Venice
Wednesday & Thursday (7-8 & 9)
This was a little different for us. The boat got into Venice on the 8th around noon but they didn't kick us off until the morning of the 9th. We were already planning on staying in Venice till the 10th so we didn't even get off the ship on the 8th. Just hung out, drank, ate, swam, and generally screwed around. What the heck, it was the last free meal we were going to see for awhile.
I've included the map to give you an idea of where we were coming into and where we were boating/walking around.
The boat went down the main canal the ran right thru the center of Old Town Venice.
I mean right thru the heart of Venice. This is San Marco Square.
This is looking down the Grand Canal. The building in the center is the Punta della Dogana. You will see it a little later on this page.
This city really is built on water and full of canals.
I left my boat here.
Wait, this is my boat. I knew it was around here someplace.
Our last sunset on the ship.
This is the afternoon of the 9th. After we got off the ship and checked into a hotel, we went back into Venice. This is aboard a water bus that took us from the Stazion di Santa Lucia to San Marco Square.
You've heard of a Chinese Fire Drill. The canals in Venice are a perfect example of an Italian Fire Drill. No rhyme or reason. Everybody just goes where they want to and they try not to hit each other. And I thought their driving was bad. This makes Rome traffic seem like a snap.
A "One Way" canal. Yeah, like the Italians pay attention to signs. The boat on the left has the engine toward us.
These peoples front doors are right on the water. Amazing.
This guy even had a front yard.
This was our lucky day. We got to see the 176th annual gondola race.
These are water taxi's. And what would a taxi driver do without his cell phone.
You even need a boat if you want to worship in this town.
Here is the Punta della Dogana from the Grand Canal side. The ship came into Venice and passed just on the other side of this building.
San Marco Square.
Ah Venice, the city of love. Or is that Rome. Or Paris. Whatever. As long as I'm with Kathy, every city is the city of love.
We stopped to get something to eat at this little cafe right on the canal. Here is Patty and Gerry.
Patrick, looking cool (He thinks).
Jake with his rabbit ears.
Kristin
Jen (thinking "He better not take a picture of me).
It's a good thing this place isn't very touristy. In the distance is the Punta della Dogana and San Marco Square is on the right.
We decided to walk back to the bus/boat station. To call the streets of Venice a labyrinth is an understatement. Nothing but skinny little streets and twisty roads. The only good thing is there are no cars. I'm pretty good with a map and we had a cheap one from a vendor but it was soon obvious, at least to me, that we were never going to make it. It was then that I realized that there were these little signs high up on the buildings with arrows pointing first to the Rialto (which was on our way) and then to Santa Lucia (which was our destination). I saw that nobody else saw the signs so I kept looking at the map and then saying which way to go. I'm glad Kathy never asked where we were on the map because I had no idea. None whatsoever. We made it almost all the way until Jen caught on. I had to bribe her to keep my secret.
The Grand Canal. The water level was about 2 inches below the sidewalk. It wouldn't take much to flood this place.
The happy travelers.
There are bridges everywhere. And skinny little canals everywhere.
Did I say the streets were dinky little things?
Dinky.
And the canals are a little twisty, also.
This one was so skinny Jen could have shimmied up it.
If this guy got a fare, I wonder how he could steer the thing and also keep that cell next to his head.
I don't think the Italians know what plumb and level are. Not very good with 90 degree angles, either.