Europeans are agog! Due to extensive foreign press coverage of the US, there is broad knowledge about US domestic politics. Remarkably, Nancy Pelosi, Robert Gates and Rahm Emanuel are household names in Europe! How many of us can name the president of Spain? (Trick question - does Spain have a president?)
La Serenissima
WOW! Venice is one of the greatest spots in Europe! Just so we wouldn’t ever forget, Bethesda Travel’s staff took a little respite last weekend and spent 3 days enjoying and exploring La Serenissima! We try to never lose sight of the specialness of the city – the old adage is very true:
“there are so many great cities in the world, but there is only one Venice!”
Absolutely wonderful all year long, Venice really shows its best face in the off-season! January and February are always filled with anticipation for the upcoming Carnevale Mardi Gras celebration (Venice is famous for its elaborate masks and costumes)! Another highlight of the off-season is that you can enter the Basilica of San Marco and the great museums like the Doges’ Palace, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Palazzo Grassi withzero wait in line!
Speaking of art, Venice’s Biennale art festival is coming up in June. The 2009 edition will include an extensive art exposition featuring dealers from all over the world, as well as the inauguration of Punta della Dogana Museum (see insert) in the XV-c custom house just a few blocks from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Venetians are thrilled that their city is about to become a global mecca for contemporary art! As a bonus the 2009 concert and opera schedule (world class!) at the Fenice Theater (http://www.teatrolafenice.it/) has been announced.
Art aside, the true joy of Venice is the chance to stroll for hours in the infinitely varied back streets and narrow alleyways (called calli) that comprise the city! A variety of shops, beautiful bridges and exotic architecture are everywhere, reminding us that up until about 400 years ago the lion that symbolized Venice (Mark the Evangelist’s icon is a lion) was where east and west met!
And don’t forget the food! L’ Oliva Nera is exceptional as well as old favorites such as Do Forni and the local-style da Mario alla Fava, just by the Rialto Bridge. Romanticismo abounds and the frugalistas among you will be thrilled to know that the lower euro make it all so much more affordable!
Hotels:
The Londra Palace Hotel (one of my favorites) is undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation and SLH’s Liassidi Palace Hotel might just be the hidden jewel that you were all waiting for! Anyone looking for a weekly apartment rental for 4-7 people? The spacious and elegant Ca’ Salvioni features unbelievable XVIII-c canvases and chandeliers from Murano! Time to start planning that 2009 extravaganza!
This brand new art museum will feature the private contemporary art collection of French billionaire Francois Pinault (he owns Gucci and Christies, among others). The XV-c palazzo on the island opposite Piazza San Marco is undergoing a 20M€ renovation and will be transformed into a 4,300 sq. meter (almost ten acres!) museum to host temporary exhibitions as well as providing a permanent home to Pinault’s personal collection: “...this is a good thing for [the] presentation of top quality works of art” were Pinault’s humble words. And now Venice, a city of art for many centuries will truly become an international art center!
It seems that one of the most critical momentum-builders of the campaign was Obama’s reception in Berlin, after that he was virtually unstoppable! Europeans are totally excited about the new administration.
Italian troops served in Iraq and the USAF base at Aviano is a critical link in the war effort, however Italian public opinion decries the lack of international consensus prior to deposing Saddam Hussein. The aftershocks of Wall Street’s tumble have made their way to Europe and Obama is viewed as a harbinger of new international cooperation and prosperity.
President Obama was on the cover of every magazine I saw in Europe and even a humorous radio ad for a flooring company declares “Yes We Can!” Only guess what??? It’s been translated to the patois of Roma - - - “Se Pò Fà!” JFK remains a hero to Italians and Obama seems to have already gained a spot on the same pedestal!
Bethesda Travel staff in the Piazza San Marco, Venice
17 January, 2009
World-famous murano glass
Ferrying passengers through Venice's picturesque canals
Ca' Salvioni's XVIII-c chandelier and paintings
The Winged Lion,symbol of the Venezian Republic
"Ciao" from Venice
You don't have to wait till vacation to savor a gondola ride. Tours are now availbale in Baltimore's inner harbor providing a taste of this exotic transportation.
What better way to build the excitement for your next Italian adventure!?!
Gondoliers await their next passenger in Venice
OK, take the NFL, Major League Baseball, PGA, NHL and add in NASCAR, NCAA football and basketball - combine them all together and you almost have what calcio (aka futbol, or even the US name, soccer!) means to
the average Italian!
With the boom in youth soccer in the US, we frequently get requests for game tickets - the games are really exciting! The crowd is extremely partisan and the fans (the word is tifosi = typhus sufferers, since they tend to be hot-blooded!) really get into it! They have their own chants for the teams and if the referee blows a call he’ll really hear about it, so there is a big home-field advantage.
The season begins in the late summer and games are mostly on the weekend, Sunday being the a big day. The season goes until the first week of June, when the best team is awarded the scudetto championship trophy!
As you can imagine the players are revered and highly paid. The game is extremely fast and tactical and scores are very low, making games close and exciting! Unlike in US sports, sometimes 0-0 can be the most exciting game!
On top of the Italian League, there is the Europe-wide Champions League as well as the UEFA Cup.
Every four years is the World Cup, and Italy is the defending champion, so the 2010 edition is already on everybody's mind! Forza Italia!
Painting of the Palazzo
You will be happy to know that although the Euro strengthened dramatically over the holidays, the dollar re-strengthened in mid-January, regaining most of the value it had lost in the fall of 2008.
The UK Pound has also lost strength against the dollar, meaning a pick-up of more than 33% in value in few short months! Bethesda Travel's clients are uniquely able to optimize this value.
A word about Bethesda Travel Center!
We are, since 1961, top custom-vacation planners to Italy and Europe. Our expertise and enthusiasm combine time and again to create what our clients remember as the
best vacation of thier lives!
Bethesda Travel is uniquely qualified to custom-plan your next trip of a lifetime!
