Let's get right to it, shall we? First off, the above picture is the "Bridge of Sighs" from the Doge's Palace. The last walk for prisoners that were to be executed. What a way to begin!!
Here's a youtube video of the Carnival of Venice!
And what a carnival it is!!!
This morning, I was slow getting out of bed and out of the hotel. I wanted to get back to St Mark's Plaza and get in line for Doge's Palace. I walked through the outdoor market near the Rialto and got some cool pictures of stuff
I have pictures of the same space later in the day. But I want to keep this chronological as best I can.
Then I stopped for breakfast/lunch
The best sandwich ever. Ham, tomato and something else.... on a warm focaccia, so great. Try finding that in the USA.
After lunch, I made it to Doge's Palace and got in a rather short line. I got my ticket (which happen to be a multi-museum ticket for the museums in the square) and I set forth. I used the Rick Steves tour from his Venice book, which was helpful.
Pictures: There are a lot of places where they say NO PHOTOS. However, a lot of the time, it means no photos with a flash. I just began asking each place I went. I was able to take some pictures of the inside of the Doge's palace.
View of St Mark's from inside Doge's Palace. I love how the two are connected, to represent the connection of Church and State. Thank goodness we got past that!!
Cistern
Largest oil painting ever, I think.
View from the second floor
View outside the palace
After the Doge's Palace. I sat down outside and planned my next move. Here's some pics of St Mark's Square with a least 10 inches of water....
I decided to head to the Corner Museum and take the Rick Steves tour. I couldn't take pictures in there. But it was a nice walk through the museum. Quiet, not very crowded, etc. Some nice paintings, sculpture, etc.... It was a nice way to get away from the square.
After I toured the museum, I thumbed through the Rick Steves book and something jumped out at me. There was a Franciscan church in Venice. St. Friar. I immediately decided that I must see this church. So, I headed back toward the Rialto to do another Rick Steve's walking tour that would end up at the church. In the meantime, some gelato....
Creme Caramel and Strattiatella - from a place that Mom recommended from when she visited Venice in 2005.
The tour began in the square where the church was that housed the old instruments. As shown here.
The inside of the church
And this was outside. The weather was such that the canal was rising into the street area.
Empty marketplace
This chart tells how big a fish should be so it can be sold. Smaller than the chart, they had to be thrown back. Check out the joke at the bottom
On my way to the church.....
Meringue anyone?
Mirror selfie
Famous mask shop
Uh-oh
The Friars have been here.
I went in and paid my 3 euros to tour the church. I'm starting to have issues having to pay to enter a church. But I guess they have to make some money. Couldn't take pictures here either. So I did the Rick Steve's tour and that was that.
When I walked out of the church, it started to rain.
Before I began to book back to my hotel, which believe it or not, was rather close by, thank goodness. I took this picture. My pal Joey wanted a picture of an old pub, this looked old.
Kinda sad, I had been watching this lady paint this each time I walked by the last few days. This is what was left after the rain.
So, I made it back to my hotel, soaking wet. I got cleaned up and started to plan my next and final move here in Venice. I wanted to try and get to an opera, but they were sold out. But I was able to get a ticket for tonight's performance at Ii Portale Della Musica a Venezia, which has a program each day of the week. There are two possible options, Opera or a strictly Baroque concert. The Baroque Concert consisted of a Vivaldi Harpsichord Concerto, Albinoni's Adagio, Pachelbel's Canon, and the ENTIRE Four Seasons. I'm sure we've all heard some of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, but you haven't lived until you seen it played live. It's a work out for the platers. The solo violin was memorized, everyone else had music. All the musicians were dressed in period costumes. However, the harpsichord/Organ was electric. Not very period!!!
Anyway, that was the concert. Kinda got ahead of myself. Before the concert I had dinner.
I ended up having 2 Aperol spritzers at dinner
Before the gnocchi (shown here), I had a capresese salad, which I thought I took a picture of. I guess I didn't.
Here is the place where the concert was
And the stage
Ceiling
Afterward, I stopped at the aforementioned gelato stand and got a single pistachio cone. I walked back to my hotel, in the dark. Which was fine, there are lights everywhere. Somewhere along my walk, the violin soloist ran past me, like he was late or something. I thought that was cool.
That's all we have for Venice Day 3. I'd love to live here, although Rick Steves says that pretty soon the locals will be gone as it's very expensive to live there.
Tomorrow, travel day to Vienna.
Ciao,
Maestro
Violinists are always late for everything (much like white rabbits) ! No doubt, he was on his way to his second gig in the pit for La Famiglia Addams ... ;-)
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