Day 8 - Italy Trip Report 6/8-16

[pihanettie]

We awoke with great sadness knowing this was our last full day of our trip. The beautiful breakfast room brightened our spirits, though.

Ceiling artwork

Our guides joined us in the lobby to get us excited for our mask making activity:

First we did a tour of the Doge's Palace.

The golden ceiling

The guides took the kids off for an art detective game while we toured the palace with the city expert. We often saw the kids running past us for their next clue.

View from the palace

Looking through the bridge of sighs

St. Mark's square will flood slightly at high tides. There are holes in the floor where the water will seep through and also used to drain the water.

We headed over to the mask making workshop (it was about a 30 minute walk). You saw a small demonstration and picked out your mask. Everyone set to work and I asked a question about a ribbon and was told to go outside. One of the other guests was talking to one of the experts and he took her mask and did all the work. It looked so nice I had him do mine as well. Some people started on their own and then went to him to "fix it" as someone else said. Several people did their own and those were fabulous too. But if you have no talent (that's me) you can have them do it for you. We then had lunch on our own and met again for a glass blowing demonstration at the Murano factory that the guides added for us (not an advertised Disney stop). We did a little shopping and gathered for the farewell dinner at 7.

Glass blowing. He made a pitcher and a cat figurine in minutes.

Our masks at dinner

Dinner started with risotto

or gnocchi with eggplant

Mains were sea bass

or beef

or chicken

Dessert was gelato

panna cotta

tiramisu

or chocolate mousse

We had 3 women dressed in Renaissance outfit playing music, with a quick slideshow of our week, pictures and a skit performed by 4 of the guests. We had a wonderful time.

Our guides, Marco V and Troy

In the morning our guides met us in the lobby and helped us into our water taxi for the 40 minute ride to the airport. If you taxi left before breakfast started, as ours did, the guides prepared a breakfast for you to take.

 

[Jenncram]

Thank you so much for your posts! Your pics are beautiful and the info is really useful to me. I was salivating over the food pics. I'm a bit worried about the heat as we don't leave for a month! We are bringing spray bottle/fans with us and I can only hope they relent about the AC thing overnight in July. Oh well, lots of pool dips and gelato will help. We really want to do Pisa and our trip is huge, so hopefully there's enough other people that the guides will help us arrange something. Getting very excited!

 

[pihanettie]

You'll have a great time.

 

[abdgeek]

Thanks for the trip report. I'm doing this trip next month and can't wait! I'm especially excited about the after hours access to some of the sites in Rome.

Can you comment on or did the ABD guides share info on the process for getting your VAT back in the Venice airport for purchases over a certain amount? I've done the process before in Barcelona, but was wondering if the process is similar in Venice. I know you can mail it back, but I haven't heard of many people actually getting it back that way. I would prefer to get it before I leave if I am eligible for it. I know if I pay cash that they give it to you up front, but I don't plan on doing that.

 

[pihanettie]

Thanks for the trip report. I'm doing this trip next month and can't wait! I'm especially excited about the after hours access to some of the sites in Rome.

Can you comment on or did the ABD guides share info on the process for getting your VAT back in the Venice airport for purchases over a certain amount? I've done the process before in Barcelona, but was wondering if the process is similar in Venice. I know you can mail it back, but I haven't heard of many people actually getting it back that way. I would prefer to get it before I leave if I am eligible for it. I know if I pay cash that they give it to you up front, but I don't plan on doing that.

The guides did not talk about the VAT at all. I brought cash for all my purchases. I don't think there was tax at the Vatican store, maybe because you are in another country. I saw a kiosk at the airport in Venice, one of our families was in line there for a long time. The guides should be able to help you. I liked paying cash since the stores will give you an extra discount if you pay cash, at least the stores I visited did.

 

[slachowski]

Thanks for the trip report. I'm doing this trip next month and can't wait! I'm especially excited about the after hours access to some of the sites in Rome.

Can you comment on or did the ABD guides share info on the process for getting your VAT back in the Venice airport for purchases over a certain amount? I've done the process before in Barcelona, but was wondering if the process is similar in Venice. I know you can mail it back, but I haven't heard of many people actually getting it back that way. I would prefer to get it before I leave if I am eligible for it. I know if I pay cash that they give it to you up front, but I don't plan on doing that.

The retailer should give you the receipt with the information as well as an envelope that explains it all. However, from experience when we left Venice we had 2 VAT claims to make at the airport. When we finished checking in there is a counter right near one of the entrances that does it, check with your airline to see where it is. They will confirm your purchases and stamp your receipts. Once you get through security and before you present your passport to board your plane there should be a counter nearby that will allow you to do your exchange. Make sure you have enough time to do it depending on the line, more than 10 people and there will be about a 20-30 minute wait. Other than that you can mail it when you get back to the states.

One other quick note about customs when you get back to the states, when filling out your form on the plane about declaring items there is a question asking you if you visited a farm, if you check yes you will need to go through another area of customs that will take even more time when you land back in the states. From what someone in our group told us they spray something in to your cases, not sure what since we selected "no". Hope this helps.

 

[Cousin Orville]

The art detective game sounds neat. That's great the guides added a visit to a glass blowing shop. What did you think of Murano? Would you recommend a visit?

 

[pihanettie]

The art detective game sounds neat. That's great the guides added a visit to a glass blowing shop. What did you think of Murano? Would you recommend a visit?

We didn't need to go to Murano. There is a factory about a block from St. Mark's square, so we walked there. There wouldn't have been time to take the boat to the island and get back for dinner.

 

[Cousin Orville]

We didn't need to go to Murano. There is a factory about a block from St. Mark's square, so we walked there. There wouldn't have been time to take the boat to the island and get back for dinner.

I see. Well it looked like an awesome final day. Those masks look amazing.

 

[abdgeek]

The art detective game sounds neat. That's great the guides added a visit to a glass blowing shop. What did you think of Murano? Would you recommend a visit?

I did one of the DCL excursions to Murano on my 2013 DCL cruise because it was on my list of must dos. The glass blowing demo is similar to what you can see anywhere, but the showroom was phenomenal. I had planned to buy Murano glass on that trip, but the showroom pieces were not my style. I ended up with earrings and a bracelet that I always get compliments on.
When I'm in Venice this time, I plan on finding a shop in St. Mark's to see if they have something closer to what I want. Just like the OP, several of my friends who have been to Venice have said that you don't have to go to Murano to buy Murano glass. They've purchased theirs in St. Mark's and they said the prices are the same. I believe I also read that in Frommer's.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I did one of the DCL excursions to Murano on my 2013 DCL cruise because it was on my list of must dos. The glass blowing demo is similar to what you can see anywhere, but the showroom was phenomenal. I had planned to buy Murano glass on that trip, but the showroom pieces were not my style. I ended up with earrings and a bracelet that I always get compliments on.
When I'm in Venice this time, I plan on finding a shop in St. Mark's to see if they have something closer to what I want. Just like the OP, several of my friends who have been to Venice have said that you don't have to go to Murano to buy Murano glass. They've purchased theirs in St. Mark's and they said the prices are the same. I believe I also read that in Frommer's.

Do t mean to hijack the thread, but we're planning on taking the ferry over to Burano before the cruise. Have you done that per chance on your excursion? I'd be interested to hear if you felt either Murano or Burano were worth making the trip.

 

[abdgeek]

Do t mean to hijack the thread, but we're planning on taking the ferry over to Burano before the cruise. Have you done that per chance on your excursion? I'd be interested to hear if you felt either Murano or Burano were worth making the trip.

Unfortunately, I didn't do Burano--but it was on my list of must dos. The excursion that I wanted to do was sold out by time I booked my excursions, which I did on the first day I could. Truth be told, we didn't spend much time on Murano, maybe an hour or 1.5 hrs and then we went to another island(San Giorgio--I think to see the Last Supper by Tintoretto). We didn't have time to see anything else but the demo and shop in the store. If it's on your list of must dos, I say go for it. I definitely enjoyed seeing the Murano glass factory and the artisans at work. Unless you plan to walk the entire island, you won't need much time there. Maybe check out what Frommer's says about both islands--I think that's where I looked for my original info. I also looked into Burano for my upcoming trip, but I'm not sure I will go because there doesn't appear to be much to do but walk around. However, I do want to buy some Burano lace and my college roommate told me I could buy that in St. Mark's. She did visit Burano when she went to Venice a couple of years ago and loved it. She said there aren't may women left who can make the lace so they're concerned that the art will die out.

 

[kristilew]

pihanettie, Thank You for a wonderful trip report! We haven't had one in way too long for this trip. Even though I'm still 6 months out, I'm getting so excited for our December adventure!

Reading about your issues with the heat makes me think it maybe won't be a bad thing to be there when it's cold, though. It's funny, isn't it, how ABD is committed to their outdoor eating venues, regardless of weather? I have both shivered and sweltered at ABD meals. On the other hand, we were inside a typical banquet room at Grand Canyon and I complained about the ugly setting and would rather have been outside and hot with a view. Poor Disney, I guess they can't win!

Glad you had a good trip and thanks again for taking the time to share!

 

[sayhello]

pihanettie, Thank You for a wonderful trip report! We haven't had one in way too long for this trip. Even though I'm still 6 months out, I'm getting so excited for our December adventure!

Reading about your issues with the heat makes me think it maybe won't be a bad thing to be there when it's cold, though. It's funny, isn't it, how ABD is committed to their outdoor eating venues, regardless of weather? I have both shivered and sweltered at ABD meals. On the other hand, we were inside a typical banquet room at Grand Canyon and I complained about the ugly setting and would rather have been outside and hot with a view. Poor Disney, I guess they can't win!

Glad you had a good trip and thanks again for taking the time to share!

Well, you know, if they've made arrangements with the restaurant for 44 people in an outside venue, there's no guarantee they *have* space for 44 people inside. However, when I did the Med Cruise add-on, it was *really* windy on Capri, and they moved us inside the restaurant (still with a beautiful view) rather than putting us out over the cliff in the wind. So I guess it depends on the type of weather. Heat in the summer is kind of expected... (NOT that I'm saying I'd want to be sitting out in the heat eating, either. But I don't think it's that they "don't care" or anything like that).

Sayhello

 

[pihanettie]

pihanettie, Thank You for a wonderful trip report! We haven't had one in way too long for this trip. Even though I'm still 6 months out, I'm getting so excited for our December adventure!

Reading about your issues with the heat makes me think it maybe won't be a bad thing to be there when it's cold, though. It's funny, isn't it, how ABD is committed to their outdoor eating venues, regardless of weather? I have both shivered and sweltered at ABD meals. On the other hand, we were inside a typical banquet room at Grand Canyon and I complained about the ugly setting and would rather have been outside and hot with a view. Poor Disney, I guess they can't win!

Glad you had a good trip and thanks again for taking the time to share!

You will have a great time. I am already missing it. It probably won't be as crowded then, so another plus for you!

 

[amymeadors]

stunning pictures!

 

[abdgeek]

Thanks for the trip report. I'm doing this trip next month and can't wait! I'm especially excited about the after hours access to some of the sites in Rome.

Can you comment on or did the ABD guides share info on the process for getting your VAT back in the Venice airport for purchases over a certain amount? I've done the process before in Barcelona, but was wondering if the process is similar in Venice. I know you can mail it back, but I haven't heard of many people actually getting it back that way. I would prefer to get it before I leave if I am eligible for it. I know if I pay cash that they give it to you up front, but I don't plan on doing that.

Hi Everyone...I just returned from the Viva Italia trip so I wanted to update info on the VAT. Now having done it, as the OP said, it's very easy. However, make sure you get your VAT forms whenever you spend more than 160 euros in one place(not sure if the actual amount is 155 or so--some people got things at the gift shop outside of the Vatican and weren't automatically given the form. The ABD guide brought the subject up and had to go back in with them to get the form). When you enter the airport, you get your stamp for your VAT at the kiosk by the Delta check-in near the entrance/exit door. They say to get the stamp first and then check-in for your flight. You then have to decide if you want the VAT in cash or credit card refund. I always choose cash. If you want it back to your cc, they take your cc number and it's supposed to be put back on--not sure if it works(someone in our group did it that way so it will be interesting to see what happens and how long it takes--the guide thought that there was no reduction in the VAT if you did it this way, where there is a fee with the cash refund). If you want cash, once you get past security go to the Travelex kiosk by gate 16 with your paperwork and they will give you your refund.