From the Sea to the Mountains

The day-tour of Venice started with a water taxi going around the outside of Venice and entering the Grand Canal from direction of the Adriatic Sea.



We wandered around and found a compact, gorgeous church, San Zulian. While we were gawking at the fabulous artwork in the cube-style church, Mass began. So we attended our first mass in L'italiano.

Then comes the glass "factory", in reality an outlet for the factories on Murano island. But there was a glass blowing demonstration.


And lots of chandeliers.


And more chandeliers (Momma took pictures of all of them, I swear).


And masks.


And other gewgaws.


Then we return to the Piazza San Marco, from which we departed last night.


And we admire the exterior of the Basilica di San Marco.


No pictures inside, but it was gorgeous. And I should note that in every church we visited on this vacation, and there were a lot of them, Momma said a prayer for our girls.

A tour of the Doge's Palace follows, including a walk across the Bridge of Sighs to the prisons on the other side.



But all good things must come to an end, so arrivaderci, Venezia.


A long bus ride up the Po river valley takes us to Lago di Garda. A long, winding ride north up the east side of the lake takes us to the northern end and the town of Torbole. The foothills of the Alps rose up majestically on either side and to the north of the lake.


The hotel was perched on a mountainside and our balcony had a beautiful view of the northern end of the valley.


Tomorrow Firenza!