"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.
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.........
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.
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