Our winter break this last year was late, basically it fell on the first two weeks of March. So rather than an extended ski trip, we decided to make a trip to Italy to see Venice, followed by one day skiing at Val Thorens, a large resort near the Italian border, with just E and CJ. As I searched for hotels I realized that if we wanted to stay in Venice, we would be paying something in the range of 400-500 euros per night(!) because it was Carnival. In Venice, Carnival is the busiest season for Venice and we questioned the sanity of taking 3 small children into such a crazy crowd. But, at the same time, we also couldn't pass up this once in a lifetime chance!
So we found a place about an hour out of Venice to stay. This was actually a place that Kevin had eaten at a few months before on a work trip to Italy. It ended up being perfect for us. The room was great, it was exceptionally clean and new and had a loft for the boys to sleep in. The food was amazing and we were centrally located for both Venice and the ceramic shops in Nove that we wanted to stop in on our way home.
Our hotel, the Palazzon Gradenigo.
Some of our food the first night.
The second night the restaurant was too busy, even at 10PM when we came back from Venice, to get a table. We ordered amazing pizza to our room and enjoyed not having to let our exhausted boys wait at a table. It really was the perfect place for our trip.
The next day we decided to drive part way in to Treviso and catch one of the many trains into Venice and avoid the traffic into Venice.
We knew we were in for a fun day when most of the other people waiting for the train were in costume.
We knew we were in for a fun day when most of the other people waiting for the train were in costume.
The boys were excited to ride the trian, until they packed us in like sardines and they couldn't even see out a window because we were literally crammed in the aisles! So crowded!
When we exited the train station we saw that we were in for some major crowds all day.
A few pictures along the Grand Canal.
On the Ponte Degli Scalzi, bridge across the Grand Canal.
Yes, the Michelin man!
We followed the crowds towards the Piazza San Marco.
It wasn't so bad on most of the smaller streets and bridges.
Gondolas along the way...
and smurfs! haha.
Beautiful cathedrals...
and boys with cute hats :) We decided to join the day's fun and the boys chose these hats.
The more we walked, the more amazing costumes we saw...
This little boy was adorable!
Love Venice and all the little streets and canals.
At the Grand Canal again almost at the Piazza.
More funny costumes... the P sign took out the girl passing by as I took this picture!
By the Grand Canal.
On the Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal.
Views from the bridge.
So many amazing costumes!
Part two with many more costumes and many more people to follow...
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