Day 11 - Venice

What did we do yesterday? As I am one day (or more??) behind, I am trying to remember what all we did...

After breakfast, we went to St. Marks Square. There was a political/military something or other going on. Part of the square was blocked off. Many men with machine guns. Jacob (and I) thought it was cool.

We went into St. Marks Basicalla, and saw the inside of another church (they all look the same to me). The floor was marble but was also not very flat. I am assuming that because the city is built on water, the floor must of not stayed very level in all these years (plus the flooding from past years). We saw a golden altar piece that was from the Byzantine period. Very beautiful. We also saw some bronze horses from the 4th century. Napoleon took them to France when he conquered Venice a long time ago.

After St. Marks, we fed the birds. Jake was happy. Doge's palace was next (the Duke's Palace). Not the Dukes of Hazzard (just in case you were confused).

The Doge's Palace was a very large place where the rich folks would meet and discuss the future of Venice. It was where the laws were set but also where the judgments were passed on whether a person was guilty or not. Conveniently located in the bottom of the palace were the dungeons. Yikes!! Those dark, damp cells with writing of past prisoners made us all decide that we definitely did not want to get arrested (especially after our train incident!!).

After the palace, we headed towards the Rialto bridge and stopped for lunch en route. Lunch was in a small 'dive' of sorts - Anne and Ed had pasta but Amy and I saw them micro-waving what appeared to be a lean cuisine - which ended up being their pasta!! We didn't have the heart to tell them until they said that it tasted like it had been 'zapped'. I guess even in Italy they opt for convenience sometimes!

The Rialto bridge and market around the bridge was something to say you have seen but wasn't very impressive otherwise. Lots of tourists and lots of touristy 'crap'! One thing I learned about this famous bridge is that there have been two others before the current Rialto bridge. I did see some 'interesting' ties that had pictures on the inside of them. When I get home, I'll tell you more if you are interested. Let's just say that Amy wouldn't let me buy one to wear to work because she found them degrading to women.

We then headed back towards the hotel, took a small break and Anne and Ed headed to see a special exhibit on the artist Modigliani. Jacob, Amy and I went to laundry. After Amy's last experience, she had scoped this washeteria out more carefully, Not only was it close by, but there was an attendant and many machines! And Jacob has now learned how to separate his clothes and wash them in the appropriate temperature of water (he told me not to tell his mom though!). He even folded his clothes - impressive for a 10 year-old.

After all of this "excitement", we went to dinner at a local restaurant. The waitresses were very taken with Jacob - they gave him cookies and whatever else he asked for. Must be nice to 10.
We wondered around to Saint Mark's square and caught a little of the night life there (it is beautiful the way they light up the square at night - almost looks like candles). Then back to the hotel to bed.