Ok.. my desktop is finally up and running again.. but don't expect too many photos yet.. it takes time to rename all 700+ photos which were lost during reformatting.. *sobz*

Day 12

Our 1st real day in Venice!! =D lazy mornings.. it was really cold in the tents when we woke up this morning! Bbrrr.. and to think that its warm during the days.. Anyway, we had to take a shuttle bus from Venice mainland to the island to begin our touring! =D

Decided on an all day pass for the vaporetti.. (saves us quite a bit of walking.. =P we're quite lazy.. oops.. =P) yah.. it costs 2euros plus to buy a vaporetti ticket everytime we wanna take one, and it costs 0.70euros per person just to cross the Grand Canal.. O_O well.. nothing's cheap in europe anywayz..

Venice is just so beautiful with all the waterways!!! Its sooooo romantic.. *Aaww.. the gondolas slowly plying the grand canals.. the small waterways with overlooking balconies, the balconies filled with blooming flowers.. beautiful!! =D


Beautiful Venice waterways!!! =D

1st stop of the day: St Mark's Basilica!! =D



Located at St Mark's square, it was a beautiful basilica.. the architecture was impressive, both inside and outside. There was a no-bag rule inside the basilica, but the church admin staff thoughtfull provides bag storage at a nearby place, which is quite safe.. it was so serene in the church.. well, almost like any other great church i suppose, but somehow.. hhmmm... =P

Anywayz, St Mark's square outside was crowded with lots of tourists, and the pidgeons.. =D the pidgeons here in Venice are cleaner than those in Singapore? Mebbe its cos they don't eat our rubbish? Anyway, Gabby bought peanuts, and we were all feeding the pidgeons.. =P quite tame.. they even climbed onto Gabby's arms! =D


Pidgeons @ St Mark's Square!! So tame.. =D

We had a quick lunch of sandwiches, take-out style. Do you know that apparently there are different prices for take-out and sit-in meals in Europe? Apparently the difference is quite drastic.. O_O anyway, so we just grabbed out sandwiches and stood outside the shop munching..
Decided to go on a gondola ride!! =D All 7 of us managed to convince a gondola driver (puller?) to carry us on a scenic 45 minute ride through the waterways of Venice.. =D Through the small waterways, into the open waters of the sea, the grand canal.. we passed under the famous bridge of Sighs


Me @ Bridge of Sighs!

and other tourist attractions.. it was really relaxing, just sitting in the gondola seat, enjoying the slow breeze and the sights and sounds of venice.. *of course, and worrying if the gondola was going to tip anytime soon cos there were 7 of us in it?!?! =P*

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring offshore islands plus beautiful churches on them.. There's also the Rialto bridge!!


Rialto bridge!! Its foundations were once made of wood... and it could open in between too! Cool!

It has quite a rich history.. *shaln't bore u pple with it..* anyway, yah.. so we were taking photos like mad on the bridge.. so touristy. =P Admired the beautiful glass pieces in the shops!! Murano glass is like how famous!! Aaahhhhh.. Resisted the temptation.. we're going Murano tomorrow!! =P mebbe the prices are better? =P


Murano glass chicks.. Cute right?? Ahaha.. =D

we decided to head over to the Ca d'oro even though it was getting late.. The house of Gold looked surprisingly dismal.. Once coated with gold in its hey day, it now holds several art pieces.. But it was closed by the time we reached there.. hhmmm...

Getting quite late, so we decided to take the vaporetti back to the bus terminus to catch the bus back to the campsite.. We had the option of upgrading our tents to stay 4 pple in a hut which had attached amenities like kitchen, toilets, power points,.. But i guess we kinda relished the idea of sleeping in tents after the first night. Quite a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Haha.. mebbe the lacked of amenities helped force us to sleep early.. =P