I've always wanted to go. =) What beautiful pictures!! =)

Melanie's Randomness

ashlina {the decorista} said...

my twinsy is GORGEOUS! xo

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