Day 28 - Venice

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

We took the fast trains to Venice and back today.  We weren't planning on Venice because it is so far, but we had an extra Eurail pass and an unplanned day so we went for it.  Just before arriving, we compared notes with some Ohioans and decided to cross the Rialto Bridge and visit Saint Mark's Square.

Zig-zagging across town we found ourselves going down one street that was scarcely wide enough for two people to pass, and another that had rooms bridging them that we had to duck to pass beneath.  Most of the mile or so of our route was like a sidewalk market for tourists.  Trinkets everywhere and tourists everywhere.  Rialto Bridge was cute but jam packed.

Ruth's Elbows Touching Walls of a Street

Rialto Bridge

Saint Mark's square is flanked by stately buildings, with ornate Saint Mark's Basilica and super-tall
Campanile (bell tower) at one end.  We toured the Basilica, walked around the square and up and down the crowded waterfront.

St. Mark's Square, Basilica, & Campanile

Decorations Above Door of St. Mark's Basilica

Fresco on one of the Domes in St. Mark's Basilica

Then we took a water bus through the Grand Canal.  The gondola rides were 28 euros (more if you wanted singing) but the water bus was only 7 euros and went farther.  We saw a lot of houses flooded by the canal.

The Bridge of Sighs Behind Us

 After the water bus we walked through another part of Venice where we were the only tourists.  That was refreshing.