First Day IV

After the bridge, the walkway along the lagoon becomes the Riva degli Schiavoni.  We followed it all the way to the Museo Storica Naval (Naval History Museum), then headed inland to an area known as Arsenale (the Naval Arsenal)  It is still a working Naval Base, enclosed by stone walls.  The gate we approached is one of three entrances from the sea – this one used to have a gate (we could see the old hinges).  To the north we could see a low entrance for small boats, but the main sea entrance at the east end of the base was hidden.

 The entrance is framed by two towers – each with a clock. The port side clock was wrong, but the starboard side sundial was working.  It showed 11 am… a fact that was confirmed when the

neighboring church’s bells rang to mark the noon hour (time difference due to DST).

 

We headed back to the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop, thinking we were picking up the same line we had arrived on earlier.  Instead of going back along the Grand Canal, we headed seaward – first to the island of Saint George Maggiore, then to Guidecca. 

 

Santa Maria della Salute and the mouth (south end) of the Grand Canal from San Zaccaria

Sta Maria, from the lagoon

 

The route bounced back and forth between the outer islands and the main part of Venice, eventually circling the entire city to start back down the north end of the  Grand Canal at Pizzale Roma.   What had been a 20 minute trip getting to S. Marco, ended up an hour-long circle route, but we saw the entire south and west sides of the city. 

 

Church  near Zattere vaporetto stop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we saw ships ranging from cruise ships to private mega-yachts, working ferries, floating constructing cranes, and all sizes of cargo carriers.

 

Two cruise ships

 

 

 

 

 

After getting back to our neighborhood, we grabbed w quick lunch.  While Scott rested his ankle, I found a market and stocked up for the week.  Dinner was pasta pomodoro, made at the apartment, with a local white wine that was a real “steal” at €1 .45!

 

Not a bad first day!