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Monday, July 1, 2019

Day 9: Wandering Venice

I started my day at 5:40 am because I wanted to visit St. Marks' Square before the crowds came. I was rewarded for my efforts. The square only had a few people. There was a wedding couple getting pictures taken. I saw the Bridge of Sighs and a cruise ship being towed into the harbor. Then I walked to Rialto Bridge. Of course, I got lost on the way, but that if part of the fun. I finally found it and got my pictures. Produce was being brought in on boats. Shipment were being rolled on carts to the shops. I went back to the hotel for breakfast. It was a feast! We met our guide, Laura, at 8:15am to begin our group tour. She took us to small courtyards with wells in the center-the hub of medieval life. Then she took us past a palace with a spiral staircase called "the snail". It is the back entrance for the family. Laura told us that houses were connected  by covered passages above the street. She also showed us where Marco Polo lived. She showed us drains built in the squares-stones with holes in them. At St. Mark's Square, she told us the paintings across the top of St. Mark's tell the story of how Venice got the body of St. Mark. His body is below the high altar. Then we visited a mask shop and were show how various masks are made. Then we toured St. Mark's Basilica. No photos were allowed. Inside was decorated with gold and mosaics. We walked up narrow stairs to the viewing deck where the horses are. The afternoon was free, so I wandered more of the town, went up the Campanile, visited a glass shop and fish market. This evening, we went on a gondola ride. What a day! So enjoyable!

Click on the image below to expand the view.

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