Merry Xmas: Introducing Santa Village!

Right in the middle of the Artic Circle, just on top of Finland. This is where you can find Santa's secret Home town.. :)

2nd Day In Venice.. :)

Due to jet lag, we woke up late on the second day.. have a sumptous breakfast at our hotel.. complimentary with the hotel stay.. if you want to make full use of your holiday budget, get a hotel stay with free breakfasts.

Michelle ready for breakfast.. if you do not wish to spend more on food in the day.. remember to have a heavy breakfast..

hehe.. my plate.. :)

Dad said "Yeah!"

This is my 3rd plate.. I think. :)

And off we go to Venice!!

The weather is very good on the second day. No rain, cooling temperature.. Took a pic just outside the train station..

Didn't see this sight on the first day.. :)

My parents in front of Grand Canal.

Took this on the waterbus route 1.. how difficult it is for the builders to transport their materials..

The only casino in Venice, has been around for centuries... it is under renovation..

Beautiful Venetian floating buildings...

So beautiful that I wish to go there again next time.. our first stop...

The Rialto Market.. I believe this is the coolest place..

Vegetables never seen in my country..

Fresh Chillis...

Michelle "secretly" going to pick some vegetables in broad daylight..

"Arancia", Italian word for orange.. sweet and juicy red pulps... Mmmm.. :)

Gigantic Red Dates.. I think.. Wow!

Fresh seafood.. Always abundant in Venice!

Mum is very excited there.. want to buy some seafood back but I told her it is impossible..

Slipper Lobsters.... :)

Lobsters and Clams!!

Sardines.. almost any kind of seafood you can find it here.. Fresh from the sea!

Mini crabs.. taste better when cooked fried with a glass of beer..

And gigantic squids.. the size of a new born baby...

Oh this is just a cute passer-by..

Preserved Seafood.. look very tasty.. yummy!!

Spider crabs and sharks.. and many more seafood for you to explore next time you come to Venice.. :)

That's all for the coolest market in Venice.. remember to have a good lunch in the food outlets in the market.. prices are much less expensive than San Marco..

Beautiful tiny bridges linking the floating buildings.

Posing in front of one costume jewellery shop.. prices here, near Rialto Market are relatively less expensive compare to streets around San Marco.

Chocolates and Candies!!

More Candies!! :)

Too many sweet things that Michelle can't resist.

1st Night In Hotel Bologna.. Dining At Datura Restaurant

If you are in Italy, remember to try out Italian and Venetian dishes.. one restaurant I would recommend is Datura Restaurant right on the ground level of our hotel, Hotel Bologna..

The restaurant has been around for about a century, preparing a range of Venetian and Italian dishes.. every month the one michelin star chef and his crew will prepare seasonal dishes..

For we who do not have a high budget, we took the degustation menu, a series of appetizer, first, second courses and dessert and always you can have a glass of red or white wine.. instead of ala carte so we can eat more and enjoy more.. there are two degustation menus so we ordered two each..

Our appertizer is..

Roasted pumpkin with sweet creamy sauce.. this is a complimentary healthy dish from the chef.. to give us a little surprise.. :)

Michelle, satisfied with the appertizer and her red wine..

We ordered their sashimi platter with Green tea sherbet ala carte as our 2nd appertizer... too tasty and sweet.. that I forgotten to take the photo of it before finishing the platter..

Following will be our first courses,

I forgotten the name of this dish, but they are pretty nice..

 

This is the seafood gratin using Venetian variety of seafood..Popular Venetian dish..

We thought that is all for the dishes but here are the second courses..

I still remember the taste although I can't remember the dish name.. hope I can go back again to savour this dish again..

This is a combination of duck and bacon dish.. it may not look good.. but it is outrageously tasty!

We will very full after the second courses.. however.. we try to make some room for our desserts!!

3 desserts in a plate.. and of course...

TIRAMISU!! This is the best tiramisu I ever had in my life.. the crispy coffee crusts and the creamy puff will make one longs for another plate again and again...

These sweet biscuits come in complimentary with our tea and coffee right after desserts.. We had an enjoyable dinner there and very satisfied with the attentiveness and friendliness of the wait staffs there.. although one thing is the food served is a bit slow but overall we have a wonderful experience there.

Footing the bill.. we paid 152 euros.. a lot but it is very worth for this quality of food.. we will come again next time..

Travel Tip: Shopping In Branded Boutique Shops In Europe

For Singaporeans, buying branded products in Europe is always less expensive than buying in Singapore. This is mainly because of the VAT refund and the boutiques' origin in Europe. You have to pay GST here but not in Europe..

We have about 12.9% refund.. and save a lot more money for us to do more shopping..

Here are the steps:

1. Remember to bring along your passport when you shop. Tell the retail assistant that you want to have VAT refund. He or she would ask if you want the refund to be credit to your credit card or refund in cash.

1. The retail assistant will produce a tax refund invoice and an original receipt. Remember, do not lose it.

1. When you are leaving EU, remember to get your tax refund invoice stamped by the custom before checking in your luggage, so it would be best to come early to the airport.

1. After checking in your luggage and pass by security check, remember to get your tax refund from the tax refund office in the departure hall.

Hope these information are useful to you!

Venice Vacation - Day 1

Before going to Venice, we read a lot about how romantic and beautiful she is. I also learn some simple Italian phrases so I can use them for the 4 days in Venice.

Our 1st day do not come well. It was drizzling and temperature is cold. The moment we step out of the station, took a quick picture moment..

Me and Michelle 1st 5 mins in Venice..

Took the waterbus route Number 1.the busiest and most popular water route.. Where you will be sailing along the Grand Canal.. Many photo opportunities..

Took a picture of Dad and an American tourist..

In Venice, you can either walk and get yourself lost in the city or you can take the water buses. Gondolas are expensive, 80 euros per person, however if you are going there, prepare to spend more to experience.. saw Hotel Contintental on the way..

Beautiful crafted gondolas along the Grand Canal..

Rialto Bridge.. where you can do some great shopping here..

Every view is like paintings to me... wish you were here as well..

Venetian buildings are kind of mystique and beautiful..

 

A gondolier sailing back to his floating home..

 

We stopped 2 stations before San Marco.. passing along branded boutiques shops on our way first..

Pigeons drinking the raindroplets on the cobbled floor..

Even thru walking to unknown spots in Venice, you can still take some great pic..

Many interesting shops you can find in Venice. Took a quick picture while walking..

A beautiful church along our leisure walk to San Marco..

When you are in Venice, you will feel that every little part of the town is a great photo opportunity..

Finally, we have reached San Marco square, after a 30 mins stroll.. FYI, most boutiques shops are here, that includes LV, Guess and many more.. Buying branded goods is better and less expensive in Europe than Singapore, will tell you more on the next post..

Mum and Michelle behind the highest point in Venice, the Campanile.. you can see a bird eye view of the most romantic town in the world from there..

If you are in Venice, remember to go to Basilica San Marco and The Doges' Palace.. San Marco is less crowded (but still a lot of tourists) in weekdays than weekends especially in San Marco..

The Doges' Palace..

Horizon view of La Salute from San Marco Square..

After wandering in Venice for hours, we decided to go back our hotel.Although it is about 3pm, but the jet laggedness is making us very tired..so took water bus ride back to the train station. And there is another great view of San Marco! :)

Sitting at the rear of the water-bus.. still have many great photos taking moments..

A nice Italian couple took a picture for us, while we took a picture of them with their camera.

Dad came for a great photo moment.. :)

We reached Ferrovia, this is where you will go to San Lucia Train station.. passed by this candy and bakery store.. wow yummy!
That's the end of our day 1 in Venice.. looking forward to tomorrow.. :)