“I don’t see why we have to keep getting on these boats.” Mae’s brow furrowed as she looked across the water to the approaching water taxi.“This IS Venice, Mae,” I reminded her. “They don’t allow vehicles on the other islands.”
We were staying on the island of Lido. It is a long, narrow island that blocks the lagoon and its islands from the Adriatic Sea. It is the only island where motorized vehicles are allowed. From the mainland, our bus drove onto a ferry and came across the lagoon with us. It was there to transport us back and forth to the docks.
In order to get to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) we had to take another ferry to the main island, Murano. That is the most famous spot in Venice. St. Mark’s Basilica houses the bones of St. Mark, one of the twelve apostles. The Basilica was lovely, as was the clock tower. Both built in the early middle ages, they show their age from the many floods that Venice has had.
St. Mark's is where Mark (of Bible times) was buried. His bones lie beneath the Papal Altar. You can walk up behind it for 2 Euro. The floor inside the Basilica is warped from the floods. During heavy flooding gondoliers transport people into the inner regions of Murano. Also city workers erect platforms to walk on, so the city can continue its business.
It is a hectic place. Our guide managed to get us there before the crowds, but it wasn’t long before they arrived.
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