Venice through the Lens . . .

On our way to Venice we hit a Hore Frost.
The enitre scene outside of the van was snap frozen.
An absolutely beautiful thing to witness, but a little scary to be driving through,
unsure whether the roads were frozen or not Glenn just followed the big trucks in front of us.

The entire week we spent in Venice we were shrouded in a thick fog.
It was eerie, magical and freezing cold.

Even the cobwebs were snap frozen.

The very first bridge we came across.
It's steps had been salted because of the ice.  We came across this
throughout Venice.

Only a couple of days before Christmas and the locals were
rugged up and out shopping at all the market stalls dotted
throughout the city.

Even the stall holders wore fur hats.  Only in Italy!

The girls loved the different Venitian masks.

A fur hat stall we stumbled across.
Each hat was about 30euros, real fur, and a popular accessory.

The grand canal through the fog.

San Marco Piazza

Jumping for joy in San Marco Piazza - or just trying to keep warm!

The Bridge of Sighs.

Walking along Venice's famous waterfront with it's pink street lights and local artists.

Living in Venice the kids play soccer in the streets.
We didn't see a blade of grass throughout the whole city.

We love the Italian doggy designer style.

Finding our angelic side outside the Leonardo Museum.

These kids were watching Mum and Dad Christmas shopping
through the toy shop window.

This man was hand making exquisite little Christmas trees
using real fir tree branches.

A Sheers family picnic in Venice.

The water taxi we took across to Venice everyday from our camp
at Fusina.

Looking back to Fusina.

Putting up our Christmas tree in Swifty.

The girls with thier Christmas booty - lots of art stuff and chocolate.

Taashi and Tilly made alot of our decorations this year -
best Christmas tree ever.

The girls favourite presents - warm comfy slippers.

 

Sienna and Florence through the lens . . .

The streets of Sienna through the fog - magical.

Chocolate pasta (?)

Looking through the walkway to Sienna's famous Piazza.

Whilst we were there the locals had their huge Christmas farmers market.

The local produce was so fresh.

These pasteries and donuts were to die for. 
We just had to buy and sample a couple of each.

 

The locals were out in full force stocking up for Christmas.

The fog didn't lift all day.
Made for great photos and atmosphere - though freezing cold!

Christmas pizza - only in Italy.

One of Italy's stand up pizza bars.
With piping hot delicious pizza and heating, we could have stayed in here all day.

The back streets are always the best for exploring.

The sun tried to break through and the fog lifted at about 3pm

 

Parking Sienna style.
With parking spots few and far between a lot of people just pulled up wherever
their cars would fit.  many drove these little electric cars - no problems parking these anywhere.

Just a little snipit of the Sienna skyline.

Love this Italian washing line.

An Ape50 3 wheeled car - very popular in Italy.
Italian men aren't as tall as Glenn.

 

Heading off for a days exploring in Florence.
Freezing cold morning - woke to a big frost - thus the hats and scarves.

The view of Florences Duomo from our campsite.
Camping Michaelangelo - the best location we have had yet.

Michaelangelo Piazza, Florence - very early in the morning.

The view from Michaelangelo.

Ponte Vecchio - Florences' famous shopping bridge.

We've never seen a queue outside a Tiffany's store before.
Either a really good sale on or lots of lucky Italian's find little blue boxes under the Christmas tree.

 

The girls check out a local artists works on the streets of Florence.

The Duomo is just an impressive building - as too the buildings surrounding it.

 

As the fog settles in once again.
The girls atop Michaelangelo Piazza late one night.

With not long until Christmas day we enjoyed seeing the locals getting ready.

Ponte Vecchio

Like Rome, Florence's streets ahd beautiful Christmas decorations hanging.
The locals used bikes, dressed to the nine's and were always on the phone.

 

Even the dogs wore designer clothes.
This one was running from person to person looking for some lunch.

Dusk in Florence.