Cruise Overview---Venice proper

Chad & Marsha on left, Geneen on right by raised sidewalk

 This is the Piazza San Marco but the crowds were so tremendous and the lines were blocks long and it cost 18 euros to go inside so we decided to forego.  Because it was high tide, water was bubbling up from the drains and so they had put raised movable sidewalks around to keep tourists out of the water (see picture).  By the way the exchange rate is almost a dollar and a half to the euro. 

 But the plaza was spectacular without going in.  There were shopping kiosks everywhere. 

 Unbelievable architecture in the plaza.  If it weren't so cold that day we might have stayed longer.  It never got up to 60 degrees. 

Here is a street in the Rialto shopping area.  Archie said that it looked like Venicians were only 10% of the population in the Rialto.  Such a crush of tourists and shoppers.  We joined in and shopped there also.  All through there were small shopping booths and open door leading into one room shops.  The men were most interested in the architecture and moving along.  The women kept getting side tracked by the shopping.  It was so funny, when we would finally all be together again and start walking we would say "the amoeba is on the move again." It was like herding cats, we were always losing someone.  The men were actually amazingly patient with our enthusiasm.  

 As we walked through we constantly ran into small canals between buildings.  Luckily there were a lot of bridges.  This is just a typical water alley. 

Marilyn and Ron in front of the Basilica S. Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari

 We stopped and for 3 euros apiece toured the Basilica s. Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari.  It was so ornate and spectacular it was unbelievable.  This is right in the middle of Venice.  Reminded us of the churches we had toured in Rome and Florence two years ago.  Eye popping decorations, statues, sarcophogi. paintings and wall decorations.

 Another view of a church in a plaza.  So typical in Venice.

Ron on left, Archie on right, my pizza in middle.  That is a bottle of olive oil on the table. 

 We got hungry as we SLOWLY made our way across Venice.  For lunch we stopped at a little eatery and bought sandwiches and wraps.  If you bought it outside and ate it outside they charged 4 euros per sandwich.  If you wanted to eat it inside they cost 5 and a half euros.  We were desperate for the WC (water closet) and all over the public ones cost a euro and a half to use and were not all that private.  We bought enough sandwiches that they let us use their free bathroom in the restaurant.

I forgot to mention that we had to make 2 stops for Gelato in spite of the cold weather.  It is so good, and Italy is the place to get it.  Yummy

For dinner we went to a pizzeria. The pictures here are of the dinner at the pizzeria.   They were so charming and were so excited to see a group of 10 come in. Archie's ham pizza (which was bigger than the plate but very thin crusted and crisp) was 7 euros and mine with ham and mushroom (called funghi on the menu) was 7 and a half euro.  Gary and Lucy got Calzones for 6 and a half euro and they were bigger than their plate also.        Quite the adventure.

Chad and Gary digging in, Lucy's hands and calzone in the foreground

We bought gifts in Venice.  I got Pashmina scarves that I had seen in every city we had been in.  Geneen, Lucy. Marsha and Jesse got Murano glass pendant necklaces for their families.  We did not go to Murano but their hand blown glass and pendants and earrings are everywhere.  We thoroughly enjoyed Venice, partly because we strolled slowly through the whole city and so saw quite a bit of real Venice and loved it.  We will never forget that day.
The whole trip was made so fun by having family there.  Dad did not come on the tour of Venice, having been there before and it was vigorous and a lot of stairs for his wheelchair.  But we so much enjoy each others' company whether on the ship, at dinner, or sight-seeing and of course shopping together.  Dad went most places with us, skipping only Venice and Athens, both places he and our Mom had toured before and not very handicapped accessible.  What an adventure it all was.  How fun to be together for a week.  Thanks Dad for taking us all on this memorable trip with you.