Venice, Italy

View of Venice from the plane - it is a very condensed city!
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We landed in Venice and immediately hit the bed - 12 hours on a flight with no sleep can even override your curiosity about one the most beautiful cities in the world!  We were going to be in Venice overnight before sailing that evening for Croatia so there was still plenty of time.  Also - we would get another shot at the city at the end of the first 12 day cruise (we would return to Venice while some passengers disembarked - we would stay on for the next 12 days as well).

The second day we walked the city, viewing St. Mark's Square, which encompasses St. Mark's Basilica, St. Mark's Clocktower, St. Mark's Campanile, and Doge's Palace.  The square opens up into the mouth of the Grand Canal through two pillars holding the lion of St. Mark and statue of Saint Teodoro with the sacred crocodile of the Egypt.  Quite a beautiful square but beware of kamikaze pigeons!!

Quite a beautiful city but beware of kamikaze pigeons!!

Gondolas were everywhere - quite the tourist trap.
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The Bridge of SIghs is just a short walk away - The view this bridge was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment - the name was given by Lord Byron because he suggests that prisoners would sigh at their final view of Venice out the window before being taken down to their cells.  Quite poetic but in reality only small time criminals occupied the lower cells by the time the bridge was built.

We also visited and crossed over the Ponte di Rialto, a famous bridge with a center walkway full of shops.  It is one of the most famous bridges in Italy - you can also visit the bridge at the Venetian Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Venice traffic jam
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It was very busy in Venice but quite beautiful - my mom's first impression of Venice over thirty years ago was of a very dirty city but has since changed her opinion.  We all found Venice to be very charming!