We found out right away that Venice has its own ebb and flow. Our hotel, the Pesaro Palace, was located right on the Grand Canal, which is a landmark canal in Venice. At the other side of the hotel was the busiest street in Venice. It went from the train station to St. Mark's Square. Our Venetian guide told us that "when" we got lost, and we would, we could just walk until we hit this street, then follow the stream back to our hotel.

There are many other places in Venice that are crowded, such as the Rialto Bridge. It's a stone arch bridge completed in 1591. It's a single span that features two arcades of shops with some very nice things to buy. It also has great views of the Grand Canal, especially at sunrise and sunset. It was crowded but we went over it and under it several times each.

Our Venetian guide said that we would get lost and of course, we did, at least twice. It was somewhat like being in a maze because we found ourselves following our noses to find what we could find. Some streets were difficult just to pass oncoming pedestrians.

Venice is made up of some 118 to 124 islands, separated by 150 canals, and has some 438 to 476 bridges, depending on your source, all connecting each other. Vicky counted bridges, and she said that we were crossing over more than twenty bridges a day, without even trying. You can see three or four bridges just in this photograph.

St. Mark's Square is named after the Basilica of St. Mark. The basilica was named after the apostle, Mark, and his relics are contained inside the basilica. The square and the basilica are perhaps the top attraction to see in Venice. Like all great basilicas and cathedrals, it is always being worked on, repaired, or something that involves renovation or construction.

I did manage to find a way to get some perhaps better photos, without so many people. I would find the giant puddle or lake in the plaza or square, and take my photos from behind it. I asked our guide about this small lake and she only laughed. She said that she was here in St. Mark's Square one day when the water was up to her waist.