Day - 14-16 - Venice

Three days in Venice in glorious weather on the good ship Nautica docked next to the Grand Canal. What else could one ask for? Nothing that you read prepares you for the sight of Venice as you approach from the Adriatic. We sailed in slowly past the island of Venice and the city unfolded before us. There was the Grand Canal, the Doge's Palace , St. Mark's Square and the wonderful waterfront buildings in shades of ochre and red. What a city! This was the end of one cruise and the beginning of another and in between sorting out cruise stuff we managed to tour the Doge's Palace on the first day . It is quite extroadinary , filled with frescoes and painting by Tintoretto and other notable Italian Reniassance artists. Many of the paintings and treasures from the Palace are in the Louvre and according to our guide the Italians have asked for them to be returned. The French however, say that they might get damaged in transit. This does not sit too well with the Italians who wonder how Napoleaon managed to get them all back to Paris undamaged! On day two we just wandered around the streets , got lost a few times.... but you always find your way to water. There is no way off!
Today we got up early and headed for St Marks. We wanted to visit the Church and it was well worth the early start. It is magnificant. The walls and ceiling are covered in glass mosaics and as the light filtered throught the windows different section lit up . Underfoot are the most exquisite marble mosaics, many in geometric patterns . It was difficult to decide whether to look up or down . We went up to the Gallery and out onto the balcony .This overlooks the square and resting there are copies of four magnificent bronze horses . We were quite overwhelmed. Inside are the original horses which have been carbon dated to the second century and probably came for Constantinople.
We spent the next few hours wandering the streets again and looking at shops and at real estate prices . We could not even afford a closet in Venice let alone an apartment! A wonderful visit and we sailed away this afternoon to the sound of people from water taxis shouting caio. Magical