Venice - Luxury Apartments with Hotel Services - by Jill

Undoubtedly the most luxurious serviced apartment complex in Venice (and probably the only one!) We had the pleasure of staying there for the weekend in the apartment "Bucintoro", a two bedroom, 1 & half bath apartment on the fifth floor of this restored grain mill on the island of Giudecca. This apartment towers over Venice with the most beautiful views over Dorsoduro and the Giudecca canal. There are 8 apartments available of different sizes available for rental, but it's the daily services that I found unique for an Italian apartment complex, such as daily linen and towel change, daily cleaning and a fully stocked fridge of juice and water and breakfast items that is restocked daily is truly unique for Italy. The kitchens have quality appliances such as as espresso machines that allow you to make a capuccino for breakfast whilst watching boats on the canal in the morning, croissants can be heated up in the oven and sliced bread is left each day to toast. The view is out of this world, with luxury passenger liners, vaporettos and other small boats passing all throughout the day.

Venice - Gondoler ride for 50 cents - by Jill

A new discovery for me is Traghetto in Venice, I had always used the bridges when going from one side to the other of the Grand Canal - these - as anyone who has stayed in Venice will know can sometimes be quite out of the way, but a recent trip with a friend in tow for company taught me something so useful and fun. There are seven points on the grand canal - in between the bridges - with a Gondola service that takes you from one side to the other, they are mainly situated near Gondola service points, the cost is just 50 cents which you just hand to the charming Gondoliero who will hold his arm out to steady you as you get on and off, I found the whole experience absolutely gorgeous. If you catch the traghetto near to the Rialto market in the morning you will see the local women get on with their shopping bags who all stand up for the ride accross...

For more information on water buses, gondola rides and water taxis
>>click here

Venice - A Guide to the Eateries of Venice - by Jill

Finding a good restaurant in Venice for those not "in the know" can be a little tricky, however on a recent trip I discovered a small book - A Guide to the Eateries of Venice by Michela Scibilia, when I realised that my own few favorites were included I bought it in view of my next Venice trip, I am writing this on the train on my way home from that trip and have to say it was a wonderful guide which I kept with me at all times, Michela is a local Venetian who has placed all of her own favorite restaurants on a map on the front and back of the guide which allows you to find the closest hidden treasure whenever hunger strikes, I highly recommend finding a copy as soon as you hit Venice. She also has another book called - Venice Botteghe which is a guide to shopping in Venice including music, books, fabrics, carpets, masks... you name it, in addition, she maps out basics such as internet points, coin laundries, supermarkets and atm machines, equally as informative and a definite must have for anyone visiting Venice

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

This is possibly one of the laziest blogs to date. I sent out an email to my friends asking them to name 2 things they love about Rome. This is a run down of what I got back:

Via del Corso on Saturday afternoons

Superfluous use of sunglasses and the superfluous use of mindless over flirting
The dolci and the knitwear that, I can never afford.

The Pantheon and the Forum. Oh...can I add ice cream?

Love the colours of the buildings and the architecture and the cobbledy
streets and surprises round ever corner. Couples passionately throwing
their arms in the air when they are talking. Ice cream and pizza...all
the food is great. The men are fit too!! And the women! Motorinono's
bussing around, cell phones and good quality everything. And the
general warm feeling and no stress, not like London at all, it's just
generally beautiful, like you :)

The architecture, the weather, the position of the city, very close to the sea.

1) gelati!! gotta love it!
2) I love Rome by night esp on a Vespa!!
3) I love the fresh spring water that comes out of the taps opposite the Coliseum (really gets me in a city that there is totally clean and drinkable water from water pipes/ways built in roman times!)
4)the sound of the vespa!
5)shopping around the Spanish Steps
6) Trevi Fountain on a hot afternoon sitting in the shade with an ice cold beer!

Roman Men
The way that it seems there's a secret life of the town, hiding behind everyone's shutters...
A Saturday aperitivo
The style
History in its veins

Ummmm....that's hard
Walking in the old cobblestone streets at night listening to the echo of
voices, laughter and the italian language
The food!! mmmmm
The old romantic BW pics of Rome in the Hollywood era

Coffee

The warmth that the colour of Rome exudes. I always think of the terracotta colours of the Piazza Navona. That always comes to my mind first for some reason when I think of Rome.The History and the architure. The fact that there is a statue of Caesar outside the Forum which is 800 years old....older than Australia's establishment.
The general Feel....it makes me think of summer. (probably because I was there in summer)
I could go on and on.....gelato after lunch, after dinner, after shopping, (such a treat)
The arrogance of the people (they know they can be arrogant because we will always keep going back, we love it no matter how annoying it was at the time.)

Love the food, love the people, love the shops, love the Vespa's,
love the buildings, the ruins, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the trees, the
views, even the beach. Mate so much. It's the hot summer in a t-shirt and
shorts and being in such an ancient city. Old and new mixed together.

Gucci and FENDI

The gay village and scooter traffic

I love Roma because it is so unique. I love the history that Roma has. No where else in the world can you
find the Colosseo, the Pope, Michelangelo art work etc, etc.
Everything exists in Roma.

No matter how bad the weather ,once you are in the centrale and on your way somewhere in Rome you are surrounded by history and beauty that you will never ever find in Greensborough or
Adelaide..... Ever!


Feel free to send me your favorite things: michael.nicolaci@italy-accom.com