1/2/20 -- Explore Venice, Part 3 and Start the Cruise

We watched our luggage get loaded onto a boat and then headed out. Alessandro changed his plan somewhat because Natalya had covered some of the things he had intended. He also adjusted because some group members were hot to see the interior of St. Mark's Basilica and Natalya had said that it looked much better starting at 11:30 today than it would have been yesterday because the interior mosaics are only lit sometimes.

We walked to back to the Rialto, looking at interesting things on the way, to get to a public terrace on top of a very fancy department store for the potential for photos from the roof of the four story building. We arrived a bit late for our appointment, but there were not a lot of folks waiting, so we zipped right up.

Horse sausage

Interior of the high end shopping mall. The terrace is on its roof.

 

The Grand Canal

The other direction of the Grand Canal

 

Afterwards, we looked at a Bulgari display of a couple of kinds of jewelry over the last several decades, and then went on to St. Mark's.

We got into a long line and entered much more quickly than anticipated. Although photos are officially not allowed (so they can sell postcards and keep the line going, not to protect the mosaics), I managed to take several sureptiously, a couple of which turned out ok. After we were in, we realized we were too early, so we stepped aside in a corner to wait for the lights. It was totally worthwhile.

Blurry, but without lighting

Lighting makes a ton of difference

 

Inlaid floor

Once out, we got 20 minutes to explore the piazza. By now, it was noon and my unsatisfactory breakfast had worn off, so I ate one of my bars, but then looked for something for Jim, so we both got a gelato before rejoining the group.

This bell rang while we were in the piazza.  It looks like the statues
are banging away, but the real action is from those bars at the back
of the bell -- when they move, the bell rings.

 

The Bridge Sighs

The plan was to  take a valparetto about half way around the city to the Jewish Ghetto. It was about a 30 minute ride on a very crowded boat and I sat across from an adorable 3-year old.

The area where we landed looked like a modern addition to the city. The paving stones were much different and the stucco on the buildings were in better shape. Alessandro told us the Jews had been an integral part of Venice's commercial success for hundreds of years and were well-accepted, as they had been in much of Italy at first. When problems arose, the church apparently decided to deflect criticism by scapegoating Jews and began recommending segregating them and limiting their movements. Prior to this, Jewish residents were spread around the city, but once segregation started, a small squarish island with three access points was designated as their new neighborhood. This had been the site of a foundry or getto (pronounced with a soft g) previously, so the location was callled Getto Novo or new getto. Other languages pronounced the word with a hard g, and the h was added. When more space was needed, a street of several blocks and buildings on each side became Getto Vecchio (old getto). and later the next addition was called Getto Novisimo (extra new getto). We noticed that the buildings in this area were a story or two taller than the rest of Venice, presumably to accommodate the added population.

Holocaust Memorial

The large campo of Getto Novo. Note the taller buildings.

By now, it was nearly 1:30 and everybody else was starving, so we went to a bakery/restaurant. Alessandro got us an Aperol Spritz if we wanted and a couple small ham and cheese focaccia 'sandwiches'. Then it was time for our last valparetto to the cruise ship.

Calatrava bridge with glass floor that is slippery when wet. OOPS!

Because the group was less than half the size of a typically sailing, OAT apparently upgraded people a level so we got a cabin with a better location as well as flowers, a bottle of wine, a basket of fruit and an invitation to the Captain's table for dinner. After a safety drill and unpacking, we met for a talk about the next day's plan and dinner.

Sunset over the lagoon as we set sail

The captain at the external bridge.

With the local pilot controlling the ship, the captain showed us some of the
gear used to guide it. This shows the channel to the sea and our projected route.

Leaving Venice

The Campanile at Piazza San Marco

The gray building was where our concert was held.