As long as we’re in Venice, let’s go for a Gondola ride. Some may think this is a silly tourist adventure. Forget that. It was fun and interesting to see the buildings at water level, passing through the smaller canals for a peek at how life flows in this exotic city. Check it out:
There was some singing, lots of photos, and great views of some Venice sights. Highly recommend this to all.
Hotel Flora offers a convenient place to stay in Venice, Italy. You’ll be only a few minutes (as in 2 minutes) walk from the water bus stop. With hand luggage, it’s easy, so pack light. Then down a narrow alley, you’ll find the door:
A basic room is all you need here. It’s comfortable and well appointed:
Bathroom was a little small but worked perfectly:
In the lounge on the ground floor, they serve a great breakfast, so go with that option when making your reservation:
And there’s also this tiny bar, where I had a nice drink and some time to sit and chat:
Very friendly and competent service here. They arranged for a water taxi to take me back to the airport and it was spot on time. This is a good value in Venice. Linger and enjoy.
No trip to Florence, Italy, would be complete without seeing Michaelangelo’s David. It is a remarkable statue. Here’s a view of the setting:
A large crowd comes to see this and the other works on display. There are several blocks of marble that Michaelangelo had been working on but abandoned. You see one on the right side of the photo above. There are as interesting as David. Here’s a closer look at David:
Get the skip the line type of ticket to visit the Accademia where the statue is located. Otherwise, you’ll be waiting a long time in very long line. Worth it.
The Ponte Vecchio is one of those famous sites people travel to see as part of any Italy jaunt. Here are some views of it, the first of which is the standard shot:
Here’s a view I took from the Uffizi Gallery during a tour there. A bit closer this time:
Personally, I like the next one the most. An artist working in watercolor was painting the bridge scene:
Was interesting to walk around the area, getting various views of the bridge and local neighborhood.
The Bent Page 
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