IMHO, Venice is the most unique & beautiful city

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Noah’s Violin
The vessel is a large-scale replica of a real violin, made from about a dozen different kinds of wood, with nuts and bolts inside, as well as space for a motor. Venice, Italy.

[lark]

1. Italy, including Venice, and Portugal are at the top of our bucket list.

This year we are going to NOLA Jazz Fest for the first time in many years and I'm so excited for the 5 days there. Next year, hope we can go back to Europe. The hard part will be choosing which of the remaining countries to go to first.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Just curious, why Portugal? Never been, but haven't

heard much about it as a big travel destination. Think I was driven by food

Yes, planning a trip to Europe takes a lot of thought and planning for sure. Where did u go last time?

We did
PARIS

(High speed rail to...)

LYON

(Car rental (easy with no trucks allowed to...)

ANNECY - googled cleanest water in France and found it was here. Gorgeous.

(Drove on through the breathtaking Swiss Alps to..)

LUGANO - on Swiss/Italian border. Beautiful city on lake with casinos. George Harrison loved it so much, had his ashes sprinkled there.

( Drove on through Italian Lake Como area, turned car in and water taxied to...)

VENICE - my favorite No cars. Walk everywhere, unbelievably great pizza and house wine everywhere. Great shops with Murano glass to buy and quaint Catholic churches.

( Then flew to..)

NAPLES

(Then ferry to...)

CAPRI. - stunning, just stunning

( Then high speed rail to..)

ROME

Then flew home.

It was good to alternate big active city with relaxing place.

Sorry to go on so long. Probably could write a book about each place. So you're actually lucky, Lark

[lark]

5. Portugal because of the climate, beauty, and potential living place.

It's the most affordable country in Europe, and the people are very friendly and like the English and Americans. There is a huge American & English ex-pat community in the Algrave region so most people there speak English. My daughter spent 3 weeks there last summer and it was gorgeous. If things go south here and fascists destroy our Democracy, we think this might be a place we could go??? We adore france, but it's very expensive and we couldn't buy there.

We've been to Paris, the Alsace region in France and Germany, lots of Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria. Still to go in Europe, Spain, Portugal, Italy including Venice, the South of France, Prague, England and Ireland. I also really want to go on a safari someday and to Costa Rica and Columbia. Yep, we love to travel! Don't know that we will make it to all these places, but know we will at least go to one of them, maybe more, next year for sure.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Wish airfare was cheaper. Too antsy to not sit in

first class for all those hours. Had enough points last time. We've got a lot but every time I look airlines up the # of points to go somewhere. Bet they analyze what everyone has first.

Funny tho, think it was only like 5-6 hrs JFK to Amsterdam. We've spent longer than that with delays in US.

Out of all those places, besides Paris, where did u like the most? Did you go to Mont St Michel? Always thought that'd be very cool.

What's that Sound of Music town in Austria? Want to skip and sing in street. Haha

Well, read Krakow was the new Prague! Same but less touristy? Personally, I ( not my husband) want to visit concentration camp. They say it will change you forever.

Have u been to Bermuda? To me, most beautiful place on earth. Zero crime, zero illiteracy, and only one guy was unemployed last time we were there. Very British with afternoon tea and shops with Irish lace. Three hrs due east of Atlanta

[appalachiablue]

10. Bermuda is lovely, the aqua water, friendly people, charming Hamilton & more. The

British traditions add to the vibes. We stayed at the Rosedon, perfect. I've seen a good deal of the Carib., English, French and Dutch Islands.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. OMG have admired that place, the Rosedon, for years!

They have really made the gardens gorgeous.

Always an issue - stay near town/action or closer to water eh? Been going there forever... Even back to the days when meals were included and they had fresh fish at breakfast

Yes to all u said. We actually have pics of kids in shallow inlet water and you can't even see the water it's so clear

What about St Martin? Half Dutch? We were just talking about going there with family. Is it nice? I know casino!

[lark]

12. OH, I forgot to add Bermuda.

I've never been there, but had a friend stationed there and he absolutely raved about the beauty and tranquility.

Yes, we went to the Sound of Music town, which of course, the name of which has now totally deserted my mind! It was spectacular, whatever it's name!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. Salzburg

[lark]

18. Yes, that is the place!

I loved Salzburg, would love to go back and go up in the mountains. It is very very beautiful there.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Did you like Austria otherwise? Always thought of it

and maybe Germany as too austere? I mean like not a super fun & freer kinda place? We only drove through Switzerland and stayed in Lugano on the border, but have heard that about Switzerland too. Probably just me . And guided by food we like too doesn't help.

What do you think?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. You lucky dog! Going to Nola! Lived there for a

couple years in French Quarter. My favorite place in US!!

[kimbutgar]

6. My favorite place in the world I've been to.

We went there three years in a row 2016-2018 and walked all over the place. Now whenever I see a movie I know exactly where they filmed it. The movie that got me wanting to go toVenice was the one with Katherine Hepburn, Summertime. I couldn’t get over how it hasn’t changed as much as other places. After we returned the second time my husband and I watched the film and easily identified the areas. I want to go again there someday. It is so magical!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. Ditto. Will definitely find that movie! I don't think

I will ever in my life forget the experience of arriving on the boat down the Grand Canal with the sun shining in the buildings!

We're did you stay? We splurged on a hotel with a balcony overlooking the Bridge if Sighs! One night dropped some $1 bills on the walkway just to watch reaction when people noticed them

[kimbutgar]

11. It was an old boutique hotel Hotel Giorgione located in the Cannaregio quarter

Near the Santi Apostolic church. It is family owned and the last time we went they upgraded us to a suite. MY hubby and I had our own bathrooms! The building was a factory from 1885 and became a hotel in the early 19th owned by the same family. We loved our experience our first time and went back again twice. We would have probably gone back agai of it wasn’t for the pandemic. it is close by the C’ Doro boat. The first time we left Venice and took a train to Zurich and flew home. The second time we took a train from Florence to Venice and the third time a train from Rome to Venice. I love the train system in Italy also!

I sometimes look at the video feed of Venice to get my Venice fix!
During the pandemic this was an interesting feed seeing it so empty!


https://www.skylinewebcams.com/#utility

There are more feeds from different parts of Venice!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. Looks like a very cool place. When we go back

Will definitely pick a hotel off the beaten track with fewer tourists. Love their Murano chandelier!




Thanks for link!!!

[kimbutgar]

17. The whole place is an art museum type of hotel and they have breakfast included everyday.

Also a Real good fresh breakfast! We actually do a fruit bowl weekly that we eat for breakfast that we enjoyed there.

[bahboo]

9. I can still remember the view coming out of the train station....

it hit me physically it was so stunning. Like walking into a Disney movie set.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. So true! Hey that's where we went to get on the water taxi to San Marco!

Didn't know it was a train station!

https://i.postimg.cc/C52JLPRX/The-Ponte-degli-Scalzi-and-the-Basilica-of-Santa-Maria-of-Nazareth-near-the-Venezia-Santa-Lucia-trai.webp

[bif]

20. Love it so much, our daughter's middle name is Venice

Absolutely the most beautiful, enchanting city on earth!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. Wow that says SO much coming from you!!! Think of you

as most artistic person on DU!

Don't think I have ever heard of Venice as a name. Love it!!

When u get a chance, want to know all about your experience there .