Day 33,

our second full day in Venice,

we made a very, very early start,

we were going to hire a gondola,

but seeing how packed the canals can be later in the day,

so we wanted to make an early start,

and we were off,

being surrounded by water, everything has to be brought in by boat,

and if building work has to be done,

you need a boat with a crane,

it was so peaceful,

as we passed a boat workshop,

not a soul in sight,

except another boatman going to work,

we slowly made our way,

to the Grand Canal,

we were blessed with blue skies,

turning into the canal sunlight hit us from one of the buildings opposite,

the Rialto Bridge, already crowded with tourists,

building work going on,

many of the hotels have their own landings jetty's,

like this one,

we continued our cruise,

along the Grand Canal,

taking in all of the sights,

then turned back into the sun,

that's better,

we still had,

the waterways to ourselves,

also some restaurants have their own waterside entrance,

our hour was nearly up,

what a fabulous way to start the day,

and we just had to get our picture taken,

the parking lot was still full,

with one gondola waiting for  a customer,

a quick picture before the crowds hit the bridge,

I can feel a fridge magnet moment coming on,

we walked back to the Rialto Bridge,

and watched a rowing team row by,

we have not explored over there yet,

but first a picture,

as a gondola heads towards us,

I mentioned that everything has to be delivered by boat, but then there is the final delivery stage which looks pretty hard going,

another one for the album,

as gondolas,

make they way,

past us,

we are now on the bridge looking along the Grand Canal,

and that is where we are going,

and the streets were getting a little crowded,

moving away from the busiest streets,

we partook of a little liquid refreshment,

and had a bite to eat,

we were then back out into the thick of it,

people in masks,

 and costumes everywhere,

and happy to pose,

we were still so amazed at the amount of effort put into the costumes,

and head gear,

like this one,

as pretty as a peacock,

as I said it was getting crowded,

Darth Vader,

we both thought this was rather neat, face painting, the make up artists paints your mask on you, very popular with the kids as many of them had painted faces,

two people are going to the ball by boat,

every street corner we turn we were treated to different costumes,

a few tourists going for a ride,

we found ourselves in a alleyway that had shops selling glass,

like these insects,

I just could not imagine picking one up for fear of breaking one of it's delicate legs,

and here a full glass orchestra,

vases and paperweights,

and like the one above, fish in glass bowls,

 glass necklace and jewellery,

in this shop,

very high quality masks,

some quite fantastical,

back into the crowds,

but just a few corners away relative peace and quiet,

as a few more tourists do the trip,

we had now made our way back to the main square,

where it was very crowded,

this looked neat, 

a tableau of a winter scene worn as a costume,

a couple dressed for the ball,

I thought perhaps the Loin King, but not having seen the film or stage play I am not sure,

there were so many costume to look at,

with such amazing hats,

and here is the snow scene again,

although most costumes were period pieces, there were a few different interpretations of dress,

steam punk being one of them, and tomorrow we shall see it has a big following here,

back to the square,

where there are still so many to look at,

if you think it is just locals dressing,

you would be wrong although many are in fact from Italy there is quiet a number come from further afield,

this was so neat,

Diana just had to have a selfie,

it looks like a fair ground ride but moves,

costumes in every colour,

Diana had a pose,

and a selfie,

we moved,

to the stage area,

where a compare explained who the contestants were,

there were a number of categories,

and of course the queen of the ball,

these dresses looking decidedly Victorian,

I just had to take a panorama,

as contestants chatted,

smiles everywhere,

he nearly ran me over!

and it is not just adults that dress up,

here a family of three,

make their way across the square,

these two defiantly medieval,

I am not sure about this one,

the restaurants were doing a roaring trade,

the family we had seen earlier,

had made their way to the gondola park,

and were going to take a cruise,

along the canals,

hello cheeky!

blue skies,

reflected in the water,

this has got to be one of the most comfortable places to have an outside drink, those chairs look so inviting, just a shame it is so cold,

a quick pose,

then we ducked in here for a bite to eat,

and then ran into Madame Butterfly,

and Captain Jack Sparrow,

who posed with Diana,

mind the steps,

Diana on one of the bridges,

below her one of the costumers takes a break,

the canals now starting to fill with gondolas,

a strange pair, 

one with a beak,

and one in ivy,

if you suffer from coulrophobia, that is a fear of clowns,

look away now, oops! to late,

the traditional gondolas outfits,

another couple strole past,

again we find ourselves in a backwater with no one around,

except,

cat girl,

time for a coffee, cake,

and glass of wine,

another couple that must have put so much time and effort in to their costumes,

just because you are in costume it does not mean you can not window shop,

some street entertainment, card and magic tricks,

this guy was so good with his oil drums,

I had to stop and make a video,

and if you like the previous video here is another one of him,

 just a shame about the street noise,

it was soon getting dark,

the day had just flown past,

but there were still many people on the streets,

I remember a song by Paul Simon, 

from his Graceland album,

 Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes, 

I never thought I would see them, until now,

we made our way to the stage,

in the main square,

where a pop group were belting it out,

watched by an appreciative audience,

I am not sure who the group was,

but they were pretty good,

back to the hotel,

the area nearly deserted,

but Diana still found a couple to pose with,

we decided on a nightcap in the hotel bar, so a bottle of bubbly for me,

and a passion-fruit cocktail for Diana,

which she really enjoyed,

'Cheers!',

what a perfect way to end the day, and with that we were off to bed.