Venice Photos

Once again, Venice did not disappoint!  I just returned from my trip and had a tough time choosing which photos to share with you. But here's my attempt!

The "grand" Grand Canal

Celebration for the feast of St. Mark's in Piazza San Marco...music, parades, and plenty of flag wavers.

Florian's....oldest cafe in Piazza San Marco.  The first cafe to allow men AND women!

Sketching on the island of Burano...a colorful fishing village in the Venetian lagoon.

Reflections of happy students in Mary Jo's glasses!

Venetian glass sparkles for us!

No summary of Venice would be complete without a nod to all of the efforts of the Venetians to make their surroundings as beautiful as possible.

Cicchetti...Venetian tapas.  We found some of our favorites on the island of Giudecca.

A hidden treasure garden!

Lunch  with my students, with a view of Venice and Santa Maria della Salute.

Splendor in the simple things.

A quiet spot on a side canal.

The Fondaco dei Tedeschi recently opened its doors in an ancient post office.  The public is now able to take an elevator to the roof terrace for the most spectacular, up close views of the East and West banks of the Grand Canal.

The fishing village of Burano.

Open air markets abound.

I need to paint this one!!!

On our gondola ride!

I got up early one morning, and what did I see??  The fog had rolled in!

The view from the bridge near our apartment was surreal!

Too many splendid, impressive churches to mention, but this statue of Mary is in the church on the island of Murano.  Every time I visit that church, I must photograph her, smiling down on me.

Books, books everywhere in this ancient book store near Santa Maria Formosa.  I always leave with a book for my evening's reading (and if you go, remember to give the kitty cat a pat on the head if he shows himself.  I think it brings good luck.)

I took my Non-Painters group (during the 2nd half of my overall trip) to The Lido this year!  Think of the Venice film festival and sightings of celebrities (we didn't see either but the beach, with the Adriatic Sea, was there to greet us).

My Non-Painters loved Murano's Osteria Al Duomo...we had trouble choosing from the extensive menu!

Cin cin!!!

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses from time to time!
And do it in Venice!!

Let me know what YOU think of Venice!  Do I have kindred spirits out there?!

www.helenkbeacham.com

Carrie Waller will do a workshop for us in the Charleston area (July 28-29). Details HERE...come to Charleston!

My Montreal (Canada) workshop (Aug 9-16) is still open for registration.  Montreal is my home town.  Let me she Her to you! (details HERE).

SEE MY LATEST POST HERE.

Did you know #2

Venice is tiny.  Sure...it's made up of 118 islands and 400 bridges, but if you hoof it, you can cross it on foot in about 2 hours.

Despite its small size, I was surprised to learn that there are different dialects spoken throughout the six different districts ( or "sistieri" as they're called...sistiere for the singular).

I remember, one day, standing in line to board one of the vaporetto (water bus or boat).  I was talking to a very distinguished-looking Italian gentleman, telling him we were headed to the Fondamente Nuove at the northern end of Venice, where we would grab another vaporetto to go to Burano (a fabulous fishing village).  

Well, he immediately let me know it was called Fondamente Nove, NOT NUove.  "But...", I stammered in broken Italian, "it says Nuove on the map."  

"Ugh", he replied, "we locals pronounce it Nove.  It is only called Nuove by those outside our sistiere and by those who created the map!"  He kind of lectured me for a few minutes until I assured him I would now and forevermore call it Nove.   I was rewarded with a big Italian smile!

www.helenKbeacham.com

It's time to think about Venice in 2017.  Come paint with me! 

Check out my classes HERE.   

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The Countdown begins

We're headed back to Venice soon!  Don't get me wrong.  I'm NOT looking forward to the flight itself.  I'm a light sleeper and struggle to get a few hours sleep on that overseas flight.  But I'll close my eyes, and I'll start picturing myself walking through Her streets and it will all be good.

Murano Glass

Rain is no deterrent.

Prosciutto

Buongiorno Indeed!

Art abounds!  Be still my heart!

Fun in the sun!  

The Doge's columns.

Dessert on the Lido.

Cannot wait to be serenaded again!  And to hear the bells!

Can't think of a more unique way to see this City of Water!

Sometimes it is worth looking UP.

Burano - as special as Venice herself.

Lovely examples of architecture from over the years.
Why not come with me (this year, or next!)?

www.helenKbeacham.com

Come paint with me! 

In 2015, we're going to Venice, Niagara Falls, Montreal and so on!!!  
Find details HERE.

Dreaming!

Starting to think ahead to my Venice painting workshop (slated for October) and the side trip to Burano (an island in the northern Venetian lagoon).  On my "Love Affair with Italy" blog, I share with you that Burano is  not just about pretty colored houses.  There's the rough and tumble fishing village aspect to it too.  Why not visit my Italy blog (click HERE) and sign up to receive my posts via email (fill in the box on the right hand side of that blog with your email address).

Photo courtesy of www.kimwaltonphotography.co.uk/burano/

Come with me (Helen K. Beacham) and Kelly Medford to paint Venice this October...

Click HERE for details!

See my latest post HERE.