Day 2 - Venice

Our first night away was a little restless for both of us. We didn't sleep very well since it was really the middle of the day for us. But we both awoke excited and anxious to explore the city of canals and gondolas. We had a lovely little breakfast on the rooftop terrace of our B&B and were astonished with how quiet and peaceful it was without any traffic noise. With our bellies full, we made our way out to find the Ponte Rialto vaporetto stop and make our way up the grand canal to St. Mark's square and the Doge's palace.

Some canals along the way...

And the grandest one of all...

We rode the vaporetto, a venician style public 'bus' all the way to the Piazza San Marco with its famous domed basilica, dueling orchestras and infamous pigeons. The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) which we explored that morning, was one of the most impressive secular buildings in Venice. It served as the residence and governing building of venician doges who ruled over Venice for over a thousand years. This fabled city may now be sinking and eeking out its last days on artificial support (a.k.a. tourism), but at one time the Venetian Republic was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, as well as a thriving center of trade and art. The over-the-top gilded ceilings and grandest of the Palazzo Ducale reminded us of those properous times.

The bridge of sighs, below, connects the doge's palace with the prison and was named for the condemned prisonners crossing over and gazing over the city of Venice... letting out one last "sign" before meeting their end. It is really quite creepy.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in Venice exploring the city without a map. Getting lost was half the fun and stumbling upon hidden gems, real venecian neighbourhoods and some excellent pizza and Bomba Mix were the highlights.

Carnival

Vorrei uno bomba mix per favore!

Resting from across the lagoon, on San Giorgio island.

The San Paolo neighbourhood

Us... happy to be there together.

After all the day trippers and cruise ships had left, the city completely changes and becomes one of the most enchanting places I've ever been. We returned to the piazza that evening to experience the dueling orchestras in person - two cafes opposite each other in the square which serve the most expensive water I've ever seen, but it comes complete with fantastic music. We chose the free steps :)