I'll continue on with another day or two of the trip...

Monday, May 10th

We took a bus to Venice, it took awhile and we were bursting with anticipation, when finally we crossed the bridge separating the city from the mainland and there we were! It was almost anticlimactic at first, the Italian coast was littered with factories spewing their pollution high into the air. Looking the other way wasn't much different, a huge parking garage and a port area - it didn't seem so magical at the time. The bus dropped us off in a large drop off area filling with dozens and dozens of buses.

From here, we began our exploration of Venice, and it didn't take long before we were caught up in its quality. As we crossed our first canal the rumble of bus and car engines faded slowly into the background. From here on in, the only sounds would be people, the occasional boat engine, and the sound of water splashing endlessly against the foundations of the romance capital of the world.

We were immediately caught up in the shops along Lista di Spagna, infinitely pleased that prices were far less than we'd ever expected and that shopkeepers actually allowed us to browse without pestering. We took note of a few particular items, and continued on our way.

It took awhile to get to Piazza San Marco, but it was worth it. Not just because of how great the Piazza is, but because navigating the pathways of Venice is half the city's charm! It's a simply enchanting experience wandering the thin streets, intersected by waterways navigated by golden tipped gondolas. It's something I've never experienced anywhere else in the world.

We bought a Foccacia Bun at a bakery - not just any Foccacia bun, this thing was a pure desert delight. We took it with us to the San Marco Piazza and ate it there, surrounded by literally thousands of pigeons. After relaxing on a bunch there, we took a tour of the opulent Basilica di San Marco (St. Marks Basilica). I can't imagine how much that place is worth: The entire roof and much of the walls inside are covered in gold. It's extremely worn; the flooring is sunk down and covered in carpet in places to help combat the wear incurred by millions of visitors.

After that, we saw the Palazzo Ducale, as well as the two monuments marking the site where Marco Polo departed for his journey across the world. We then walked along the waterfront to St. Elena and back. By this time it was getting late, so we headed back to the bus stop (picked up some fruit along the way) and back to Camping Alba D'Oro for the night - looking forward to another day in Venice tomorrow.

So, what started out as a terrible day, spent shivering on the street, turned out to be a great, great day.

I said before that Rome is one of those places that captures the imagination. Well, if Rome captures the imagination, then Venice captures the heart. I loved it.

Tuesday, May 11th

Coming Soon!

Sorry I only got one day in, but time is short.

Have a good one peoples!!