My second day in Venice was good. I got up and grabbed a pastry from a cafe around the corner from the hostel, then I was off. I made my way to the Rialto first, since it is pretty close to where our hostel was. The bridge itself was cool I guess. It was mostly just covered in tourists. I then did a bit of shopping for souvenirs between the Rialto and Saint Mark's Square. Almost everything was glass shops, most of it fairly similar.
I was able to find some good gifts, and then realized I was quite hungry. I got lunch nearby, but it was overpriced and touristy. The lasagna was fine, but the calamari (a local specialty) was terrible. And it came with fries. Boo.
Feeling refreshed after lunch, I made my way in to Saint Mark's Square. It was very impressive and the church was beautiful, but once again, packed with tourist. I used a trick I got from my guidebook to jump the line to get in to the basilica: if you check a bag at the nearby bag check, you get to skip the line. I have no idea why, especially since it's free to check items, but it worked. I skipped an hour line and strolled right in. I'm glad I skipped the line, if I had waited an hour to get in I would have been angry. It was an impressive church, especially because the whole ceiling is covered in golden mosaics, but it really just didn't do it for me. That was my least favorite church that I've seen.
Having checked the basilica off my list, I walked around the square and looked at the sights. They have an amazing clock tower, and the view out to the lagoon was beautiful.
Next I went to the Correr museum. To get in to the Doge's palace, you buy a ticket that covers all the museums as well. If you go to the museum first, instead of the palace, you don't have to wait in line at the palace gates. So I bought my ticket, then toured Correr, which is a Venetian history and art museum. It was interesting, but I mostly liked it because it was quiet and cool. And had a bathroom.
I then toured the palace. It was very impressive, as most palaces are. I got some great photos of the golden hall before I realized you weren't supposed to take photos. My bad. I walked across the bridge of sighs, which is the bridge that prisoners were led across on the way to the dungeons, to be tortured, or executed. The story is that they would take one last look at the beauty of Venice and sigh. I also saw the dungeons. Eh... The tower of London was cooler.
I then made my way back to the hostel, without getting too lost, and had dinner with everyone. I also enjoyed a nice bottle of wine. Then I went to bed, very tired after such a long day.
I was able to find some good gifts, and then realized I was quite hungry. I got lunch nearby, but it was overpriced and touristy. The lasagna was fine, but the calamari (a local specialty) was terrible. And it came with fries. Boo.
Feeling refreshed after lunch, I made my way in to Saint Mark's Square. It was very impressive and the church was beautiful, but once again, packed with tourist. I used a trick I got from my guidebook to jump the line to get in to the basilica: if you check a bag at the nearby bag check, you get to skip the line. I have no idea why, especially since it's free to check items, but it worked. I skipped an hour line and strolled right in. I'm glad I skipped the line, if I had waited an hour to get in I would have been angry. It was an impressive church, especially because the whole ceiling is covered in golden mosaics, but it really just didn't do it for me. That was my least favorite church that I've seen.
Having checked the basilica off my list, I walked around the square and looked at the sights. They have an amazing clock tower, and the view out to the lagoon was beautiful.
Next I went to the Correr museum. To get in to the Doge's palace, you buy a ticket that covers all the museums as well. If you go to the museum first, instead of the palace, you don't have to wait in line at the palace gates. So I bought my ticket, then toured Correr, which is a Venetian history and art museum. It was interesting, but I mostly liked it because it was quiet and cool. And had a bathroom.
I then toured the palace. It was very impressive, as most palaces are. I got some great photos of the golden hall before I realized you weren't supposed to take photos. My bad. I walked across the bridge of sighs, which is the bridge that prisoners were led across on the way to the dungeons, to be tortured, or executed. The story is that they would take one last look at the beauty of Venice and sigh. I also saw the dungeons. Eh... The tower of London was cooler.
I then made my way back to the hostel, without getting too lost, and had dinner with everyone. I also enjoyed a nice bottle of wine. Then I went to bed, very tired after such a long day.
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