Vini, Vidi, Photo

For those of us who studied Latin lots of years ago, or didn't study at all, I offer a translastion (Ceasar forgive me): We came, we saw, I photoed. In this blog, I will be more visual than verbal, but first, and introduction to the lay of the land. Island, actually.

I'll start with Venice. I'll start there because I am still be-dazzled by the place. There are many photos. I'll try to not be too redundant, but you'll just have to skim if I get too carried away. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. Don't forget to click on them to get a bigger view.

Venice is actually a city on several islands joined by bridges. One reaches Venice by boat, or on the causeway which links it to the mainland. This causeway has a highway and railway, allowing for automotive and train travel. On the mainland is an airport (Marco Polo Airport).

Cruise ships come from the Adriatic Sea to the Gulf of Venezia, then through the jetties past the island of Lido (on the left). Turning left, they navigate the Canale de San Marco past the narrower Grand Canal, and on through Canale della Giudecca which seperates the island of Giudecca from the main island (actually group of islands we think of as Venice). They then dock at the Bacino della Stazione Marittima.

During our stay, we took all the conventional methods of entering and exiting Venice.

Lighthouses on either side of jetties.



There is actually contriversial work going on in this entryway in an effort to protect the city from tides in the winter months. Eventually a set of baffles will be installed. When a second high tide comes in before the first has been able to retreat, which happens during some winter storms, the city floods.

Continuing to follow the boat wakes around the curve of the Lido (front left), note the fortress on the little island on the right.

If you take a right here, you will head towards Murano-where the glass is made. We'll save that trip for later and continue on to the Guidecca Canal. Check out views of the Lido on the left. We are in the Canal de San Marco, and can get out first good view of the city and the Grand Canal on the right.

Later we will take many trips up and down the Grand Canal, but for now we will just note the dome of the Santa Maria della Salute (which is being rennovated) and the Doge's palace and San Marco on the right. We are headed on through the Guidecca Canal to the pier.

On the left is the island of Guidecca, and on the right is the island with all the canals and gondolas and museums and famous sights of Venice. Down at the end of the lagoon we can see a cruise ship pulling into the pier. On our way in, we pass the condo ship, the World. You may remember that this is the ship that encountered pirates off the coast of Africa. Looks like she is sailing in tamer waters today.

When we finally come to rest at pier, we can see the rooftops of Venice over the top of another cruise ship, and the causeway to the mainland.