Great Wine Tasting trip – good mix of people and wonderful places to visit.  Like in a dream – we were whisked from one wonderful hilltop vineyard in Chianti at lunchtime to another for the evening.

The beginning of the trip starting in Venice was just wonderful – with a delicious multi course meal in the heart of Venice itself at Locanda Montin, whisked there by very smartly varnished water taxi from Murano.

The twinkling lights of Venice from the lagoon are captivating.    A whole day to explore Venice or the outer islands with the sun sparkling on the water all around us.  It doesn’t matter who we speak to about Venice, everybody loves it!  Why? – no cars, beautiful architecture spanning the years from 1400’s to the present day,  the magic of history surrounds us and casts its spell on us all.

Cocktails at the Cipriani – don’t you love the candle holder?

Just happened to be under St. Marc’s arches as the wedding party went by

Practicing racing their gondola

The extravagant adornment to St Marks’ entrance

Ready for the Mardi  Gras?

Tres Arches just next to the hotel we stayed at in Venice

When we had arrived 5 days beforehand, giving us more of a chance to see the nooks and crannies and other islands in the lagoon.

Sunset over the bridge connecting Venice to the mainland

No matter so many tourists flock to this city – first thing in the morning – there is nobody about – and the waterways are full of the daily comings and goings by boat that would normally happen by road – food deliveries to hotels – garbage collection – water  taxis taking people to and from the airport  or railways station – non-stop activity – fascinating to be a part of it all in such a different environment.   And Venice is still surviving the onslaught of it all – although the number of cruise ships might be too large for that kind of tourism to be sustainable.