Veneto

From September 2-5, we stayed with a friend of Christian's named Tulia in a little town called St. Michael right next to Conegliano and just north of Venice. Tulia and her family welcomed us into their nearly finished bed & breakfast suite on the top floor of their house. We were incredibly spoiled with local wine, live music, and plate after plate of delicious food made from ingredients grown outside or on the neighbours' farms. Tulia also lived in Venice when she went to school there, and so we had an insider guided tour around.

This is Tulia and her mom at their lovely house.

This is their front room, complete with pizza oven, fireplace and enormous windows that look out on rolling hills and vineyards as far as the eye can see.

This is their dog Lilla (purple). She parks her two front paws like this inside the doorway, and that's as far as she's allowed to go (when Tulia's mom is looking). Christian had a great time running around in the yard with her. Apparently her favourite meals are small animals and local lizards.

Tulia's dad playing a baroque-style guitar from his collection. Tulia plays the harp and they have a band together.

View of the countryside in St. Michael.

An old mill we visited near Tulia's.

Near Tulia's at an old church.

Conegliano. We had a nice Spritz with Tulia around here before we left.

We climbed up a tower that looked out over the town in Conegliano. This is one of the views.

Venetian alley, on Tulia's tour.

A fancy gondola. A little too rich for our blood.

Tulia and Christian enjoying...

this view.

Many many store windows were stuffed full of these masks.

Had to be careful not to walk right off the edge.

Walking out into St. Mark's Square.

Bride on the loose in the square. It looked like a photo-shoot.

The best tasting water of the trip came from these fountains.

We even got to see the Venice Bienniale. This was VERY exciting, and perfectly set in the massive spaces of the arsenale - where ships used to be built. It only looks like he's drinking the installation.

I like this shot.

Tulia snapping away in the different coloured rooms. And Christian is smiling!

A great installation that made a starry universe out of many appliances and office machines in a very dark space with their power lights on.

Buddha's hand.

Whenever Christian gets his hands on string, he makes this design.

This one reminds me of the dancing we saw at a wedding in Germany.

Out in the sculpture garden.

You could get from one end of a long enclosed space to the other without touching the ground.

After the art we got on a waterbus. Our feet were just about to fall off.

Christian and Tulia having a well-deserved rest.

One last image of Venice.