Beautiful Venice! Watery, chaotic, crowded, noisy Venice! Had a fantastic time here wandering the narrow alleys, crossing canal after canal on the hundreds of bridges connecting all of the islands on which Venice has been built. I think we crossed most of the bridges especially on the first day when we thought it would be a good idea to experience the backstreets of Venice.
But Venice has been excellent. Took to the water on the second day in vaporettos up and down the Grand Canal, and a really good tour to the northern islands in the Laguna of Burano (lace and fishing), Murano (base for all glassworks) and Torcello (original home of the Venetians when they first moved to the sea to escape the invading Huns, before Venice became their home when Torcello began flooding). Speaking of flooding Venice itself now floods seasonally in winter with high tides and onshore winds. We're here at the right tine though. Had the obligatory meals at sidewalk cafes, gelatos, and bought "stuff" including masks. Wonderful architecture, statues, and lots of little squares where locals and tourists gather. Late one night we even found an automated drink dispenser that served beer! Awesome! Dropped the coins, pushed the buttons then watched in disbelief as the machine pushed the glass bottled beer off the third shelf to fall to the steel bottomed dispensing flap. That's no way to treat a beer! Our hotel was an old convent where jeannie had some great nights sleep. It was based on an island with a big treelined park so we got to experience the locals at play and in their local bars and squares. On the first day we could hear tremendous shouting and chanting as we came home- there was a local football match happening - very passionate. Speaking of passionate, the Venetians love their dogs. So many pampered pooches, trotting along the streets, clambering up the canal bridge steps, some wearing little Gucci outfits and barking in Italian. Venice has been great, and we would return. Walking through the streets you hear many languages and accents. Everyone comes to Venice.
Ps check out my photo from our Venice hotel. Had two toilets - a normal one and a male one! That is classy! Well, it looked like a male one. The concierge explained afterward while the plumbers were cleaning up that number twos go in the normal toilet and the one on the left was a bidet...
PPS do you think the local society for the sight impaired is called the Venetian Blinds?