It was a warm, clear day and we realized we'd left the sunscreen at the hotel. Yikes! We joined our guide for a walking tour that started in St. Mark's Square, included the Basilica (cutting the mile-long line) and went via a circuitous route to the Rialto Bridge. We got a good feel for the city and its history.
After getting some (extremely costly) sunscreen at a pharmacy, we crossed the bridge, window-shopped for a while and found a small restaurant down a side street. Another really good meal - caprese and french fries with local beer.
Finding our way back to San Marco was a challenge and we hit a few dead ends, but finally got there. We rewarded ourselves with a gelato and rested in the garden 'til our afternoon tour. That was a water-taxi tour of the city and Grand Canal. It was a great tour and our guide was most informative. More history and a sense of the city.
So many tourists! Turns out that this is a 4-day weekend celebrating the national holiday, so the place is absolutely swarming.
Last night through our open window we heard voices and the sound of suitcases rolling over paving bricks all night. Didn't keep us awake much though. Right now it sounds like hundreds of people out there. I hope most of them have somewhere else to go before bedtime!
We had seen a lot of Murano glass. Some of it's beautiful, but there's a lot I don't like at all.
Many buildings have glass mosaic tiles. Inspired! The gold and colours stay bright and don't wear off! The other thing we see everywhere is masks! There are traditional Carnival masks, modern ones and the doctor's (long nosed, with filtration) plague masks. They are available painted and decorated or plain.
Nice dinner at a restaurant next door to the hotel, a walk around the neighbourhood and bed. [Great day...but exhausting]
Photos 28 April
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| Venice Videos - 28 April Click this link for Photos from our first day |
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