Sightseeing in Venice!
Like every day so far, we cannot start the day without a cappuccino! Delicious of Italian coffee gets us ready to wander through the canal ways. As is typical in Europe, the cups are small. Usually, I will order a couple… or just one and move on to another cafe for a second cup, so as not to embarrass myself!
This is the most common view while walking around. Our wanderings consist of short bridges crossing canals, which open up into small (or grand) piazzas. Some of the canals are main thoroughfares and others, like this, are very quiet. All serve as streets do in our neighborhoods.
Without specific direction, we turned the corner and came upon Rialto market. Residents shopped for fresh vegetables and fruit. A variety of spices lined one section. It was my intention to purchase some to bring home but I never found the area again.
So often, walking down the alleyways, nothing really stands out. There will be a cafe or a shop… out of the blue, there will be an opening. Almost unnoticeable, someone will open the door to walk out bringing attention to the spot. When they look like tourists, we figure they found something we should see. That was the case with this church. We had almost passed by when a nondescript door opened. We had a slight view inside and realized it was a church. Not just a church but a very ornate and beautiful church. What an unexpected treat!
Approaching the Rialto Bridge, we looked through the shops lining the side. It was nice that the shop owners were not, at all, aggressive. We had to stop and take a “selfie”, of course. This is the oldest of four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. Originally built in 1173, it has been reconstructed a couple times since. It is quite the tourist attraction. Down the other side, there were more shops… and more crowds.
Once across the bridge, I took a picture from another angle. Gondolas floated beneath the bridge… back and forth. Not once have we heard any singing. Maybe that’s a thing of the past…
Lucky us! We spotted a cute restaurant underneath the bridge. The waiter offered us a waterside table. The food… oh my! I ordered a fish platter. Everything is fresh… most of the veggies I had to give to Roxanne. The eggplant and peppers are nightshades… so no good for me!!!
Spectacular Piazza San Marco. A large portion of St Mark’s Basilica is under construction. During past visits, the entire perimeter of the piazza had been lined with restaurants. This visit, much of the outdoor area is under construction. A few outdoor tables were available, but it was not the same peaceful experience with machinery, etc.
Built on a series of 118 small islands, in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, flooding has been a problem in the past. Currently, glass barriers are being installed to protect the basilica from future floods. The 16th century buildings lining the square, as well as the bell tower will be restored.
Despite the fact that around every corner we see canals and waterways, the views never get old. Unique characteristics keep the sights interesting.
Hoping for a sale, street artists enjoy sharing their wares.
Once again turning the corner and finding an open area, we relaxed on steps along the canal. As usual, I find a way to photograph laundry… not sure why I find this so interesting. I guess it’s the most identifiable proof of day to day living in such an iconic area. Tourists love to visit but it’s also home to approximately 50,000 residents.
How many times a day do we eat? Many! Here is photographic proof that I am a water drinker. Haha. Everyone knows that keeping hydrated is a challenge for me. Now you can see I am really trying! We enjoyed another delectable pizza. After eating, we used the restroom… walking back out, I noticed a familiar site! Giant’s fans! This was a surprise so far from home…
Entertaining signs could be found in shop windows. Couldn’t resist documenting the Italian sense of humor!
One last pitstop. It’s always fun to have an afternoon cocktail beside a canal. Our weather has been unbelievable! Warm but not to hot. A few weeks before leaving the USA, I added each city we will visit, to my weather app. Initially, it looked like we would have quite a bit of rain. So far, the cloudy weather has moved before our arrival. The rainy days proceed our visit. We have been on the go for so many days that we decided to grab cheese, meats, olives and wine from a neighborhood shop. Back to our room, we watched some movies… it was fun to enjoy our giant room! Just for the record, we have been so busy that I am way behind on posting. We left Tahoe on April 21. As best as I can, the posts will get caught up in the next couple of days!
