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On to Rome

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:56 pm

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From Venice we travelled on to Rome. Rome is a beautiful place with much history. We needed to have an early night because, in the morning (very early), we were going to the Vatican.

So, around 6.30am we boarded the bus for the Vatican. Some would say "Why so early?" Well, if you are not there by 7am the line to get in is HUGE!

Here is a pic of the line at 7am when we arrived. The entrance door is that little black square way up the front.


The Vatican has an average of 17,000 visitors per day.
So, as you can imagine, there are people everywhere.

Here is a pic of the sign over the original entrance, which became unsafe through the constant traffic of people over the years.

We were waiting in line for around an hour (which is good for the Vatican!) and all the while there were street sellers & peddlers. Selling anything from umbrellas, to Vatican postards, to accomodation, to cars!


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Burano Island

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 2:22 pm

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The approach to Burano Island.

Looking back toward the main square of Venice. The steeple tower can be seen. It is in the town square.


On Burano Island the colours on each house have specific meaning. The colour represents your surname. So, for example, The Jones' may live in the yellow home, while the Smiths live in the red one, etc. Each home is colour-coded to represent their kin. Combinations of colours are where there has been a marriage between families.
(Some are quite multi-coloured, meaning that over the generations many families have intermarried)


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Venice islands

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 2:05 pm

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Firstly, here is a pic as promised for Capt Kirk.


One of the islands near Venice, and which comprise Venice, is Burano island.
Burano is famous for its exquisite lace making. All things lace can be bought there, from lace bookmarks to table cloths to wedding dresses. Burano is about 30 minutes boat ride from the centre of Venice.


There are hundreds of stalls. Also, throughout Venice you can buy ceremonial masks, which are a custom in Venice.

Here is a pic of the main canal of Venice.


And another.




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Venice 3...........

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:48 pm

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This next bridge has an interesting story. It is called "The Bridge of Sighs" and is the only enclosed bridge.

It leads from the prison to the Venice courts. Prisoners were held in the cells until their trial. Prior to their trial they were escoted, under gaurd, over the Bridge of Sighs and to the courtrooms. On the way they would peer through the small windows on the bridge, often being the first time they had seen daylight and the canals for days or even months.

Those who were unfortunate and were convicted, often with the death penalty, would be led back across the Bridge of Sighs and the gaurds would stop at the windows to allow them one last look at the world 'outside' as they knew they would never see it again. Many of them would sigh and cry at the realisation of this.

So it earned the name "Bridge of Sighs"


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Veince 2.....

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:40 pm

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An interesting point about Venice is that the effluent from the homes empties directly into the canals! They suggest that you do not drink the water! Each evening the tide cleanses the canals and washes everything out to sea. (Well, that's the theory anyway!)

There is one main canal, quite wide, and all the smaller canals are taken off from that. There are also MANY bridges to enable foot traffic between sections.


Unfortunately, Venice is a 'dying city'. This is because there is little employment opportunity in Venice itself, so all the young people tend to move away. Therefore Venice is comprised mainly of elderly folk.

Also, all of the buildings in Venice are heritage listed. Which means that they cannot be modified in any way, not even painted! Which makes it very difficult as far as maintenance is concerned. House prices in Venice are very cheap (compared to other parts of the country). You can buy a house there for around 1/2 the price of elsewhere, but you can't do anything to it!

Venetians are petitioning the government at this time to repeal much of the heritage listed sites, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears.


Many of the streets are very narrow, usually only 2 people wide. They were never intended for heavy foot traffic.

To enable furniture delivery, etc, each house has a strong hook above its highest point.


Cont next message................

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On to Venice

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:24 pm

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From Vienna it was on to the history and canals of Venice.

We passed some really beautiful towns and countryside on the way.


One of the first things we did when we arrived was to take a gondola ride, complete with champagne and music.


Venice is a very old city. It is built on reclaimed land (in fact, it is not built on 'land' at all, but the entire city is either on small islands or, those over water, are supported by timber struts.)

Many of the buildings are totally supported by specially prepared timber staunchons. Eg, the cathedral in the city square is supported this way, by over 1.2 million staunchons as it's foundation.
As we visited the cathedral there were staff there whose job it was to ensure that not too many people entered at any one time. We were split into 3 groups, only one 'on site' at any given time. This was because, we were told, the cathedral is slowly sinking into the mud (or the staunchons are!) so there was a weight limit.

The city is a maze of canals and there are only 2 ways of getting around - by boat (of which there are thousands!) and walking.


Cont next message..............


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More Vienna

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:59 am

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As you can tell, we had a great time!




Even the toilets made you forget why you went in there!!

WARNING - mature pic below!














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Vienna cont..............

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:52 am

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It was fun wandering around Vienna and looking at all the history. There are so many stories attached to this city. From their association with the 3 Musketeers and the various wars and fueds over the years to the legacy of music that endures to this day.

That evening we went out to dinner with our tour group. It was a fantastic time. We were greeted by the staff below.


The restaurant was absolutely special. Every surface (walls, cieling and floors) were literally covered with hundreds of items, ranging from tools to guns to spears to paintings and heaps of other stuff.



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More on Vienna

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:44 am

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We stayed at the Hilton Vienna while visiting, which was very luxurious. It was situated right on the Danube River. Although it wasn't such a "Blue Danube" when we were there as it was raining.


Here is a pic of the Danube next to the motel.


On the next morning we went to the main Mall of Vienna, which was great, even if we didn't understand what the signs meant!


Cont next message...........

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Habsburg Crypt

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:58 pm

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In the Habsburg Crypt there are, as you would imagine, many sarcophagi (sp?). Over 600 years worth!

There is a story attached to the next Pic. Traditionally, all the Habsburgs were Catholic. Which wasn't a problem until one of them married a Protestant. And that wasn't a problem until she died.
The question - Was she allowed to be interred in the family crypt?

The Priest said NO!. This caused a furore in the family. Some said she should be interred there, others said no. A compromise needed to be reached.

So, after consultation with the priest, they made an agreement. Yes, she could be buried there - or part of her at least!

What normally happened was that for mumification they took out the intestines and placed them in an urn. this happened with all of them. But the Priest said that she could be interred there if :
1. Her intestines were placed in an urn and shipped elsewhere.
2. Her heart also had to be placed in an urn and sent to a Protestant church for interrment.
3. The rest of her could be interred in the crypt.

They agreed and thus it was done.

After many years the 3 parts of her were once again re-unitied and so here is a picture of her sarcophagus, with the 2 urns on top - one containing her intestines and the other her heart. Believe it or Not!


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