Day 4 - Friday 27 November - Venice on board Viking Star

After breakfast in the World Café on Deck 7, we board the "Bellini", a cruising boat for a tour of the Lagoon surrounding Venice -- a walking tour - then free time.  Statistics I learned today:  Venice has a population of 58,000 -- 180 islands --  48 bridges -- 6 sections -- city is divided by the Grand Canal.    In the Middle Ages,  Venice was a  powerful republic -- as merchants they controlled trading routes worldwide.   When  Columbus discovered America  -- trading routes were  altered and so was the power -- Venice's decline began.

Phil on the Bellini for the Lagoon Tour.

In Venice -- construction of new structures is not allowed --- only renovation of existing buildings.  An application to renovate must be submitted --- it might take up to ten years to have a response  --  then the answer will likely be "No".   This is called Monument Control.

Knee High Boots for Sale on St. Mark's Square

 The lagoon tour is wonderful --- the guide points out various landmarks including  Lido Island where the Venice Film Festival takes place.   Castello is where we turn around to dock at St. Mark's Square for our walking tour.   The flooding is worse today than it was yesterday but nobody seems concerned --  once high tide occurs (10:40 am today) the water will begin to recede.   The crowds today are dense -- and walking on the elevated pathways doesn't help.   We are happy to have already seen much of what the walking tour is all about.

Phil, Patte and I break off from the tour to run back to the Palace Bonvecchiati to retrieve some things Patte left in her room.    We must go a bit out of the way due to the flooding -- and when we return we realize we will not be able to enter St. Marks's since the line is way too long and we'll miss the boat back to the Viking Star.

Unusual House in one of the Squares of Venice!

On the way back to the meeting point -- we get lost in the alleys and streets as we try to avoid St. Marks Square  ---  we see lots of lovely squares with unique structures.   A couple of times we need to regroup to be sure we are headed In the right direction.   But as Phil would say, "We didn't get lost -- we just went back another way."   

Lunch on the Viking Star is very good with lots of healthy selections.  We have the required life boat drill at 3:00 pm.  Sail-Away is at 4:00 pm -- Patte and I position ourselves on the back deck but it is cold and nothing is happening so we go to the "Winter Garden" for tea.  They have an array of sweets as well as  small sandwiches including watercress -- my favorite.  Eventually Phil and Dave find us -- we can see the sail away just fine from inside.

Watching Venice recede into the background at dusk is magical.

Entrance to the Grand Canal - Venice -- at Dusk!

 Dinner in "The Restaurant" is good but service is slow.  The couple who sat next to us boarded the ship in Istanbul so will be on for 22 days when we reach Barcelona.  They are loving the cruise and this beautiful ship.

Phil, Patte and I attend the Captain's Reception where he introduces his staff and we all have a champagne toast to a wonderful cruise.

Back to the room by 10:00 pm.

Thanks for Reading.

Pat