Venice was even more beautiful at night. Waterways, bridges, and streets - sparkling with lights and filled with motorboats, gondolas, and, of course, people. The upper right photo shows the Grand Canal while the lower right photo shows one of the focal bridges of all of Venice - the Rialto Bridge. For dinner we had a variety of excellent pasta dishes, again at a backstreet restaurant. We finally arrived back to the ship around 11PM (Venice was the only stop in...

Upon arrival near Piazza San Marco from the water shuttle, we immediately headed away from the crowded square and wandered through a few of the less busy neighborhoods. In the process, we encountered several lovely parks. After stopping for a snack and a sampling a local unique blend of wine, we returned along the main promenade and were blessed with a gorgeous Venetian sunset. (Along the way, there was the small matter of a side stop by the geeks - Steve and T...

We arrived under sunshine to Venice in early afternoon. The top photo is of our approach, with the Grand Canal on the right. The lower photo is the entrance to Piazza San Marco, with the Doge's Palace on the far right and the Basilica San Marco next to, and behind, it. Just a few people milling about :-). This piazza is the most famous and most visited in Venice. We came back to it much later in the evening.

It was to be an early 4PM departure on the sail out so it was a short visit. Steve and Michelle hiked up the 1300+ steps (600-700ft elevation gain) in the morning to the remains of Castle St. John and then wandered the old town. Tom and Malinda went on a morning kayak excursion around parts of the bay and made it up to the castle in the afternoon. The Romans conquered this town at one time too and, like many, had to build walls and fortresses for protection from...

Kotor is a charming coastal town built during medieval times at the end of one finger of the Boka Kotorska Bay off of the Adriatic Sea. Here are some overview photos high above the town.