VENICE

There's no place like Venice.  120 islands, 400 bridges, 2000 alleyways.  120 churches, dozens of museums, hundreds of restaurants.  You do feel as though you have left the modern world when you are walking around getting lost in La Serinissima - the Most Serene Republic of Venice.

Mr. Moneybags.

San Giorgio Maggiore in the distance with it's Palladio designed church facade.

St. Mark's Square

All these people photobombed my picture of Thomas.

Enjoying the sun outside St. Mark's Basilica

The man with the boot.

Awaiting an audience with the Doge.

Lean on me.

Some sort of accupressure ritual.

From the Bridge of Sighs.

What kind of day it was.

Our first night in Venice featured some rain and a few brave souls who ventured forth with me on a walk to Santa Maria Della Salute (big dome in the background).

From the front of the 15th century palace we slept in.

Brock encourages Andre as he works through his third full pizza.  Not a joke.

mmmm... pizza

Early morning on the Rialto Bridge

From the outlying island Torcello.

The oldest church in the Venetian lagoon - on the island of Torcello (pop. 20)

The Torcello church was built in 639 AD. 

This very much reminds me of the villages on the west coast of Ireland - this is Burano, another one of the outlying islands in the Venetian lagoon.

The walkers on the steps of Santa Maria Della Salute.

Cemetery Island.