There's Something Fishy about Venice

Fish can be surprisingly fascinating.  If you are prepared to be eyeballed back by someone's dinner, the Rialto Mercato is an enjoyable option for a holiday morning, in an icky kind of way.  We were quite glad it was a before breakfast adventure.  The fruit and vegetable section was less confronting, however. 

We also tried out a unique form of Venetian public transport - the Traghetto.  Shaped like a gondola, this is how people get from one side of the Grand Canal to the other in the absence of a bridge.  We stood up, as the locals do, but our touristico status might have been evident by the fact that we were facing the wrong way when we set off and had to turn around to face the front once the boat was being poled across the canal.



It's kind of cold on the
Grand Canal this time
of year...

 After breakfast we opted for a more straightforward cultural experience with the unmissable San Marco Basillica.  The golden mosiacs glitter down, a Byzantine display of grandure, reminding all who view it of the importance of the Church and the overwhelming might of Venice at the height of its power.  The museum also gave an interesting look at some of the original mosaics close up. Despite being dug up from strange places like underneath altars, the fragments are still bright and glossy and the subtle use of colour formed from tiny pieces of tile is astounding. 

The outside of the building is extraordinary expecially seen up close from the balcony.  The view is also quite nice!!

The outside of the
Bridge of Sighs
...on the top ten photogenic
sights in Venice?

After lunch in an antique filled cafe (the food did not live up to the ambience) we continued our pursuit of things cultural with a visit to the Doge's Palazzo.  Highlights of the trip included the inside of the Bridge of Sighs and prison cells (note these were also the least decorated sections...by a long way!) and the largest painting on canvas known to exist - so they say...We learnt a lot about the politcal structure of Venice when it was the Super Power of its day.  There were no pictures allowed, as usual.

This evening we went to the most fabulous Vivaldi Concert in a Church on the banks of the Grand Canal courtesy of Keren and James (I think I win the prize for stretching my birthday for the longest possible time - Jen).  They played the 4 Seasons and other Baroque pieces - outstanding performances in a truly amazing setting.  We particularly enjoyed the super exhuberant cello player.

We are sneaking a few extra hours in Venice tomorrow (like to stay a few months...) before heading off to Bern via a brief stop in Milan.