A magical Mediterranean vacation THIS SECTION COMPLETED 8/9 - Page 19 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Some nice photos of the beautiful architecture along the Grand Canal! Sorry, to see the state of San Marco. I don't remember it looking this dingy back in 2006, when I was there. Even the Campanile needs a bit of cleaning.
Glad to see you felt similar from seeing the photos.
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This is actually a great place to visit, but go after 6 pm, when a lot of the tour groups have left. There are some nice cafes (even if expensive, when having a drink outside in the cafe, rather than inside as prices are different) in the square with a full piece band playing at one of them (if you're looking towards the basilica, it would be at one of the cafes on your left). It's very relaxing after sunset, being not that crowded, the band playing and just enjoying the scenery at a cafe after dinner! During the day it's completely different being overrun with the tourists and pigeons!
You'll find out all about the cafés in a second...
Friday 4 July part eight: oh boy, that is an astronomical cost!
By now, it was about 3:10pm, and we had our tour of the Basilica at 4:00pm. Mark was desperate for food, so we decided to do something wed never done before and enjoy a snack in a café on St. Marks Square. Sure, it was expensive, but heck, what a lovely view, and how nice to just sit there and soak up the atmosphere and the view
I got a strawberry fruit juice, and Mark got a Coke Light, then I got a homemade tiramisu, which was very good
while Mark got focaccia with chicken, Edam and salad
Oh boy, that bread smelt so good! Now while I cant fault what we got, the bill came to something like 35 ($48), which was astronomical! I should also tell you that the drinks cost nearly as much as the food
I took advantage of their restrooms, which had a pretty cool view
then we wandered round St. Marks Square in the shade of the grand buildings here, that are mainly home to cafés and shops, although we noticed a lot of the shops were deserted, with the owners or workers loitering by the doors, looking bored. We looked inside a couple and quickly realised why, as the prices were just insane! I guess people arent prepared to pay those prices
Finally, we made our way over to the Basilica
and our own private entrance for our guided tour. I was so glad Id booked this, as the line to now get into the Basilica snaked through St. Marks Square, and there is no way Id have stood in that.
We were checked in, and given the whisper headset system, and I was asked if I had something to cover my shoulders, as you have to in churches around the Mediterranean, and luckily I had my lightweight cardigan with me, so I put that on, and we settled down to wait for our guide, and took in our wonderful surroundings
We were told there were no photos in here by our guide, and all the time she was talking to us and could see what I was doing, I didnt take any photos, as I didnt want to get her into trouble.
She took into the seating area inside the Basilica and gave us some history to the place. I have to say here she was a bit difficult to understand, as although her English was great, she had a very thick Italian accent, and the emphasis on the words made understanding them a bit tough at times
Once she had given us the introduction, we were taken into the Baptistery. Now here, before our guide arrived, and after she left, I did manage to sneak a couple of photos (as did some others in our group, I hasten to add, so I certainly wasnt alone in being naughty ). She explained about all the murals in here and the stories behind them. One set showcased the life of John the Baptist, and it was a bit like a tour in Disney. You can come in here and see something (Ok, so technically you cant, as this is closed to the public usually, but you know what I mean ) and its like very nice, but the tour gives you the full meaning of it.
From there, we went into the Zen Chapel, which was once the entrance to the Basilica from the shore. Once again, our guide explained about all the mosaics, all of which told different stories
From there, we headed into the Treasure of St. Marks, housed inside a tower, in two rooms representing the only remaining relics of the former Doges Palace. There are a total of 283 pieces, including Byzantine and Islamic art. It was a very small area, so getting a group of 21 of us in there was a bit of a challenge, but we managed, and the artefacts in there were stunning.
It looks like they've done something to control the pigeon population, though I can't imagine what! When I was there I wouldn't eat at any of the cafes in the square because there was pigeon poop everywhere. Eeeeeew.
The cafe may have been pricey, but the view from your table was priceless. I have been waiting for the Basilica update to be posted. I'm sure I'm not the only one hear who is glad you sneaked a few photos, too. I've kept turning the laptop to Luke so he can see these. I've got to get him in the mood for a Mediterranean cruise some day.
Good planning ahead for that private tour. The line was way too long!
Sometimes you just have to pony up the cash for some things. It's OK to splurge every once in a while - and this lunch/snack was worth it!
The insides of these historic buildings tell such a different story than their "tourist" outside does. Another thing well worth the cost to enter!
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It looks like they've done something to control the pigeon population, though I can't imagine what! When I was there I wouldn't eat at any of the cafes in the square because there was pigeon poop everywhere. Eeeeeew.
Oh that sounds disgusting. There were still a lot, but they somehow kept away from the cafés. How they did that, I don't know...
The cafe may have been pricey, but the view from your table was priceless. I have been waiting for the Basilica update to be posted. I'm sure I'm not the only one hear who is glad you sneaked a few photos, too. I've kept turning the laptop to Luke so he can see these. I've got to get him in the mood for a Mediterranean cruise some day.
Oh I really hope you guys get to do it - I don't think you'll be disappointed if you do. Be sure to give us lots of notice if you do go for it, as hopefully we can finally meet up.
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Sorry, to see the state of San Marco. 
I don't remember it looking this dingy back in 2006, when I was there. Even the Campanile needs a bit of cleaning.
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I guess people arent prepared to pay those prices
I was so glad Id booked this, as the line to now get into the Basilica snaked through St. Marks Square, and there is no way Id have stood in that. 
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