PICTURES FROM VENICE 08

We ate lunch here one day. As a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, it was a necessity.

And on the menu, Number 21.

This picture does not do these beautiful Murano glass turtles justice (many stores in the city sell Murano glass)

Mom looked at the ring on the left every time we passed this jewelry store. I finally got her to go inside the store to see it up close, but she wouldn't buy it (only 1,200 Euros -- she could have had it, if she had said yes).

Night view of the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge.

The Rialto Bridge. The area where we were standing to take this picture was under about 4 feet of water from the recent floods.

Speaking of floods, you see the small raised walkways all over Venice. Because the city is built on the water there are frequent times when the streets become water covered, so these are there for the occasion. This is going down the small alley to our hotel. You can see how far up the water came this day, just from high tide.

This is the Orient Express made famous by Agatha Christie

Our train came in on the empty track beside the Orient Express.

On board at our seats (facing each other) ready to travel to Rome and catch the Koningsdam for the transatlantic crossing.  TTFN.