We wanted to make the most of this morning in Venice as we had to be back on board by noon. So we ordered a room service breakfast between 7.00 & 7.30.  Edie had cereal and a pastry and I had an egg and bacon muffin and some bread with marmalade. By shortly after 8.00 we we ready to go. Four different cruise ships had docked early in the morning. The ship ran a shuttle bus to the dock where the boats left to take you to St Marks Square. The boats cost $15 return and each cabin was issued with tickets that were charged to our account. If you didn't use them then the amount was refunded. We used ours to get to the Square .
We were there early of course but some stalls were setting up. Being a Sunday morning we weren't sure whether shops would open at all. We made our way towards the Rialto Bridge, the largest and more famous bridge in Venice. There were signs everywhere so it was easy to find. Edie needed to go to the loo, so we looked for a restaurant but of course nothing was open that early. We were directed to a WC and it cost €1. 50 (nearly $2.00) but that was irrelevant at that stage. Problem was we’d left the ship without our change purse. We tried the change machine but it did not work. An attendant appeared in the nick of time and changed our Euro note for change and Edie disappeared through the turnstile.

The Rialto Bridge crosses the Grand Canal. It has numerous steps at both ends with a curved area in the centre. There are small shops on either side. This really is the Venice that the world relates to. A busy waterway filled with gondolas, water taxis and private launches milling around this ancient bridge.  It’s the moment when reality hits that yes you really are here watching this magic scene.

So we wandered around window shopping, remembering that Venice is one of the most expensive cities in the world. By 11.00 we were ready to catch the launch back to our ship. At 12.15 we had to attend a safety briefing in case the ship gets into trouble. So we listened to sirens and whistles before being shown how to put on your life vest and adjust it correctly. Then we were shown how to pinch our nose, cover our mouth, hold onto our shoulder and step off the sinking ship.

As soon as this was completed, the ship was ready to sail. It took ages for the tugs to pull it backwards into the shipping channel and then turn it around. We sailed past St Marks Square and we were so high that we saw it all from a different perspective, as if we were in a low flying slow aircraft. Cocktails were offered and the band played some really groovy music. Of course once we ere past, everyone moved to the cafeteria at the same time for a late lunch. We got a coke and waited a while. It was still packed when we got there but by the time we had selected our lunch - salad for me and roast pork for Edie, we were able to find a table. The rest of the afternoon we spent unpacking and relaxing. It is a formal night tonight, but we don't want to get too dressed up, so we are going to side step it a bit by going to the early show in the Princess Theatre at 7.00 and then going to dinner about 9.00. We arrive in Dubrovnik tomorrow morning and our tour starts at 9.30.