Venice Adventures

Next stop in the trip...Venice, Italy. Here are the top things I'm interested in doing while I'm there. 

Saint Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di Santo Marco)

In AD 828, Venetian merchants supposedly stole St. Mark’s corpse out of Egypt in a barrel of pork fat to avoid inspection by Muslin customs authorities. Venice built a golden basilica around its stolen Saint. His bones were actually misplaced a couple times during construction.

Venice created the official doge’s chapel in its own multicultural imagine, with Byzantine onion-bulb domes, Greek cross layout, and Egyptian marble walls. An Egyptian porphyry status supposedly representing four emperors of ancient Rome looted from Constantinople.

There’s no fee to tour the main part of the basilica, and even booking an entry time online is free. There are three smaller museums within the basilica, which you’ll have to pay an entry to see.

Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

This is right behind St. Mark’s basilica. The Doge’s Palace, or “Palazzo Ducale” is the former home of Venice’s rulers, the Doges (or Dukes). The people who governed the city lived and ruled from these rooms. It housed the city’s court and convicted prisoners. The Palazzo Ducale dates back to the 14^th century.

There are two primary highlights of the Palazoo Ducale tour. One is the enormous painting of “Paradise” by Tintoretto, which covers an entire wall in the Council Hall. This room is where meetings were held by as many as 2000 council members. Tintoretto’s painting is on of the largest oil paintings in the world.

Another highlight is walking across the famous Bridge of Sighs (the only way to get there is through is by going on the tour of the Doge’s Palace. The tiny bridge connects the palace with the prison.

Campanile (bell tower)

The original tower on that spot was built in the 12th century, and it received a major overhaul in the early 1500s after being damaged in an earthquake. It then fell to the ground early one morning in July 1902. For a small fee you can take an elevator to the top and get an incredible view of St. Mark’s basilica.

Caffe Florian

The oldest café in Venice when it first opened in 1720. Note: There is an extra cost for sitting down, so stand up to drink coffee if preferred. 

Torre dell’Orologio

The clock tower, designed by Maurizio Codussi, was built between 1496 and 1506. 

Ca' Rezzonico
A palace that offers a glimpse into the lifestyle and art of the 18^th century. A marble staircase leads to beautiful ballrooms, salons, and bedrooms. Giambattista Tiepolo's Throne Room ceiling is a masterpiece of elegant social climbing, showing gorgeous merit ascending to the Temple of Glory clutching the Golden Book of Venetian nobles’ names – including Tiepolo’s patrons, the Rezzonico family.

Campo del Ghetto

This is the Jewish ghetto surrounding Fondamenta delle Misericordia and Fondamenta dei Contarini areas where you can experience the life of Venetians. It is very popular during summer nights.

The Venetian Ghetto was established in 1516, though political restrictions on Jewish rights. Today it is still the center of the Jewish community in Venice.

At Fondamenta dei Contarini, there are also two wonderful pieces of architecture to visit, Palazzo Mastelli overlooking the canal and Campo dei Mori.

Gallerie dell'Accademia

These galleries showcase murderous plotting, forbidden love, and the most outrageous Venetian parties. The former Santa Maria della Carità convent complex maintained its serene composure for centuries, but ever since Napoleon installed his haul of Venetian art trophies in 1807, there’s been nonstop visual drama inside these walls. The galleries are organized by style and theme from the 14^th to 18^th centuries.

Arsenale

It was founded in 1104, when the Arsenale became the greatest medieval shipyard in Europe, home to 300 ship companies. This is a great place for wandering.

Touring the three major islands in the Venetian lagoon

Murano is famous for glass making. This is the most popular island so there is typically always a large crowd. Duomo di Murano Santi Maria e Donato, located in Murano is known for its 12^th century Byzantine mosaic pavement and it is said to contain the remains of Saint Donatus of Arezzo as well as large bones behind the altar said to be the bones of a dragon slain by the saint.

Burano is famous for lace-making and brightly painted houses.

Torcello is where the city of Venice got its start.

Gondola Ride

This is an expensive experience but probably an experience of a lifetime. This is trip down the Grand Canal on an authentic Venetian gondola. It’s an incredible opportunity to see the city in a new perspective, as you discover places not visible from the mainland.

Rialto Bridge

It is one of the four bridges in the Grand Canal. It is the oldest bridge. Nicolo Barattieri built the bridge in 1181. It then collapsed in 1524. The current structure was built between 1588 and 1591. The bridge is an excellent arch with steps and shops and water traffic underneath. The bridge has three walkways: two along the outer balustrades, and a wider central walkway leading between two rows of small shops that sell jewelry, linens, Murano glass, and other items for the tourist trade.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Tucked behind a high wall off a quite street, sits the third most visited museum in the city. Peggy Guggenheim founded the museum. Her father died in the Titanic and left her with an incredible fortune. There are big European names in her art collection, including Picasso, Duchamp, Brancusi, Giacometti and Max Ernst, plus a few Americans such as Calder and Jackson Pollock. It is primarily dedicated to modern art.

I’ve learned that it’s so hard to search for things to do in a new city. I want to see everything but I know it will be impossible since I’m only there for 3 days. For the most part I plan on wandering around and see what I find. I will be definitely seeing the St. Mark’s square where a lot of major sites are located and going on a Gondola ride.

Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations- Paris

I was lucky enough to run into the new series on the travel channel called BF: Delicious Destinations and the first episode was on Paris. Andrew Zimmern digs into the legendary foods of Paris and I plan on trying everything I can get my hands on. I've been watching the travel channel constantly now since I'm getting ready for my trip and I just can't contain my excitement. Paris has been considered the culture capital of the world, setting the standard of beauty for art and food. Many consider Paris as a destination for culinary explorers. 

So here's some of the foods mentioned in this episode:

Steak Frites 

Beefsteak and fries. Many people (especially Americans) are surprised to find that this is considered the national dish of France. One of the most authentic places to get steak frites is in Brito Paul Bert located in the tiny street of 11th arrondissement. Steak frite has origins dating back to the late 1800s. Workers would set aside slices of meat they would bring to a local eatery and have it cooked up for dinner and it was paired up with fried potato slices, a popular food street vendors have been selling since the 1780s. This eventually became known in America as French fries. The owner of Brito Paul Bert says he prefers the filet of beef and it is cut into an ounce and sauced with butter and salt. Bloody meat is considered perfectly cooked, not well done. In the Bistro, the potatoes are twice fried in lard fat instead of vegetable oil. 

Coque Monsieur

Known as the "king of French sandwiches." It virtually translates into "Mr. crunchy." It's just a ham and cheese sandwich and the French manage to transform it into something beautiful. Cafe la Palette is a classic French bistro where Picasso and Hemingway used to hang out and it is now especially known for their coque monsieur. The coque monsieur dates back to 1910. It is a hot ham and cheese sandwich fried in butter. French workers who accidentally left their lunch meals on a radiator inspired it. Their meat, cheese, and bread all melted together. In Cafe la Palette the base of the sandwich begins with a slice of organic pan poi lane (the world famous Parisian sourdough bread), followed by a generous spread of butter, a layer of ham is added, then it's covered with a mixture of milk and the best French gruyere cheese. It is then place under a broiler for 10 minutes. 

Baguette 

For Parisians, a baguette is a daily necessity. Some of the city's greatest masterpieces came from baker's ovens. Nobody makes bread and pastries like they do in Paris. Nothing is more iconic than the baguette. There is a bakery in every corner; there isn't a meal in Paris that isn't accompanied by a baguette. The basic ingredients for a traditional French baguette are wheat flour, water, salt, and yeast. For a baguette to be called a baguette it must be made at the location it is sold. Paris is full of great bakeries so it is difficult to say who makes it best. But Le Moulin de la Vierge, one of the oldest bakeries in Paris, definitely knows how to make a great baguette. They use organic flour, the dough is mixed very slowly, and it is shaped by hand. They also own the oldest wood-burning oven still in use in all of Paris. They are now considered a historical building. The baguette became popular around 1914 during World War I when labor shortages prevented bakeries from staying open all night to make the traditional morning loaf of bread so they substituted a smaller, more narrow loaf of bread. Now, the baguette is a MUST in Paris.  

Croissant 

If there’s one Paris food more famous than the baguette, it’s the croissant. This is famous all over the world, and it originates from Austria. In 1838, a Vietnamese bakery in Paris introduced the kipferl, an Austrian crescent roll. It was a huge hit, and every bakery in town started making their own version. Early in the 20th century, an anonymous hero added butter to the recipe, which formed to be what is now known as the croissant. Gerard Mulot is a famous bakery known for their croissants. The basic ingredients are flour, sugar, bakers yeast, fine sea salt from South Western France, and powdered milk, all mixed in cold water. Once the dough is chilled, then a pound of butter for every two pounds of flour is added. What sets a great croissant apart from a good croissant is the way it is made. It must be cooled at the right temperature, folded like an envelope, and the layer of butter must be closed. 

Macaroon

It doesn't melt; it evaporates into your mouth. It's like biting into a cloud full of flavor. It is a delicate pastry, with each once weighing less than a house key. They are as beautiful as they are delicious. Macaroon is two thin wafers made of almond and egg white with a ganache or jam filling that's almost lighter than air. One of the best places to find a macaroon in Paris is at the award winning, Meilleur Ouvrier. The macaroon traces back to the almond based cookies of the middle ages. In the beginning of the middle ages, Paris's Laduree bakery became the inspiration for sandwich cookies with a variety of fillings creating the Parisian macaroon. The powder used to make the macaroon is a mixture of egg whites and powdered sugar, mixed by hand. When the dough is ready, it is piped into small rounds. The fillings range from hundreds of flavors.  The way it is filled is what sets apart a great macaroons from just good ones. They should melt and crunch at the same time.

Crepe

Tijos is a famous restaurant in Paris known for their crepes. The sweet, twin creation most Americans know is actually not how the crepe was originated. The buckwheat galette is the original. It was developed centuries ago in the rugged costal regions of Brittany. Britton farmers started growing buckwheat in the Middle Ages, soon after they started making thin, flat, buckwheat cakes that they used as bread. It was the worker's people food. The ingredients are simple, buckwheat flour, water, and sea salt. The crepe cooks in seconds, it is paper thin, and hard not to burn. It is then wrapped with savory fillings such as ham and cheese. Sweet crepes developed over time when kitchens with access to wheat flour, milk, sugar, and eggs began using those ingredients to create a lighter, thinner, version. 

Paris Adventures

I finally bought my flight tickets to Europe. I'm flying into Paris, France and will begin my trip there. Here's a list of the top things I want to visit while I'm there:
(Note: I extracted information from lonelyplanet.com, Ricksteves.com, thesavvybackpacker.com, Wikipedia.com and Tripadvisor.com)
Trip Advisor has great reviews and even lets you plan your own itinerary.

Versailles

The Versailles was the residence of the French monarchs until the Revolution of 1789. In 1837, about 50 years after the royal family was evicted, King Louise-Philippe opened up the palace to showcase as a museum. Visitors from all over the world can now tour pretty much the entire land and wander through acres of manicured gardens.

Note to self:

Versailles is located just southwest of Paris and is easily accessed by the underground RER C (leaving from several convenient metro stops in central Paris including Tour Eiffel, St. Michel/Notre Dame, Musee d’Orsay, and Gare d’Austerlitz). The line does split though, so make sure you get on a train with a terminus station of “Versailles Rive Gauche”. You will need to buy a different metro ticket than the ones you’ve probably been using around Paris since Versailles is in zone 4 (unless you have a Carte Paris Visite or a Passe Navigo that is valid through zone 4, then use it!). Go ahead and buy a roundtrip ticket (aller-retour) and save yourself from waiting in line at the station in Versailles when you’re trying to get back.

(thesavvybackpacker.com)

Louvre

The Louvre Museum is one of the world's largest museums and a historic monument in Paris. It is in the center of Paris. It is the most visited museum, attracting 9.7 million visitors in 2012. Showcase to 35,000 works of art – from Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greek antiquities to masterpieces by artists such as da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt – it would take nine months to glance at every piece, rendering advance planning essential.

Note to self: To arrive at the Louvre, head along the Seine and cross Le Pont des Arts. You won't be disappointed by the view.

Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier Opéra)

This is a nineteenth century Opera House and one of the most luxurious looking buildings in Paris. It is one of the most recognized opera houses in the world. Commissioned by Napoleon III, it was created by Charles Garnier in the popular Beaux Arts style of the time with heavy glass chandeliers, sweeping marble staircases and gilt decorations. Now home to the Paris Ballet, it has a 2,000 seat theatre and is as resplendent as it used to be and a must-see on any trip to Paris

Eiffel Tower

The monument that most represents Paris. Gustave Eiffel only constructed this elegant, 320m-tall signature spire as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World Fair. The popularity of the piece is what kept it alive until this day. The tower consists of three levels; change lifts on the 2nd level for the final ascent to the top. Visitors can walk as far as the 2nd level using the south pillar’s 704-step stairs.

Metro: Bir Hakeim or RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel

Luxembourg Gardens

Considered one of the most beautiful parks in Paris.

Arc de Triomphe

Aside from the Eiffel Tower, this is considered one of Paris’s most memorable and beautiful structures. This is the magnificent 1836 monument to Napoleon’s 1805 victory at Austerlitz, which he commissioned the following year. The complicatedly sculpted arch stands in the centre of the Étoile (‘star’) roundabout. From the viewing platform on top of the arch (50m up via 284 steps and well worth the climb) you can see the dozen avenues. Beneath the arch at ground level lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Honoring the 1.3 million French soldiers who lost their lives in WWI.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame is Paris’ most visited unticketed site with an average of 14 million visitors each year. It is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture. It was the focus of Catholic Paris for seven centuries, its vast interior accommodating 6000-plus worshippers. Highlights include its three spectacular rose windows , treasury , and bell towers which can be climbed. Notre Dame is considered to be the heart of Paris.

Pont de l'Archeveche

It’s a beautiful bridge across the River Seine and visitors “lock” their love with locks on the bridge.

Reu de la Huchette

This Latin Quarter is known for its restaurants, cafes, and bistros. It is perfect to visit any time of day. It is also known for its student life with one of the world’s first Universities, Sobornne. Shakespeare and Company is also located here.

Shakespeare and Company Bookstore

It has a large selection of English language books and a beautiful bookshop interior.

Laduree

One of the oldest patisseries in Paris, Ladurée has been around since 1862 and was the original creator of the lighter-than-air macaroon.

Musee d'Orsay

Recently renovated to incorporate richly colored walls and increased exhibition space, the home of France’s national collection from the impressionist, postimpressionist and art nouveau movements spanning the 1840s and 1914 is the glorious former Gare d’Orsay railway station which itself is known to be a beautiful masterpiece.

Top of every visitor’s must-see list is the museum’s painting collections, centred on the world’s largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art.

Café dei Cioppi

Known to be a “hidden gem” and a combination of Rome and Paris. Many reviews say this is the best meal you can have in Paris. Prices are $20-26.

Note to self: It’s a very small restaurant. Make reservations. Can visit the Bastille and the Marais as its extremely close.

Sacred Heart Basilica of Montmartre (Sacre-Coeur)

A Roman Catholic Church built on the Butte Montmarte, at the highest point in Paris. There’s a beautiful view of the city from the church. There are 222 steps to the top. The Basilica was designed by Paul Abadie and Lucien Magne in Romano-byzantine style, and built to honor the 58,000 men that died during the Franco-Prussian War. The Sacré Coeur is situated in Montmartre, an peaceful and bohemian neighborhood full of lovely boutiques, restaurants and street art.

The entrance to the chapel is free.

Centre Pompidou

It is the largest collection of modern art in Europe and it is also known for its architecture. It includes famous works by Matisse, Picasso, Warhol, and others. It presents a large amount of galleries and cutting-edge exhibitions, hands-on workshops, dance performances, cinemas and other entertainment venues. The exterior, with its street performers and fanciful fountains (place Igor Stravinsky), is a interesting place to hangout.

Admission is free the first Sunday of the month.

Chez Gladines

A French restaurant known to be popular among tourists and locals. They serve big portions at small prices with a relaxed atmosphere.

Marche Bastille

Considered one of the best open-air markets in Paris with a immense variety of ethic foods.

Note: None of the photos belong to me, all photos were pulled from google searching.

I also imagine I will be getting lost at some part of my trip so I hope to find hidden treasures while I attempt to find my way through the city. These photos get me truly excited and I cannot wait to start my adventure.