Mumsie should have finished blogging this Italian Holiday long ago. Any way before mumsie goes off for her next hols mumsie must try to finish this first...Well this was our 7th day in Italy...Venice to be exact....Early morning before the tour leader comes..and before the (other) tourists arrive , we got out of the hotel to The St Marks Square to take some photos with the pigeons. Indeed the pigeons have become the symbol of this place. It is unrecognisable from the SQUARE YOU WILL SEE AT MIDDAY WHEN it fills up with noise, people & music.
During the day, St. Mark's Square is filled with people, pigeons (the unofficial mascot of Venice) and music. Feeding the pigeons in the square is a popular activity. You can purchase packets of corn form the vendors in the square and take your picture balancing the birds on you arms.
As this is still early not many tourists yet!
In front of St Mark's Cathedral
St Mark's Square is really the heart of Venice, mostly because of its location on the banks of the grand canal and because of the great number of beautiful, historical monuments located there. The square is lined with the buildings which housed the offices and apartments of high placed officials in the Venetian government.
Then we go back to the hotel to be 'fitted' with our 'hearing aids' See the red and white belts round our neck??
Now we were led to the Basilica Di San Marco -the Cathedral church of the City...which is the final resting place of the Apostle St Mark.
One of the most beautiful basilicas that mumsie has seen in the world. The architecture of the church will leave you breathless. Even the huge door is richly decorated (see photo) Inside this cathedral no shorts, no bare shoulders or arms, and no skirts above the knees. Additionally, no pictures are permitted. Luckily we came early if not the queue could be more than an hour.
A closer 'look' of the door
See how magnificent the building is!!!
This Winged Lion covered in gold on the front facade of the church, wht the Gospel of Mark under its feet, symbolizes the evangelist Mark. And inside gilded mosaics covering all the walls and ceilings..
The interior of the cathedral
The magnificent St. Mark's Basilica is probably the most well known building in the heart of Venice
The vaults above are covered in gulded mosaics depiciting scens for the life of Noah
In St. Mark's Square we visited not ony the St. Marks's Basilica, but also the Doge's Palace and the Bell tower (campanile)
In the Doges' Palace there is this Giants' Staircase which is crowned by statues of Mars and Neptune symbols of Venice power
Venice is famous for its blown glass ware. ..so we were taken to a glass making factory
At the factory and a glass blower offers us a free tourist demonstration.
After this we were taken to visit the glass shop to see some Murano glass jewelry but no photo allowed....Then we leave for our Godola ride!
On our way to our Gondola ride with our tour leader....an optional tour....
Crowded with tourists...
On the way Mumsie can't resist this flower shop..look at all thos e beautiful fresh flowers
ALL these are fresh flowers and those fella working in this shops are GUYS..Ya mumsie saw them arranging some arrangements...
Happen to pass by this bookshop... our hols co-incide with the launching of Harry potter's 7th book!
The Gondolas "stataion" When one thinks of Venice, gondolas immediately come to mind. SURE IT IS A CLICHE and a TOURIST TRAP but it is one of the best ways to see Venice. You can find gondoliers every where in Venice and a gondola can hold up to six people. The price set is for the ride itself so the more people you have, the cheaper the ride is.
The first thing mumsie wanted to see in Venice was these famous gondols. So the minute mumsie arrives mumsie started to take photos like a maniak, afraid that it would be only one I would see durig the day. Well...let's say I didn't have to worry.... Venice is full of gondols, so full that you might think that the competition for customers would cut the prices down... However, it's not like that....From what I heard it costs around 100 euro for a trip , which mumsie considere as a robbery. (That's why when mumsie was here years ago mumsie never got into any gondola) and that's also why godola ride is an optional tour...A little on the expensive side, but a something you must do in Venice at least once. Otherwise you might feel as though you had missed something...Highly recommended!
The canal can be quite busy with "busses" and "taxis"
For Visitors to Venice, the "VAPARETTI" or water buses (like the above) provide an entertaining form of public transport although most journeys within the city can usually be covered more quickily on foot. (I suppose if you cannot afford the godola...this is quite a good subsitute....to tour the canal ov Venice...
The Grand Canal, is lined with old palaces
Gondolas all in a row
Water taxis like the one you see here is the fastest and most practical means of getting from A to B ..Beware these fellas charge extras for luggages
This is our gondolier...
? Traffic jam..
The ride is absolutly wonderful! If you walk in Venice everything is totally crowded with tourists (was told all year) but sitting in a Gondola takes you into a totally different perspective: the Chanels are very quiet, you smell the fresh sea-breeze & see houses froma a perspective you'd never seen otherwise. It's wonderful!! DO IT when you are in VENICE (And if you have some Extra-Money: get a Gondolieri that sings for you!) Venice is all about the canals and the gondolas, and if you don't take a trip in one then you have not really experienced Venice.
While in a gondola you get to pass through the inner-cannals of Venice, go under the small walk bridges and into the 'backyards' of Venetians.
Canal scene with one of its many many bridges
The Grand Canal may be more famous but Venice's quieter side canals are cozier and more comfortable for gondola rides
Ya this is one of the many 'backyards' of Venetians.
This gives one a ttally different view of this lovely city and you see things that you otherwise would have missed.
Let nothing sway you away from taking a ride on the gondola. Yes, it isn't cheap but hey, how often do you swing by Venice huh? So, go ahead and enjoy.
This is one of the most expensive hotels in Venice
Do you know tha a gondolier, under Venetian law, must have been born in Venice to practice this profession.
Oh by the way ....the gondoliers do not sing for you...so our tour leader arranged this singer and musician (guitarist to be exact) to accompany us for that extra romatic touch. It is a great experiance to enjoy the ride while he sings some Italian songs.... 
Our tour companions on another gondola..Three gondolas share the singer and musician...I suppose the other three gondola had another singer and musician
Happy happy mumise with her loved ones in the gondola...Maybe the ride will be more romantic with only mumsie and dadda but not as HAPPY!Cheap they aren't, but very Venetian they are. Who can picture Venice without a gondola?
Joel is at the other end...gotta to stick on to our positions to 'balance 'our gondola
Back to the gondola station
Tonight we did not join the optional dinner tourcos Joel IS TAKING OUT for dinner!
Seafood On Ice
More seafoon on ice...
Fish and seafood dominate the restaurant menus,
All this is being displayed in front of the restaurant.
The city of Venice is one of the most beautiful in the world , but visits is often marred by meals at bad restaurants with high prices, unscrupulous waiters and tasteless food. But this restaurant 'Trattoria Madonna ' was not bad...anyway we dunno about the price cos tonight Joel took us out to this place and he gave us a treat...Thanks Joel!
Waiting for our food
The popular crab meat starter
Cat had this seafood spaggeti
Mumsie has this chicken dish forgot its name but it is not bad...
Celine had this fish dishAnd mumsie forgot to take a photo of our 'tiramisu, the most popular dessert in town, but no matter how many times you try it it's always a bit different, as each restaurant follows its own tiramisu creed..
Our friendly waiter of the night
After dinner we stroll back to the hotel and did some window shopping 
We visited this Ferraris Shop...needless to say it was crowded ..and here we bought Danny Boy a (expensive) T-Shirt
As per tradition , an F1 car is exhibited.. We were not allowed to take photo but mumsie mannaged to sneak a few into mumsie's camera.
Dadda with his F1 CAR behind him
We were told that when this Ferari new Store in Venice was "inaugurated", Michael Schumacher & Felipe Massa, took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony!!!!!!
I offers a wide range of Ferrari products, including men's & women's & children's clothing, leather goods, toys & gadgets.
Thier things are not cheap.. THUS END OUR 2ND DAY IN VENICE...Back to the hotel after this
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