Venice

We have finished our Danube cruise through Slovakia and ending in Hungary at Budapest.  As you can imagine there were heaps more monolithic churches and history dripping from every building.  Our final lunch was spent looking out over the Danube from the Buda side.

The surprise package for Budapest was an extra day out in the Hungarian countryside being exposed to the Hungarian horsemanship. 

As we leave the ship, and a great bunch of 18 people who we have shared wonderful experiences over the past couple of weeks, we head off on our own adventure to Italy.  Next stop Venice.  A little shuffle back to Prague but no problems.  Well almost no problem.  Many of you would know the sinking feeling as the carousel stops and all bags are off and yours has not yet to arrived.  Venice was looking like the place that Marg was to replenish her wardrobe! This is going to be an expensive trip...aaah.
To our relief, while waiting in the long queue for lost baggage, the carousel started again for the next flight and Marg's bag was first to come up the chute. Luck applies to those who do not panic.

Before this interlude in the transfer we were entertained by a magnificent seemingly low flight over the Alps.
And of course the traditional entry to Venice on the water taxi.

What a magic city!  It might be hot and humid but it is a full-on adventure every time you go out on the streets/canals.

I would not even attempt to summarise the 200 photos (first morning only). The one above was snapped on Marg's new iphone as we were wandering around the Rialto markets.
We have spent our time walking the islands (including Murano, glass) in the mornings and are back in our decompression chamber by mid afternoon sipping on a cool G&T.  Then back out again by 7pm for the evening.

The gorgeous Hotel Abbazia decompression chamber

Water taxi got us out to the edges of the island and then we walked back through the maze of streets and canals. Almost permanently lost, but always able to find our way home.

Of course, when all else failed we paid $25 for an entertaining hour sitting on the side of St Marks Square watching the world go by. Oh and yes the coffee was thrown in for free.

Sometimes the weight of the crowds were over-powering but a sense of humour was always the remedy.

After several hundred photos we had time in Murano with the glass and then our final night was spent at an intimate operetta.

Next stage of the journey is to Milan where we expect to find Judy waiting to join us at Lake Como.  With some regret we leave Venice, a hot but intriguing city that is unique in the world.