Today was our walking day! See if we could work your way around Venice and not get lost.
First on our agenda was the Realto Market. The market is a series of "campos" along the Grand Canal, congregated along the narrow alleyways in the area. It is honestly a sea of fruit and vegetable stalls piled high with inviting fruits, vegetables and dolce. Fresh herbs, a truly amazing array of mushrooms, mouthwatering figs, and the list goes on. The neo-Gothic porticos also house the daily fish market. There were creatures of the sea here that neither Jim nor I could identify. The markets are populated with curious tourists such as we, with restauranteurs purchasing produce for the day, and with average Venetians doing their grocery shopping. Jim commented that we would eat differently given the opportunity to shop in this fashion.
Then it was on to finding St Mark's Square in the maze of twisting streets. Hallelujah, we did it! The tides are up and St.Mark's today was partially flooded. Quite the sight! Makeshift pedestrian bridges crossed the flooded areas. If anything, the Venetians are resourceful! The Basillica, our main destination had lineups worse than on Sunday. The wait was almost two hours. It was not happening! That makes two Basillicas we have attempted to visit (Florence and Venice), but failed to do so because of massive crowds. Who says travel in September is easy? Oops! That would be us! We may have to re-evaluate,
Not to be defeated, we hiked down to the Naval Museum. Miracle of miracles, it was open. The museum is owned by the Italian navy and they have done an admirable (get the pathetic pun?)job of preserving and documenting their past. Of particular interest to me was the large room dedicated to gondolas. Amongst the gondolas on display was Peggy Guggenheim's, donated to the
museum after her death.
We walked the whole way back -quite the hike - successfully. What is all of this stuff about getting lost in Venice?
Tonight's dinner was on the canal at our favourite trattoria. Tomorrow we day goodbye in the morning to this city which has snuck it's way into our hearts. Where to tomorrow? The final days of our journey (sob!) return us to Roma, The Eternal City!
Arriverderci!
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