Monday, 5 July 2010
Have a look at the crowd in St Mark’s square taken on our sail-in. Given this was the size of the crowd before another 2000 of us descended, a temperature in the mid thirties and marbled walls and streets, we chose not to enter Venice until our gondola ride at 8:30pm.
Our luck continues. The gondolier all go out at once and only one boat has a singer who sings to the whole group when they assemble in the Grand Canal. We had the singer and accordion player on our gondola and were serenaded for the whole of the 35 minute meander through the canals! How lucky was that?
We walked St Marks square at 10:00pm – far more civilised although all we could do was people watch. Orchestras were playing and coffee shops were open along with all the souvenir places (see masks) but as our ship was the biggest vessel in the canal, we had a really good overview of the city on the cruise in -away from the maddening crowds.
The next morning was far more to our liking. We were taken by ferry to Murano and Burano two islands in the lagoon about an ¾ hour from Venice. We visited a glass factory and saw the old traditional way of hand stitching lace. Here I fell in love with a second "Jess" - the embroider's dog. So I've enclosed a picture of her. We enjoyed the far more relaxed pace of these two lovely islands. We were the first group off the ship in the morning and the last group back on.
The ship was on the move immediately the last foot was on board so we hurried to our balcony to enjoy a beautifully relaxed cool sail away.
Our balcony is the third down under the W in DAWN Princess – immediately above the second lifeboat from the right.
Have a look at the crowd in St Mark’s square taken on our sail-in. Given this was the size of the crowd before another 2000 of us descended, a temperature in the mid thirties and marbled walls and streets, we chose not to enter Venice until our gondola ride at 8:30pm.
Our luck continues. The gondolier all go out at once and only one boat has a singer who sings to the whole group when they assemble in the Grand Canal. We had the singer and accordion player on our gondola and were serenaded for the whole of the 35 minute meander through the canals! How lucky was that?
We walked St Marks square at 10:00pm – far more civilised although all we could do was people watch. Orchestras were playing and coffee shops were open along with all the souvenir places (see masks) but as our ship was the biggest vessel in the canal, we had a really good overview of the city on the cruise in -away from the maddening crowds.
The next morning was far more to our liking. We were taken by ferry to Murano and Burano two islands in the lagoon about an ¾ hour from Venice. We visited a glass factory and saw the old traditional way of hand stitching lace. Here I fell in love with a second "Jess" - the embroider's dog. So I've enclosed a picture of her. We enjoyed the far more relaxed pace of these two lovely islands. We were the first group off the ship in the morning and the last group back on.
The ship was on the move immediately the last foot was on board so we hurried to our balcony to enjoy a beautifully relaxed cool sail away.
Our balcony is the third down under the W in DAWN Princess – immediately above the second lifeboat from the right.
Wow, Venice looks like such a lovely city, I've been told it is beautiful. I want to do there some day, maybe during one of their festivals, I heard they're really exciting.
ReplyDeleteOn another note I am feeling pretty good and enjoying Townsville and catching up with all my old friends here.