… hmm, a few plugins to update, gimme a sec here…

… done!

Ok, back to the issue at hand. Some people may know that on October 23, Shannie and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. Ten wonderful years of her putting up with me is no small feat, and as such deserved to be celebrated. We’d always talked about doing a European trip for our 10th, and since we’re already here now, suddenly the process of doing so became a whole heck of a lot easier.

Italy is always a country I’ve wanted to visit, so for our anniversary we decided to spend 10 days in the boot. Our plan involved flying from Amsterdam into Venezia, spending 4.5 days there, then taking a half-day train to Roma, followed by another 5 days.

Long story short: Italy was absolutely gorgeous. Everything we had dreamed it would be. The weather was extremely cooperative as well, only giving us rain on one day out of ten. Every other day was sunny warm. Really, we couldn’t have asked for anything better (except for maybe more days).

Still working our way through the roughly 800 or so photos that we took, but here’s a selection of pictures from Venezia. Highlights from this city include: attending a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by a string group in authentic period costumes, eating delicious gelato 37 times a day, some of the most delicious red wine I’ve had in my life, an evening of Miles Davis music at the Venice Jazz Club, and taking a “bus” (read: “ferry”) trip around the entire island.

Click on an image to view it full-size. Note the little “Previous” and “Next” links at the bottom of the popup when you do so.

Roma pictures and a description of how I almost met the Pope to follow soon.

First up, Noodermarkt Kerk. Just outside here in the square on Saturdays you can stop by and get your fresh bread, meat, fruits and veggies. Monday mornings is more of the flea market style which I’ve posted previously. This is the square we looked out on in the temporary place.

Every once in a while you can find a bench to sit at for people watching purposes or just to rest. There are a few I found along the Prinsengracht.

Okay, this one’s on a houseboat so perhaps not a seat for the public to sit on but it looks pretty funny sitting on top of the boat.

Need a hand? Have a seat! Hee, hee.

And finally benches with people actually sitting on them. These people are pondering life while the pigeons are waiting for the one lady to drop whatever she’s eating.

Here’s a quick shot of a trusty tugboat pulling along a boat needing some help.

These green wheel cars are all over Amsterdam. It’s a car coop program. Instead of owning a car you pay a monthly fee and sign up to take one of these cars out for certain blocks of time. I have to say I’m quite shocked at how many cars drive through these narrow streets.

Along with pigeons there are many seagulls who live here. They love trash day, market day or when people decide to throw bread in the canal. This is one of those moments.

I hope you enjoyed your wander along the Prinsengracht. I shall be back tomorrow so stay tuned!