Ahhh, Venice...

We got back from Venice yesterday (our last mini trip of our summer). There isn't a ton to do in Venice, but plenty to see and more than enough to buy!

Monday afternoon after checking in to our room (we actually stayed in Venice Mestres, the closest city on the mainland) we rode the train into the city. Most people know that Venice is built on islands and that people use boats to get to and from places on small canals but what you think you know does not compare to what you actually see. Once off the train at the station the only form of transportation is boat or your own two feet.

We walked around city until arriving in St. Mark's Square where there is a beautiful church (St. Mark's basilica), a tall campanile, and plenty of little shops. Near the Grand Canal is the famous Bridge of Sighs. On one side of the bridge is the court house and on the other is the prison. The bridge connecting the two buildings is where it is said that the prisoners took a sigh wishing for their freedom, before being locked up.

The following day we returned to St. Mark's Square to go to the top of the campanile. From there, Venice looked like one large city but if you looked close enough you could find a few main canals. When looking around from the top it is possible to see the Adriatic Sea surround the entire cluster of islands.

Afterwords we took an authentic gondola ride which is designed to show you the lesser touristic areas of the city. (And yes, our gondolier was dressed in dark pants with a blue and white stripped shirt!) Our time ended with a nice dinner after stopping in many of the shops!

On the 4th of July we rode the train back to Rome while sporting our red, white, and blue! It was hard for both of us to be away from family and friends during the holiday weekend but found plenty of other proud Americans here in Rome wearing their patriotism on their sleeves (literally... And their shorts too!)

Now we are spending the next few days revisiting a few favorite places again and a few more on the "still to see" list before our time in Rome comes to an end. We are filling our days (and out bellies) with plenty of pasta and even more gelato before we need to leave this beautiful city.

Pictures:
1) Us on our gondola ride
2) the Bridge of Sighs
3) Grand Canal
4) Entering the Grand Canal on our gondola ride
5) St. Mark's basilica
6) parked gondolas
7) Happy Birthday America!