We owned Venice

Frari's Church * Fish Market * Murano Glass Blowing * Venice Cemetary * Saint Mark's Square and Cathedral * Tower view of Venice * 

19,435 steps * 3 islands * 7 Vaporetti Rides * 1 mini-gondola ride

We approached our day in Venice like Disneyland.  We knew it was going to be a long day since we woulnd't be able to come back to our hotel to rest; we knew we needed to pace ourselves, avoid long lines and crowds, and find somewhere to sit down in the heat of the afternoon (instead of watching a Disnney parade we played cards).

Actually is wasn't hot at all, it never got out of the 70* and until we got to Saint Mark's cathedral around 4:00 we didn't hit any crowds.  We bought a full day "bus" (actually they are boats) pass for everyone and decided we weren't going to any museums (we needed a break from Museums after Florence).  We just wanted to feel and experience Venice.  We visited a church to see some art works by Titian and Dontatello and then headed to the fish market to see all the strange fish we would never eat - eel, squid, octopus, slimy jelly fish looking things, super thin fish that looked like there would be no meat.

We took a 2 minuted gondola ride across the Grand Canal and sang our own Italain song that Charlie has made up (booty prosciutty). (The Gondaliers have to give cheep ride across the canal for a small part of each day).  Next we took a vaporetti (Venice boat bus) to Murano and watched a glass blowing demonstration.  It was amazing.  He made a pitcher and a horse.  After Murano and a quick stop at the Venice Cemetary (it's own island)  we wandered a bit just taking it all in.  We found a quiet alley and sat down and played some cards (if you get off the tourist track, you can really feel alone in Venice).  Only 5 people walked past us in 30 minutes.

After our rest we found a chocolate store and sampled a cold, thick chocolate drink that was a tad bitter.  Some of the kids didn't like it.  It was chocolate, sugar, water, and spices.  We then made our way to Saint Marks Square and Cathedral.  We didn't pay for any of the "extras", but enjoyed this busy cathedral with it's inlaid floors and gold mosaic ceilings.  The floor rolls and bubbles from what I imagine is years of water damage.  Finally we crossed the grand canal to another church and went up the bell tower to get a birds eye view of Venice.  It was an amazing 360* view of all the islands.  We even got to see a tug boat pull a HUGE cruise ship from the harbor, it seemed taller than any building in Venice.

After pizza and gelato, we caught the 30 minute train ride back to Padova and finished watching our movie (Mrs. Doubtfire).  We have an easy day tomorrow so we didn't mind staying up late.

Bird eye view of Saint Mark's 

gondola ride

Murano glass blowing factory