Venice by Foot

Today we took our time,not finishing our breakfast until abou 10:30. A stroll through the square took us to the Grand Canal, and we just wandered. We stopped for lunch of pizza which was excellent. Then we booked a two hour tour with a private guide.

This bridge is just outside our door. I took the picture from the hotel.

A line-up of gondolas waiting their turn to get out into the Grand Canal.

Some people we know standing on a bridge. The tower growing out of my head actually is leaning to the left.

After we ate, we rested for a while and then met our guide Alesandro On top of the belltower is a golden archangel.

Our guide told us that this is the oldest cafe in the world.

It is called the Florean. We might just stop here for lunch tomorrow.

Our tour went to the places where the real Venetians live. I liked the floerboxes overlookin the canal. Alesandro has lived in Venice all of his life, but he has recently moved off of the island because living costs have skyrocketed. The actual population of Venice is only 49,000, But that number is swollen dramatically by millions of visitors every year.

This is where the rteal Venetians live.

Some buildings have decks on the roof. In the summer when the temperature and humidity soars, they provide a cooling escape in the evening after dinner.

The Venice Opera house.

The well in front of the opera house is no longer used.

The spiral staircase in this home is very unique and very famous.

It is the only place in Venice where I have seen any grass.

People actually live here. They hang their laundry out the window and they have balloons to celebrate birthdays.

These frames and boards are for use during floods. When the water rises, they set up the frames with the boards on top so people can still get around. They are everywhere: in the square, on the streets, along the Garand Canal. I have seen them, but I just thought there was construction going on. No, they are just there in case....

This is the Town Hall where George and Amal Clooney were married. Notice that there are more flood walkways.

Across the canal is the hotel where George and Amal had their reception.

The sign speaks for itself. She did want to study theology, but she wasn't allowed. She had to settle for philosophy.

This is the famous Rialto Bridge. The original wooden bridge collapsed twice, so it was replaced with a stone bridge.

This is just a light that I liked in a restaurant. I assumed that the glass was Murano glass because there were crystals inside.