Venice Via Kid’s Books!

Venice Via Kid’s Books!
August 29, 2008

We love the idea of making up kids itineraries
from good
children’s literature! I think it helps
ground the experience in a
deeper way

We love the idea of making up kids itineraries from good
children’s literature! I think it helps ground the experience in a
deeper way when you use books with kids or adults.

This is our video on the subject that we posted on Youtube and now transferred to our website, for more detail check out the original post here:

http://www.soultravelers3.com/2007/05/kids-lit-itiner.html

Or look at our Youtube channel and subscribe to be the first to see our videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/soultravelers3

Mozart really
enjoyed both these books, so we used them to create some of our
itineraries while in Venice. We went to Piazza San Marco and fed the pigeons, saw the Ca’d’Oro (house of gold), went to the the famous Rialto bridge on the Grand Canal and more…. just like Zoe Sophia ( the 10 year old protagonist in the book). Mozart
also wanted to see if we could find the exact place where Zoe Sophia
had a wonderful cup of hot chocolate. One of her favorite Paris
adventures was finding Angelina’s where Linnea had special hot
chocolate, so we hoped for another exciting find.

Caffe Florian
on the Piazza was found in a covered area near to the Basilica, but
hidden behind the orchestra. According to the book, “Venetians have
come to Florian’s since 1720″ and there certainly was magic there the
day we came.

As you can see in the picture we found the exact
same spot where Zoe Sophia and her aunt D.P. had their very special hot
chocolate and we did it too! Like Angelina’s, it is a pricey place to
have hot chocolate, but a splurge well worth it as every time she looks
at the book, she remembers her shared experience. Books help kids make
it their own and we have loved using them on our world tour!

Mozart
was a voracious reader long before we left, which does help, but even
for a child who is not reading yet, books can help when preparing for
travel and as an aid in keeping it more alive after one returns.

Hunting
this famous location down and enjoying this enchanting experience was a
treat for all of us as the small orchestra played on this beautiful day
in Piazza San Marco. Another fun coincidence for us was that both the
violin and piano players were woman. Mozart really related to the
beautiful blond violinist and she went over to talk to her with her own
violin in hand, as earlier she played on the gondola which was a thrill
she will never forget.