Venice in two days

Sorry we lost the earlier deathless prose about our breathless arrival , although it gives us time for photos with this batch.    We had had some technical glitches with  A) computer, B) cameras, and C) batteries.  Possibly we've conquered all three.  But we got off all right --- and the adventure began.

picture 1 below

Today has been the day for walking around, getting lost, and getting unlost without even having to ask anyone for directions.  The search for the perfect gelatto may be over.    (although how will we know unless we keep searching?) 

The gondola ride was great. 

  Stefano didn't sing for us, but later we did hear another gondolier singing and we were just as glad we weren't serenaded.  The long lines of tourists are fatiguing, but everything is sooo much like the pictures we've seen.   It's just all jumbled together and connected by dozens of little alleyways.  It's too bad we have to leave so early tomorrow morning as we've just begun to scratch the surface of San Marco.  We haven't had the time to go to any of the other islands.

There is lots of renovation, and rejuvenation going on.  Right now they are working on The Bridge of Sighs  so all you can see is just a smidgeon of it.  There are lots of posters up for the various things going on for the arts festival, which is what the sky-looking stuff is.

This is one town that it doesn't matter if you look like a tourist--everyone is a tourist.  There are large groups of them everywhere, either walking in long crocodiles or clumping together in the squares.