Finished the crappy drive and found our way to the Venice mainland. Returned the car in one piece! woohoo.

Ended up catching the train to the Island. We had to walk over bridges and around stall holders and tourists with our luggage to reach the hotel. The directions only mentioned crossing one bridge but there were two. A lady we spoke to helped us find our hotel and said her instructions said no bridges yet she had two.

I can see how people get lost. It truly is a maze and has piazzas and alleys that end at water. It is, of course stunning to see and even going on the undignified water bus is amazing on the grand canal.

We went for walks and saw the Rialto Bridge (in photo) and I spent a while looking at Murano glass which is gorgeous and much cheaper here but impossible to transport much of it home. They have little animals and vases as well as pendants and earrings.

Our room is right on the edge of a canal with a bridge that leads to a water bus stop. Lots of people walk past but our room is nice and we could walk to the Rialto Bridge and to the station so it is quite central.

As with most of Italy there are quite a few beggers and people peddling dodgey stuff. It's hard to walk past but you kind of have to in the end.

There are people sitting around sketching and others playing musical instruments on the street. There are deserted piazzas around some corners and Prada and Gucci around others.

It is very picturesque and the churches and gondalas are beautiful and plentiful.

It feels a little unreal being here. I look at my photos and it seems like someone else must have taken them. There is so much to take in and I could spend weeks here visiting all the attractions.

Walking around aimlessly and boating up and down the grand canal are the recommended 'must do's' and we are loving doing just that.