Venezia!

       Today was our very first day in Venice, and we only really have two days here because tomorrow we are spending the whole day in Padua :( that seems like such a crime--I could spend forever wandering these narrow, cramped streets and looking at that gray-green water of the canals. It is pure magic in Venice. Exactly how you want Venice to be and even better is exactly how it is. We spent the morning at St Mark's Basilica, one of the most gorgeous churches in the whole wide world (and I've met quite a few). I've been once before, but this time I got to go into the treasury where they had real relics like shriveled hands and stuff like that and also in to see the Pala D'Oro an altarpiece made of gold and jewels and enamels. It is absolutely stunning in person and--a bit like the Ravenna mosaics--impossibly to photograph. I spent about 45 minutes just staring at it. The mosaics that cover every inch of the interior are also amazing, but after going to Ravenna yesterday it is hard to appreciate them in comparison, HOWEVER they were dark during our visit and when we all learned they were going to light up the domes at 11:30 we all raced back inside to see the mosaics lit, and it was worth it!

        We had the afternoon free, so I spent several hours sitting in the niche outside a church overlooking the canal and writing my journal in the sunshine. It is absolutely heaven to be in Venice. Honestly I know I should go see the Doge's Palace (I really do want to go in!) and go into museums and churches, but really all I want to do here is wander around and try to soak in that special ambience that is not like anywhere else. I can't believe they are going to drag me away to Padua tomorrow!

view from our hotel room!