Never a bridge too far............

"Buongiorno". Waking up in Venice was a dream come true. On our second day I was ready to get moving by 7 AM. A chill in the early air was refreshing outside our beautiful garden room. I walked to the lagoon dock, pigeons were circling overhead and the early morning water taxis approaching through the mist.
Our plan was to find a light breakfast on our walk to the Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) area.

We love to walk in cities to get the true feeling of place.....throw on casual clothes, comfortable footwear and off we go.  Here in Venice the water taxis are always available, but just walking through the streets, alongside the canals and over the bridges - did I tell you there are 400 of them - is what we did.

The local delivery people were already hauling their 

goods across the bridges............

.....motor boats were picking up hotel laundry.....

........the washing was strung along walls and across 

the canals.........

 ....traditionally garbed gondoliers were offering gondola 

rides, at a price!

We walked about a half hour just taking everything in 

along the way, then reached Dal Mas (since 1906), a 

beautifully appointed Pasticceria where our hotel 

receptionist told us she stops on 

her way to work..........

....and we had to agree, these were the best almond 

pastries ever, still warm from the oven, and the 

Cappuccino was excellent.

We stood up at a tiny raised round table, no chairs in the small space, and noticed most customers seemed to be on their way to work. We always love this type of establishment where you can hear the banter between the staff and regulars......even when you don't speak the language!

Not too long before the crowds were out, and shopping 

had begun...................

.....beautiful mask shops were everywhere.......the 

authentic ones with the actual artists working inside.....

........but we were able to find more quiet streets to walk along, and let me tell you, getting lost in Venice is FUN and it's easy to eventually find your way while experiencing so much beauty as you wind your way along the canals.

Soon we reached the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal 

area of the busy city.......

...and not far from there, our destination for 

the morning, Piazza San Marco.