We headed for Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square).  During the day from mid-morning through part of the afternoon, Venice is loaded with tourists, many who arrive via cruise ships just for the day.  Late afternoon and evening, the crowds thin (at least this time of year) and you can explore unimpeded by crowds.  We walked around San Marco, awestruck by the St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and a walk along the waterfront.

Following a map in Venice is a challenge, no matter how detailed the map, whether you’re tired or not.  Paths and alleyways diverge at any number of angles, many of which are either unmarked or inconspicuously marked.   But not to worry, you can’t really get lost for very long and if you do, you may find some interesting local character (or characters).

We were exhausted, but it was still early afternoon, so we wanted to explore some of Venice before trying to get some rest.  The hotel was easy to find and it was great to leave the bags behind while we oriented ourselves to Venice.   The hotel is a bit “off the beaten path”, so it’s quiet and a good place to get some rest.  Using a map and instructions from the hotel, we found a nearby Internet access point so we could send Lindsey an e-mail to let her know we arrived safely.

As predicted, the line was long, but with the Museum Card, we passed the line and got right in.  Doge is a position, not a person’s name as you might think.  A doge is similar to a duke; in fact both words are derived from the Latin dux, or leader.  The doge was the elected leader of The Republic of Venice.  We spent a couple of hours touring Doge’s Palace.  The courtyard itself is fantastic.  The arches, the columns, the grand staircase, the views of St. Marks Basilica, all greet you even before you go inside.  The Palace is chock full of interesting halls, chambers, rooms, art, and weapons.

We explored a few of the side streets and alleys before heading back to the hotel for some rest.   On the way, we found a great corner shop that make their own wine and sell it in two liter water bottles for around 3 Euro.  We saw many locals bringing in their own bottles, so we knew it must be pretty good.  We had great Cabernet Frank (great at any price, but exceptional at this price).  We stopped and bought a couple of gyros from our favorite shop and went back to our “private terrace” to wind down, eat, and plan for tomorrow.

We decided to hop on one of the Vaporettos and cruise the Grand Canal.  A Vaporetto is a large water taxi or water bus that operates similar to a standard bus.  A Vaporetto ride  is a great way to see Venice from a different perspective.  We stopped at the train station to check out the schedule for the next day’s trip to Pauda.

Rialto’s market area was bustling with shoppers and vendors selling a wide assortment of carnival masks, Murano glass, food, and souvenirs.  Just on the other side of the bridge, we found “dessert” of several kinds of mixed fresh fruit from one of the vendors.  Cathy bought a couple of Murano glass necklaces at one of the shops.

If you go, be careful, somehow Cathy and I got separated inside Doge's and had (more than) a few anxious moments (maybe more like ten minutes) before we found each other again.  The flow inside is basically one-way, so it’s difficult to go back and search (especially when you don’t know if the other person is ahead of you or behind you).  We decided next time we might bring walkie-talkies for emergency communication.  We finished up crossing the Bridge of Sighs and touring the prison area.  Afterwards, we walked along the waterfront to find a place for lunch.  Eating is pretty expensive, especially in Venice.  Wine is definitely a better value than beer.  Nearly all (or all) restaurants have a cover charge just to sit down. (This is supposed to cover the tablecloth, silverware, etc.)  If you go, plan on spending a lot on food.

Inside the church is filled with Byzantine mosaics depicting Biblical stories. As we left the church, we took the hint from Rick’s book and bought our Museum Card at the Correr Museum.  Since we had all day ahead of us, we quickly toured the Correr Museum before heading for Doge’s Palace.

Friday 14-September-2007

We got up fairly early and had breakfast at the hotel.  Arriving back in Piazza San Marco, we beat the crowds and walked around to get a perspective totally different from the day before.  We decided to tour St. Marks Basilica first, so we got in line.  The architecture and exterior mosaics are breathtaking.  Cathy had a small backpack, so when we got to the front of the line, we had to go check it (since it was small, we weren’t sure if it would have to be checked).  But, we quickly found the free bag check and were allowed in the front of the line by showing our claim check.   You’re supposed to pick up your bag in an hour, but they are not strict about the time.  We left Cathy’s bag there while we toured the church, the Correr Museum, and Doge’s Palace.