SIXTEENTH DAY - VENICE FULL-DAY, ITALY

Got a surprise at breakfast this morning - there wasn't much for breakfast. We'd been spoilt to this point. There was a choice of burnt scrambled eggs, cold bacon, cereal, and really ordinary bread. We'd gotten used to the big breakfasts available in our other hotels but, then again, Simona did warn us that some Italians don't even eat breakfast so were were lucky we were offfered what we got.

Then it was off for a walking tour of one of the islands of Venice which is home to St Mark's Square.

First thing we noted - it was blooody hot!! And it was only 8am!! I went on the boat and, luckily, this trip was shorter than the one last night.

Once on the island, we were introduced to Patrizia, our local guide. She took us on a walking tour to St Mark's Square and our first stop at Doge's Palace.

Another stunning palace but this one is even more stunning than the others I've seen during this trip. Unforunately photography is not allowed.

There was so much gold and so many beautiful canvases on the celings and on the walls. We noticed that while we were listening to our guide in one of the rooms, the floore moved when another group moved passed us.

And, of course, we crossed The Bridge of Sighs. We "ooooh"ed and "aaaaaah"ed and "wow"ed all the way through our walk. Seeing pictures can't do the palace justice. I'm really glad I got to see it in person.

Our next stop was a walk through St Mark's Basilica. We didn't have much time here as guides like the one we had are not allowed to stay inside and comment on the basilica - they have to keep moving. Again, no photography was allowed.

Then it was off to a glass blowing demonstration at the place where Murano Glass is created. This didn't last long but it was intersting to watch. At least it looked like I was the only female in the room to watch the glass blowers demonstration. The rest of the females in the room were too busy ogling the glass blower himself. He looked like he was wearing those muscle tops with the false muscles padding on it to me.

After the demonstration, they ushered us off to the showroom where we could buy real, authentic Murano Glass. I didn't buy anything, although I did think about it - until they told me the price, with the Globus discount.

Then we had free time before our gondola ride at 3:30pm. Too much free time as we ended our tour at 12:30pm.

I wondered the very busy streets for a little while before bumping into Barbara and her husband Dave. I was a bit bored walking around on my own so they let me tag along with them. Great, fun couple.


One view from the top of the bell tower


Our first mission was to go to the famous Bell Tower and take the elevator to the top. Unfortunately, a whole lot of people had the same idea. We waited about 15 minutes in the midday sun before we made it inside.

There was a very pleasant cool breeze blowing through the tower. We didn't take too long up the top but just enough to take a few photos because the line to get back down was very long. Barb just pushed in in front of a couple and they weren't peeved off at all. I must admit, Barb did it in a polite way - after pushing in she said "You don't mind do you? It's just that we don't have much time". There is only one elevator so we had to wait for it to come up before we could go down.

Our next mission: to find something light to eat and get a cold drink. We found a little snack bar that served wraps and sandwiches so we ducked in there. I got a turkey and salad wrap and a Coke. We then ate our lunch standing around the bar staying out of the heat. Standing around was free but, if we wanted to sit, there would be a charge. That's how it works in Italy. There was a restaurant in St Mark's Square that was charging 6 Euros just to sit in one of their chairs!

After lunch, we went for a wander around some of the tiny streets but were finally beaten by the heat. We decided to go towards the large canal and find somewhere cool to sit. We managed to find a stone bench under a couple of trees. It was a blissful relief from the heat with a cool breeze coming off the water.

It was then close to the time to meet Simona for our gondola ride so we were off again to St Mark's Square which seemed even hotter than before!! We found Val and Roger, the elderly couple from Christchurch, NZ, and together we went in search of some shade. We found it in the shape of some steps under the eaves of some building that I had no idea what it was called.

We sat there until around fifteen minutes before our meeting time in search of a cold beer for Dave. We came across a place called American Snack Bar and got some gelato instead.

It was then time for the gondola ride. And what a ride. We had an elderly male singer accompanied by a man playing the piano accordian serenading all our gondolas. I got to ride with Jo, Paul, Kathryn and Peter. We rode down the canal one after the other in five gondolas - the newly weds were in the middle one with the musicians in it.

Our 76 year old "serenader"

We all met up in the Grand Canal and were lined up next to each other. This was when a speed boat decided to wizz past us and the singer almost fell overboard! Boy, was he pissed off afterwards! And slightly wet as some water spalshed on him. All I managed to see were this feet literally in the air. On the ride back, he almost forgot to duck his head under one of the many bridges.

Once our ride was over, it was time to get back on the boat and head to our hotel where we had a welcome drink waiting for us. I must admit, it tasted a little like flat Berocca.
I then went to my room and took a luke warm shower.

We had dinner at the hotel tonight and, thank got, it was mor or a normal meal consisting of a small salad starter followed by some tortellini in a cream sauce. Then a dish of chicken with a cheese sauce with string beans and baby carrots followed. For dessert: small scoops of chocolate and vanilla with raisin ice cream.

It was a very yummy dinner.

Tomorrow, we head down south to Rome with our new driver, Dennis. Doesn't sound too Italian to me!