With cooler weather and thunderstorms threatening it wasn't the best of starts to this port of ports, but it was not going to dampen our spirits. A very quick bus shuttle to the boat shuttle and then a delightful trip into the main district of 'downtown' Venice, arriving near St. Mark's Square. One of the first things that hits you is the sheer volume of people getting off all these little ferries and the fact that it has become a humungus tourist haven – BUT there is no place in the world like Venice!!!!
Colin hasn't been to Venice before, so it was all very new to him and apart from the massive crowds, I remember it well - as it hasn't changed much in 40 years!!! We are lucky to be here for 2 full days, so we can pace ourselves and not rush around like we usually have to when visiting ports.
Today we just roamed around St. Mark's Square, then ambled through the mazes of little streets and canals with beautiful gondolas gliding by and found our way to the Grand Canal and the beautiful Rialto Bridge – what an awesome sight with so much activity happening in every direction. The Bridge itself was packed to the brim, restaurants & cafés buzzing and so many ferry boats, gondolas and water taxis, it's a wonder they don't collide.
We had lunch at a great spot literally on the Grand Canal – it's a shame the food wasn't as good as the view!!! I ordered Vegetable Crepes and I'm sure there was one spinach leaf between the crepes and it was covered with bottled cream cheese – I know the flavour, as it's a favourite of our grandsons!!! Colin's Lasagne was not too bad….
We did sit there with a glass of wine for quite a while and watched the passing pedestrian and water traffic, as the tide came in and almost up to our table.
No thunder or rain and as it turned out a lovely sunny day, we hopped on a gondola and had a fabulous ride with 'Ricky' through the canals and also on the Grand Canal, which was just great.
After all that excitement, we decided to call it a day and head back – the crowds at the Palace and the Basilica were far too long to even consider – hopefully tomorrow!!!
Photos: Venice!!!
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