June 23: Day 1 Venice

Venice was very welcoming in the 1500's accepting evey religion and ethnicity as long as they carried cash. The green pointed tip of the Campanile marks St. Mark's square, the center of politics and religion for Venice. Interestingly, the Golden archangel Gabriel that always faces the wind and is atop the church took a dive 100 years ago and landed straight up infront of the basilica's doors. What did the Venetians do? Put him right back where he came from. It was a good sign. This bell tower replaced an earlier shorter lighthouse originally built to guard the entrance to the Grand Canal.

The boys enjoying rats with wings.

Political buildings lining St. Mark's Square.

A closer view of St. Mark's Basilica.

The family infront of the Bridge of Sighs. Todd's side houses the Doge's Palace and Kylie's side houses the prison.

The Bridge of Sighs supposedly was named such because condemned men would be led over the bridge once their sentence was rendered, take one last look at Venice, sigh and know that their glory days were done.

See how much I hate those birds?