Venice International Film Festival

On Wednesday, we walked around the streets of Venice, and did some window shopping. 

They had Pinnochio's everywhere! He was originated in Italy.

San Marco Square

We had originally planned on taking a gondola ride on our last day, but out last day was filled our confusion once again. We went to get our train ticket, and it took a lot longer than anticipated, of course we got lost, and grew more frustrated as the day went on. Our evening plans consider of going to watch a film at the Venice International Film Festival, which was a 30 minute boat ride away to another part of the Venice islands, so we had to ensure we planned far ahead to arrive on the island of Lido just in case we most likely were to get lost. We were a bit sad we missed out on the gondola ride as we actually had no problem finding the festival as the island we went on had actual pavement roads as opposed to the water roads we had in  the main islands. 

Thankfully we made it to the festival!!!

I usually work at the Toronto International Film Festival, so I was extremely excited to check out this world famous event! Te Venice festival is the oldest one, making this years 70th year! It is my bucket list to make it to all of the international ones!

The stars arrive by boat down the canal!

The day we went to the festival was its opening day! We got tickets to see the premiere of "Gravity", starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Unfortunately, we did not get to see them!

The film was about an hour and a half, and was extremely suspense and kept you on the edge of your seat! It had amazing effects as it was shown in 3D. 

After the film, they had a special presentation which featured 70 short films that 70 directors who were apart of the festival created for the 70th year. Each short was about 30-60 seconds long, and were all different in creative and structure. It was quite amazing too see how different directors think and create what they think is art in a short film.

I was very excited to be apart of this experience, but the Toronto International Film Festival still has y heart as my favourite! I found that we are so much more organized, and the hype is a lot more exciting in Toronto! I now understand why we are known as the "fun and friendly" festival! 

  

a-MAZE-ing Venice

We arrived in Venice on Tuesday morning and were extremely excited to hit the beautiful canals and start to explore the mysterious city. We had no idea what we were about to get ourselves into.

We hoped onto one of the many water taxis, that took us to our bus stop, which was carefully outlined in our directions from our bed and breakfast. When we hopped off, we started to begin the realize it was very hard to try and figure out which direction or which street to ten on as everything was very hard to see, and when we asked for directions two different people sent us two different ways. A great tip that we learned...NO ONE in Venice goes by street names. Apparently there are too many streets in Venice for anyone to remember. 

After about 45 minutes of going in the wrong direction, going down dead end alley ways and almost in tears from the pain of our backpacks, we finally came across two extremely friendly and helpful Canadian men who not only found us the correct directions from their very helpful concierge, but even walked with us to our b&b to ensure we found our way! We're we ever thankful and relived to FINALLY find our place...then find out we had to carry them seven flights up on our room. Ouch...

Once we settled, we weren't of excited to try and brave the streets again, but we cleaned ourselves up, and went exploring!

Stopped for a gelato! Much deserved! 

We ended our evening with a quick dinner, then went back to room for an early night as we were exhausted!

 

Under the Tuscan Sun

Late Sunday afternoon we arrived at a precious little villa in the hills of a small Tuscan town called San Ganezo. 

It was so cute and quant, and had the most beautiful view.

Along with the villa, we had the company of enjoying their pets, four geese, two dogs and a cat. At night time, wild pigs and deer would come out around the property. We could hear the pigs, and only faintly see them, but could see the deer close by.

All of the animals were really friendly. The dogs would follow us around to protect us, and when we went for walks, they would lead us and show us the way.

Later that night, the owners son lit up their stone oven outside, and he made us pizzas.

I've never had pizza so fresh with a perfect thin and crispy crust in my life!

They even let us try to make the pizzas ourselves, but we soon discovered that it was a very special skill to make it perfectly without burning it or making it fold over.

Cutting my masterpiece!

The next day was comepletely relaxing. We enjoyed a Tuscan breakfast on the balcony overlooking the propety. 

It was so peaceful!

In te afternoon, we went for a hike around the property, read some books and listened to music while laying in a hammock admiring the views. It was the exact thing we needed, as we had been so exhausted from the hustle and bustle of all of the major cities we had just been through for te last week.

This morning we left our villa on the hill, and went back to Florence to catch our train to Venice. 

Fields and fields of sunflowers!

We now are comepletely relaxed as rejuvenated, and are ready to take on the elegant city of Venice!