Sisi's 2nd Year Birthday Party

Sisi turns 2 years old! Happy Birthday Sisi! 

She is going to preschool now, so I brought in cookies for the kids in her class for a littel celebration.

That evening we had a little party with some close friends. Sisi was the only child, she did not mind at all, and had fun entertaining the guests by dancing around to music. 

Gimmy helping Sisi open her presents

 Sisi opening Mickey Mouse (her new favorite thing...)

Simone, Angelo (in the back) and Ottavio.

Allison and Jacqui.

Simone, Rosita, and Giorgia

Sisi and Allison

The birthday cake, chocolate with marshmallow frosting.

Cutting the cake

Sisi and me with her presents, thanksl for the nice gifts! Sisi really likes them.

Random funny photo of Gimmy and Sisi inside our tent, we set up on our bed to take a measurment of the inside space.

Verona

We left our new favorite place and took a side street to Padova so that we could pass by the famous Palladian Villas, as we drove saw about eight villas. We knew of the first one, which is show in the first photo below, but it was closed that day so we didnt get to see it any closer that this.

This was another Palladian Villa along the road we took to Padova, then from Padova we took the autostrada to Verona.

Verona, the city of love, is a beautiful city. At least the historical center is very beautiful. 

This is the arena of Verona

Palazzo Della Ragione and the stairs shown are called Scala Della Ragione

Chiesa Santa Maria Antica 

Along the river.

Chiesa di Sant'Anastasia

Piazza delle Erbe

Me standing in front of Giuliette's house. Its a fake, they used it in a movie, and now it is famous!

 You must walk though this tunnel to get to the entrance of the palazzo and to see Giuliette's balconey. All the graffiti on the walls of the tunnel are actually love notes, hearts and names of couples. Pretty amazing.

 So, we did it too. but so tiny it gets lost in the mess.

 Our little heart is in the center... I bet you can't see it! Even the gate was covered! 

Our trip in Verona was cut a little short due to rain, but we walked around most of the historical center and really enjoyed what we got to see.

Venezia

My funny husband suprised me with a trip to Venice! He asked me the night before.. "how long would it take for you to get ready for a weekend away?" I said, "well, just a couple hours, all I have to do is pack." He said "Ok, great, start packing... we're going to Venice!" Gimmy found this place called Camping Fusina that was designed by a famous architect, it is a camp ground for tents, motor homes/vans/cars, they even had their own little "bungalows" thet we stayed in. They have a pizzeria, bar, restaurant, mini market, and they also have a boat yard.  It sits right on the water and is also located near a large shipping route, where we could see the giant ships passing by only about a hundred feet away.  It was also the location of one of the ferries that takes you Venice, it was so convenient and nice we plan to stay there again next time we go :)

The first photo below is of the campground and a ship early one morning.

On the ferry to Venice

Beautiful Venice

 Sleepy Sisi on Babbo's shoulder

 We have landed

 The first thing we did was grab a bit to eat then we were off to explore. This cafe was really cute and sat right on the Grand Canal.

Taking a photo from Ponte dell'Accademia

 Getting lost in some tiny pathway...

 and at the end of the pathway is the water.

Piazza San Marco

 Here we are: in Venice, sitting at the famous Cafe Florian in Piaza San Marco, listening to the live band playing classical music. We are drinking espresso and eating special cookies from Venice, and watching the piazza fill up with water.

 Ths photo is so surreal... The people at the cafe with no shoes on, the water about 8" the band playing in the background.

Gimmy with Sisi walking through the water.

At one point we both took off our shoes to walk in the water as everyone else was doing! 

When in Rome... I mean Venice!

 Basillica Di San Marco

Water Taxi passing by. See the yellow sign in the window?

 This tower is leaning. I believe everything is leaning in Venice.

 I really enjoyed seeing the doors that open into the water, and the pathways that just end right on the canals. In high tide, like how the water fills up in the Piazza San Marco, is does the same in the small streets and pathways. You will see that some entryways have a sliding waterproof door at the bottom of a main door to help prevent the water from coming in the building.

We stepped into a little church to let Sisi sleep just a bit longer and also to give Gimmy a break from carring a sleeping Sisi. We decided to not bring the stroller, and I think it was a good idea, but we did have to carry Sisi a lot of the time but at least we didnt have a big stroller to haul over the bridges.   

Inside the church

 Vaparetto

On top of Ponte di Rialto looking toward the marketplace.

View from Ponte di Rialto

 Me, Gimmy and Sisi in front of Ponte di Rialto, and a gondola

 This is a view from the other side of Ponte di Rialto

 Playing with Sisi

 She liked this statue...

 Break for gelato

 Walking back over Ponte dell'Accademia

 Sisi being silly!

 Cruise ship passing by 

 Santa Maria Della Salute

Another leaning tower

 Thin passageway

 Gimmy and Sisi in front of Basillica San Marco

 We found this really cool pizzeria, called Novecento Jazz Club. It was in a small piazza and there was nothig else but it, it was a great find because there were not many people (about 3 tables of guests, including us), it was quiet and out of touristic hustle and bustle.

 View from Ponte Rialto at night

 Piazza San Marco, at night and with low tide.

 Cafe Florian 

From Ponte dell'Accedemia, you can see Santa Maria della Saluto lighted up in the distance.