The empty version of Venice

Today we got up early and walked across Venice to St Mark's Square. We got there before most other people had woken up, before any cruise ships docked, or day trippers arrived. Everything was still, calm, serene. Venice as it should be seen.

We looked at the glorious gold mosaics inside the antechamber for St Mark's cathedral while a service was in progress. Then at great extravagence (50 euro!) we took a water taxi back to Rialto bridge so we could go to the local food market. The driver took us under the famous 'bridge of sighs' and up a series of tiny narrow canels. It was so cool. We smiled like idiots the entire way. Worth every cent.