Venice
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After 35 minutes on the train, we finally arrived in Venice. What you see walking out from the train station (above). HERE's a view from the bridge, looking back toward the train station (upper right). |
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VENICE is built on landfill and there are no vehicles anywhere (all essential service come over water- we saw an ambulance-boat!) As a result, there are canals everywhere and the city is just a maze of sidewalks, bridges... |
| ...and narrow walkways! |  |
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We chose to walk out to the far end, then take the water taxi back. The city was jammed shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists (July + Sunday + 3 cruise ships = what were we thinking??) WE went thru the market and caught this neat clock. |
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Halfway through, you have to cross the Rialto Bridge. HERE's a nice shot from it. |
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Then you finally reach St. Mark's square. |
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Impressive buildings (of course) since Venice was the trading capital to the East for hundreds of years. Now it just has too many tourists ;-) |
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Venice is actually a series of islands. This one (Lido) is very exclusive and expensive. If you thought 4eu for a bottle of water and 2eu to pee it out was stiff, just go to Lido ;-) |
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Then we hopped on the water taxi to cruise down the Grand Canal back to the train station. HERE we see all stops listed (just like a bus!) |
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Lots of interesting views from the water. Very few of the first floors are usable (since they are all damp and many flood with the tide), so most habitable space starts on the second floor. |
| Looking upstream. |  |
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Then again, you never know what you're going to find. HERE's a skull built out of aluminum cans...! |
| Two tourists, escaping from Venice and headed for Florence ;-) |  |