Italian Toby

Travis and I have a dog named Toby.  He is three years old and is a mutt, most likely a pomeranian/spaniel mix.

Toby as a puppy. 

All grown up!

Toby is a very unique dog and has a strange and funny personality.  He is very cute when he sleeps because he curls up very small in corners of couches, gently resting his head on a pillow.  If Travis and I had the time and patience, he could win a few agility dog shows.  He also likes to rub his face on dead stuff.  Toby has given Travis and me quite a bit of joy over the last three years and we love him very much.  

While we were in Venice this past summer, we noticed the abundance of dogs.  They were everywhere and it made me miss Toby.  In Venice, we found a dog that we fondly named "Italian Toby", simply because he resembled our dog so much.  This was soon shortened to "Tttooby", which translates to Toby in an Italian accent.  Really put the emphasis on the "t" when you say it.  Try it.  It's pretty fun, isn't it?

Well, this dog looked like Toby and had kind of a Toby swagger.  He also acted the way we wish American Toby acted.  We noticed him while walking to La Salute Church, a church that seems to rise up out of the water, resting weightlessly like meringue on a pie. 

I highly suggest visiting this church on your trip to Venice.  It is magical, inside and out.  And just maybe you will meet Italian Toby.  We first spotted him hanging out in front of an art gallery and he trotted behind us all the way to the church.  Before we went inside the church, Travis and I decided to take a seat on the steps leading up to the church and relax.  Italian Toby decided to do the same.  He curled up next to me on a step and I proceeded to give him some good scratches.

He just lounged on the church steps and calmly watched the people pass by.  This is the way I wish American Toby acted.  He barks at everything that passes, never just lounging around others.  Just with me, American Toby sleeps all of the time.  He is sweet, but when people are around, he just can't seem to chill.  Italian Toby reminded us so much of American Toby and really made me homesick for the first time on the trip.  You can see why.

Quite the lounging view, huh?

 

 Doesn't he look like American Toby?  

 

This is the spot on my back porch where Toby lounges every day from 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.  Every day.  Like clockwork.  

If you have a dog at home, give him some scratches in honor of Italian Toby.  I know I will give American Toby a little bit of love too, even if he is a little onery.  Enjoy! 

Venice: A City of Windows

In the three cities we visited in Italy, there became a theme of what our eyes were being drawn to.  In Florence it was bicycles, in Monterosso it was doors, and in Venice it was windows.  Every window seemed to be aged perfectly with the most beautiful window box full of flowers.

 As the trip photographer, Travis was a kid in a candy store throughout Venice.  I think he took some pretty great photos, don't you think? (The last two were taken by yours truly with my iphone using the Hipstamatic App.  I took some SUPER cool photos with it!)

Getting Lost in Venice

Venice is undoubtedly one of the most photographed places in the world.  And for good reason.  I mean, around every bend is something worth remembering.  But, Venice can be a tricky destination for the traveler who is looking for something a little more....real.  It is the hard thing to explain about Venice, and those who have visited know exactly what I am talking about.  It is so iconic, that when you arrive, it can seem a little like Disney World or Vegas.  Nothing against Disney World or Vegas, but you expect to feel like Venice is a real city, with only a few visitors marveling at what it has to offer.

That, unfortunately, is the opposite of reality.  Venice is only home to about 60,000 people during the year but is home to thousands of visitors a day.  Fifty percent of the local economy is tourism (Steves 36).  The influx of visitors is due mostly to large cruise ships who drop off their patrons for the day, between the hours of ten and four.  This is when Venice is the most crowded, especially in the major touristy areas like San Marco Square and the Grand Canal.  And I hate to say it, but those cruise ship tourists are a different kind of European tourist.  They love to buy the kitchy souvenirs and they travel in large packs following guides holding sticks with flags or Micky Mouse ears.

I may sound like a huge brat right now, but come on!  You go to Venice to experience the romance and the beauty and the mystery.  And this.

And this:

And this:

Now, I am the first to say yes to tours.  They can be cheesy and sometimes boring, but they teach you tons about the place you are visiting.  And isn't that the goal of traveling, to learn about a place unlike your own home and experience the world?  But, in Venice, I would avoid the tour and explore the streets with your traveling partner (or partners), put on some good walking shoes, and bring a camera.

Venice is a relatively small city, and is easily walkable.  It is best experienced when you are lost.  Trust me, getting lost in Venice is an easy thing to do.  The streets twist and turn around canals and it is difficult to decipher what direction you are traveling.  Also, streets will just end in a square, or stop at the water.  But as my pal Rick Steves says, "keep reminding yourself, 'I'm on an island, and I can't get off'". 

So, explore the back alleys and the dark streets of Venice and imagine yourself in the 1500's during Carnivale.  Venice is safe and there is little crime, so walk around at night, talk to the locals, and enjoy the quiet parts of the city.  At night and early in the morning is the best part of the day in Venice.  It is where you get to see the locals setting up shop and gulping down early morning espressos and croissants.  At night, it is where you get to hear the bands in San Marco Square battling for the crowd and watch the older men playing card games.  So, by all means, visit Venice, but stay the night.  Don't visit for just one day, because there is so much to offer from the iconic destination.  It is well worth fighting the crowds and the cheesy souvenir shops to get glimpses of reality in the early morning and late evening.

 

The Details:
Where to Stay:  Stay at the Hotel Flora ($200-250/night if you are willing to spend a little extra.  I stayed here with my family a few years ago and it is in a great location and is tucked away in a small alley covered in ivy and flowers.  It also has a nice breakfast on a terrace full of potted plants and ivy.  This past summer, Travis and I stayed at a place called Hotel Ai Do Mori ($85-150/night).  It was a tiny room, but had an amazing location, just steps from San Marco Square.  Also, it was the best bathroom we had of the whole trip.  It was clean and perfect for our needs.
How Many Days:  2-4 days is best.  You get to see everything you want to see and still relax.
When to Go:  Summer is busy.  I have never been at this time, but I imagine it would be beautiful in spring or early fall.  And much less busy.
Cost:  Be expected to pay more for everything.  Remember, it is an island, so everything must be shipped in.  So, budget accordingly.