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Day 5 The merchant of Venice

Waking up early in the morning, we had the usual breakfast ( eggs, ham and bacon. Cereal, coffee) and headed out early for the pier.

It's Christmas Eve and here in Europe, Christmas is similar to our Chinese New Year eve where families would gather together and have dinner. So most people wanted to end work early and go home. We met our representative at the pier and arranged our motor boat to reach Venice.

Boat ride to Venice

View from the boat

Look at the crowd going to Venice

Venice is made of many islands and they are connected by numerous bridges. The boat ride to the main island we were visiting took around 20 minutes. We were heading for St Mark's island (St Marco in Italian). There we had a little time to take pictures at the pier. We walked past Bridge of Sighs which is built between a government building and a prison. It was the last place prisoners can catch their last glimpse of freedom, hence its name. We settled that St Mark's square would be our meeting area since it was more obvious.

Somewhere in Venice haha

X'mas Decorations

The Bridge of Sighs

St Mark's Square

Family photo in the square

While Karlina took those who paid for the optional gondola ride to their ride, we took pictures at the square. There is a really nice church there and we took pictures there as well. (To enter the upper levels of the church we had to climb up a flight of stairs and to enter you had to pay €5. ) We went to the lower floors where we saw the awesome interior for free. (But photography was prohibited.)

One gondola

Doing business

Parking area

With the little amount of time, I also managed to do some shopping ( managed to get the Venetian mask I always wanted.) but there really wasn't much time.

This was one of the masks on display (Costs a bomb. Swarvoski crystals)

My very own (cheapo) Venetian mask

It even comes with its own verification certificate

ORIGINAL (and cheap)

After the rest were done with their gondola ride ( which cost €30 per pax for 20 min) we gathered and visited the glass blowing factory. It was really cool to see how the master crafted the glass vase.

The master craftsman showcasing his skills

Look at the oven

Moulding the shape

Swift movements

After the factory visit, we headed out for lunch. Karlina brought us to a restaurant that served traditional Venetian food. We ordered Spagehtti Venenzia ( Black squid spaghetti) , fish soup ( which was the equivalent of Singaporean seafood soup) and Lazengia ( Garfield's favourite). The food was really tasty but costs quite a bomb ( food in Europe is really expensive)

"Seafood" Soup

Black Squid Noodles

Lazangia (Can never spell this out properly)

After lunch we had some time before we had to run to catch the ferry back to mainland. Arriving on mainland, we had a 2 hour drive all the way to Milan, the land of fashion.

Stores selling souvenirs near the pier

In Milan, we went to a shopping area ( something like a square) and the stores were still open though it was around 4+ on Christmas Eve. We went into the church during the 30 minute free time while some others went shopping. There was a mass going on in the church. ( it is a Roman Catholic Church)

When I entered the church, it was really magnificent. (All the churches that we've visited in Europe so far had been really cool and magnificent. The architecture and the paintings up in the domes) It was also a really different feeling to spend Christmas Eve in a church. (Felt really blessed to finally be able to attend a Christmas service and to be in Europe during this time.

Inside the church

Candles light the way

Every light is a prayer

The Father holding the mass (I'm not catholic though)

The church from the outside

After free time, we headed towards our restaurant for dinner. Since it's Christmas Eve, most of the European restaurants were closed, so we had dinner in an Asian restaurant

Though the restaurant claims to be a Michelin restaurant, the food really isn't that good or special. (But it still sufficed for our hungry stomachs)