In June 2016, we visited the Dolomites, stopping in Venice first. This post covers our time in Venice, while two other posts cover our time in the Dolomites:
An additional post covers logistics of our trip to the Dolomites: where we stayed, some decisions about transportation, and resources we found helpful in planning the trip.
Our flight landed in Venice around 5pm, kicking off our trip. We collected our bags and took the bus to Piazalle Roma, where we walked a few blocks — and a few bridges — to our hotel, Ca’ San Rocco.
At the hotel, we checked in and cleaned up quickly before heading out. Beautiful views of Venice and its lagoon on the flgiht in had made us eager to explore the city.
We walked without much direction, crossing the Grand Canal and eventually reaching St. Mark’s Square. Here, we watched people for a bit and enjoyed the evening sun on the buildings. Eventually we realized how hungry we were, and so we went to find dinner. We were hungry and tired and I confess I don’t remember much about it. After dinner, we wandered a bit more to try to get on the right time zone before heading back to the hotel and falling asleep.
Day 2 – Palazzo Ducale and off to the Dolomites
In the morning, we enjoyed breakfast on the hotel’s deck. We had some more time to enjoy Venice before had to return to the airport to pick up our rental car, so we returned to St. Mark’s Square.
On a previous trip to Venice, I had — other than just wandering — most enjoyed Palazzo Ducale, and so I wanted Kyle to see it. We were ahead of the biggest crowds but there was still a bit of a line to get in. Our walk through was as good as I remembered, and I enjoyed paying attention to the smaller details this time.
By this point, we were getting hungry. We decided not to wait in line for St. Mark’s Basilica and instead went in search of lunch. TripAdvisor suggested Dal Moro’s Fresh Pasta to Go as close, cheap, well-reviewed, and fast. A few minutes later, we joined the line on a narrow street. We eventually reached the inside and placed our order — you pick noodles, a sauce/topping combination, and add any toppings. Service was fast, and we were soon back outside enjoying our delicious pasta as we walked along the canals, gradually making our way back to the hotel.
Once back at Ca’ San Rocco, we checked out, made our way back to Piazalle Roma, and boarded the bus to the airport. At the airport, we had a long walk to the rental car facility. I couldn’t tell if it is always like that or if it was a temporary product of some construction, but it’s something to be aware of if you have a lot of bags. We collected our car–a Fiat Panda–and set out for Cortina D’Ampezzo and the Dolomites.
