Venezia: destination Piazza San Marco

Goodbye Toscana, hello Venezia! Last glimpse of the train station in Florence [1], a 3-hour train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Venezia Mestre, and across a Johor-Singapore style causeway to Venezia Santa Lucia. Over the Canale Grande on the Ponte degli Scalzi [2] to Santa Croce and our hotel, then off for a late lunch, and to catch the buzz in Piazza San Marco before the light gives out. But first, en route, storefronts, churches [3], Venice's famed waterways [4-5], and the jam-packed Ponte Rialto [6] which also offers good views of the Canal Grande [7-8]. When the lighting is right. And finally, after goodness knows how many twists and turns through alleyways and sottopassagios and herringbone brick pavements, the jewel in the Venetian crown, Piazza San Marco [9-12] and its little brother, Piazzeta San Marco [13-16]. Unfortunately, the light is fading, and we resolve to return the following day. Sunset from the Riva degli Schiavoni is not half bad [17-20].