10/18 : Day 14 - Milan to Venice

 

Caught up on sleep after a few too many long days and late nights. Our train to Venice left Milan at 3:00 PM and arrived Venice just before 6:00. Getting to our hotel entailed using one of many water taxis (vaporettos, aka water buses) to reach our destination. Although it was quite cool/cold/windy on the canal, upon docking after the 20 minute ride the temperature was noticeably more comfortable. Throngs of people everywhere --- you would not know that the high tourist season was supposed to be over. Our hotel is but a couple of blocks from the landing dock and is just two blocks from St Mark's Square, which is one of the must see places in Venice.

Even though it was dark by the time we checked into the hotel and ate, we walked the couple of blocks to St Mark's Square where there were tourists milling about listening to three ensemble groups playing outside three different restaurants around the square. Such groups, all dressed in concert attire, are commonplace every night, playing everything from classical to American pop. Since we began walking after dark the attached pictures from my smart-phone are by necessity of very low quality.