Sunday, April 5, 2009

A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER IN VENICE

Friday 3rd April
WowWowWow.............this was my first trip to Venice and I was not ready for the emotional reaction I had coming to this city.
It is so beautiful and so amazing, for the first 4 hours I was walking around in a bit of a daze with teary eyes.....the fact that the weather was perfectly balmy added to the feeling of being in a movie.
I instantly fell in love with Venice and it has now become my number one city of Europe.
The people have to be the friendliest I have met, if for one second you are looking at your map there will be a local by your side trying to help you find your way.
Our accommodation was in the lovely Casa Santa Maria Formosa .
Such a fabulous location right in the heart of Venice a just a few minutes walk to St. Marks square and Rialto Bridge.
Our room was decorated in traditional 1700 Venetian style with fabric covered walls, gold gilding and Morano Glass Chandelier.
To celebrate Toms Birthday and kick off our weekend in Venice I brought a surprise bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates, but later I was to find out that Tom was hiding an even bigger surprise!My lovely Tom sleeping peacefully in the early hours of the morning.(hopefully I wont be in trouble when he sees these photos....hehe) Saturday 4th April
On the Saturday we spent the day walking around looking at the town.

The Rialto Bridge.
The early morning Rialto market, with many stalls selling fruit, vegetable, flowers, meat and lots of surprisingly fresh looking seafood.After hearing about the massive amount of pigeon's in Venice from friends who had visited we were surprised at how few there were. We decided we would take a Gondola ride while we were in Venice, as it's one of those special things you get to do once in a life time if your lucky.

While we were on the ride Tom asked the gondalier to sing for me then the next thing I knew he was down on one knee and propsing, every one crossing the bridges and in passing gondelars stopped to watch and take photos. It was just like in the movies so special and so romantic.

Tom was so nervous, he fogot every thing he planed to say and when he opened the box with the ring in it he had the box upside down so it looked like it was empty....so funny. So So Cool!

After that we couldn't stop smiling...........
I think Tom was very happy I said Yes!
Tom re-enacted the proposal in our hotel room and said every thing he had planed to say.....awww..............love,love, love him!Celebrating with the Venetian drink of choice an Aperol Spritzer while enjoying the sun...mmmmmmmm
Ristorate Al Giardinetto were we celebrate our Engagment. A fantastic resturant recomended to us by our B&B manager.
To Tom and my surpries we found the freshest seafood so far on our European travels in Venice. For dinner we had a vegetarian antipasti plate then, I had a fantastic Sord Fish dish and Tom had lightly baterd Garnel with baby artichoke flowers. We both enjoyed our meals and finished up quite tipsy after being recomended a great bottel of wine.

Sunday 5th April

This moring we woke up for early for a tourist free photo session, it was definitely worth it with some lovlely early moring light. All of the street lamps in Venice have Rose coloured glass.Saying good good bye to our B&B after an early morning photo session.On Our last day in Venice we decided to take a trip out to the little fishing village the island of Burano, wich is well known for lace making and brightly painted houses.
aahhh, such a fabulous weekend! I want to do it all again. And why not I now only live 4.5hrs away. xx