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Gondoliers awaiting their tourists.

Gondoliers in straw hats tend to a row of ornate black gondolas along a Venice canal as crowds of tourists wait on the quay
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Sweet delights in shop window in Venice.

Glass display case in a Venetian pastry shop stacked with cannoli varieties and cookies, with liqueur bottles on top shelf.
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The colorful houses of Burano, Italy were amazing to see this morning.

Colorful row of pink, green, orange, and yellow houses lining a calm canal in Burano Italy with moored boats.
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We visited Venissa to see the beautiful vineyard and taste the unique native wine of Venice. I decided to bring a bottle of this special wine home.

Venissa winery sign beside a fenced vineyard with a tall historic campanile tower rising behind it against a clear blue sky. Green grape clusters hanging from trellised vines in a sunny vineyard with grass between the rows Large wine glass with golden white wine beside a corked 2018 Venissa bottle on a wooden table indoors Two men holding an open wooden gift box containing a bottle of Venissa wine inside a restaurant with a checkered floor.
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Stop at Art Café to rest, get shade, and have a cappuccino in Murano.

Leica camera resting on a white bucket hat on a cafe table beside a cappuccino and a bottle of San Benedetto sparkling water.
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Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 12

Weather: Cool and cloudy in morning. Warm and sunny in afternoon. Overall nice day.

  • Underwhelming breakfast at Combo hotel.
  • Walk to Venice in a Day experience start.
  • Walking tour of many of Venice sights.
  • Gondola ride through canals.
  • Started raining, duck into Ristorante Chianti just outside of Saint Marco Plazq for a delicious lunch. Tammy orders a bottle of Moscato d’Asti to go with lunch
  • Meet back with our group to see the Church of Saint Marco.
  • Detailed tour of Doge Palace and introduction to the Venetian government system pre-Napoleon.
  • explore to find gelato. Took a bit and found “a really cute place” that Mazie found.
  • Walk back to Combo hotel.
  • Tammy and Jamie both fall asleep.
  • Wake up just in time to walk to Pastry Tour.
  • Fast walk to train station to meet Maria, Pastry Tour guide. Jamie’s injured left leg hurt a lot.
  • Explore 5 different places.
  • Get 3 meatballs at restaurant recommended by Maria.
  • Walk back to hotel.
  • 😴

Jump to day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection.

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Family photo on the Grand Canal of Venice at sunset.

Family of four posing on a wooden dock along the Grand Canal in Venice at sunset with a gondola passing behind them
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Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 11

Weather: Started warm in the morning. Thunderstorms in Milan in afternoon. Warm in Venice.

  • Great breakfast at iQ Hotel. Impressive spread.
  • Check out of hotel.
  • M3 train to Duomo
  • Explore Galleria Vitoria Emanuele
  • Get coffee at Marchesi
  • Take full tour of Duomo. Incredible! Rooftop views are impressive.
  • Tammy and Tyler run to get take home gift for his friends. Jamie and Mazie take pictures in Duomo plaza while thunderstorm approaches.
  • Duck into Metro just as storm arrives and take M3 back to Central FS.
  • Train 9735 from Milan to Venice
  • Arrived in Venice
  • Take water bus 4.2 to hotel
  • Checkin at Combo
  • Poor choice and decide to have a fairly simple and non-Italian dinner at the hotel
  • Walk around Venice for an hour and see the city. Amazing golden hour photo opportunities.
  • Return to Combo hotel.

Jump to day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection.

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We have arrived in Venice! 🤩

Two people smiling for a selfie on a bridge over a Venice canal with moored boats and brick buildings behind them.
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Cappuccino at Marchesi in Milan this morning. Has been operating since 1824, 199 years.

Cappuccino with latte art in a branded white cup and saucer on a marble counter at Pasticceria Marchesi in Milan.