VENICE!!

Donna Leon's hero Commissario Guido Brunetti had whet our appetite for this magical World Heritage city - no cars, 500 bridges, umpteen vaporetti and gondolas and everything so easily accessible (although, wow you need to be fit to get the most out of your visit!)

We were all so excited we were up on deck (with waiters bearing fruit and pastries) at 6.45am for our sail through the meandering channels
(Canale Idella Guidecca and Canale Di San Nicolo)
passing St Mark's Square on the way in.




We immediately joined the Hidden Venice Walk which took us over several bridges...



down the Nixen Pixen Street (yippee!)



in the glorious sunshine



Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari




to the Rialto Bridge, built across the Grand Canal in 1591



(some gondoliers were amazingly on coffee break??!)



Even the Post Office was stunning



as was the Hospital

(boat ambulances become speedboats with sirens on when in an emergency, quite a spectacle)



We loved it



whoop whoop liquirizia!



St Mark's Square



with the Doge's Palace.



We were so impressed we retraced our steps later that afternoon to go inside some of the beautiful buildings.