Ahh Venice!

You know it is going to be a good day when you have chocolate and.....you are in VENICE!

Amazing architecture! 

Everywhere I looked it was a Kodak moment!

Wouldn't you love to buy your vegetables from a boat? 

Because it was high tide and also had rained a lot, Piazza San Marco had turned into a pond.

There were even sea gulls swimming right in the square!  We were told that it had actually snowed in Venice that morning before we arrived.

You can see the 'canal' blocking the entryway of the basilica.

Tourists had to walk on risers to avoid the ankle deep water. 

From the balcony we got a good view of the piazza. 

We decided to have a quick snack at one of the cute cafes on the square.  It was worth the high prices to have a front row seat for the comings and goings. I almost hate to admit that I paid 10 Euros for a cup of herb tea and 4 cookies! When the waiters brought our food it was covered in napkins.  We were warned to keep it covered and to be very careful when we ate because the seagulls had been known to fly down and snatch something right out of the unsuspecting tourist's hands.  Our family already has a 'seagull' story in our family lore! When we visited here in 1996 with all four kids, Mary had an unfortunate encounter with a seagull. As she was standing there with seagull 'poop' dripping down her head, her brothers, and I have to admit her parents too, could only laugh hysterically.  None of us will ever forget that moment!

The waiters were dressed in appropriate footwear for high tide! And they were totally charming and willing to pose for me.

Such an amazingly fun day!  I toyed with the idea of splurging on a romantic gondola ride until I saw the place where the rides started.  Doesn't look very romantic does it? 

 The city is wonderful and we walked miles and miles loving every minute.  Ahh....Venice!