There were two things I wanted to buy in Venice - Murano glass jewellery and a Venetian mask. I've the bought the jewellery and today I wanted to buy the mask - not any sort of mask but the one the doctors wore when visiting plague victims. These had a long beak-like nose that the doctors stuffed with herbs thinking this would protect them from catching the plague. I've been looking for speciality mask shops (not the tourist ones) as I have walked around Venice and have referred to Eyewitness Traveller for their recommendations and felt confident I wouldn't be taken in by a 'made in China' mask.

I found a great mask shop in the San Polo district - "Tragicomica" . The owner, who makes the masks herself, was very helpful in ensuring I got an authentic papier mache mask that the doctors wore during the plague (undecorated).

I thought I had well and truly mastered getting around Venice without a map and was so pleased with myself. That is, until I ventured well into the San Polo district away from the Rialto Bridge. A couple of times I had to pull out the map when I realised I had absolutely no idea where I was or even what direction I was going in relation to anywhere else.

At one point I stumbled across the Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, a large gothic church commonly known as the Frari. I didn't go inside but wandered around its exterior taking photos. The front of the church is very plain while the rear is much more interesting architecture.
 
I had lunch in San Polo Square (Campo San Polo). This is a very large, plain square but was great for people watching.

I have stopped converting euros to Australian dollars (AUD) when looking for dinner. I now pretend euros equal AUD and then I can eat. I had a pizza for dinner tonight (my first since arriving in Italy). I'm not a big fan of pizza but this one was delicious.