The Horses of Saint Mark have a long story to them including that they were displayed at the Hippodrome of Constantinople but in 1204 were sent back to Venice only to be taken to Paris by Napoleon in 1797 and returned to Venice in 1815. After a long restoration, in the 1970s, these originals have been kept in the Saint Mark’s Basilica museum and the horses now on the front of the cathedral are bronze replicas. April 30, 2017

My last look…at least for this trip…at the cute bridges that stitch the little islands together that make up Venice, Italy. April 30, 2017

And, my last stroll in Saint Mark’s Square as the sun sets on the basilica and the bell tower in Venice, Italy. April 30, 2017

Connecting with the Grand Canal for the last time…at least during this trip…in Venice, Italy.

My one and only selfie of the day here in Murano in front of a bell tower and the “Comet Glass Star.” This glass work was made by the master glass maker, Simone Cenedese for Christmas 2007 in Murano. April 29, 2017

John, Alice and I doing our group selfie inside the courtyard of the Doge Palace in Venice, Italy, as we wait to take the tour of the ‘secret’ rooms, which mainly consisted of the prison cells including the one that held Casanova himself. And, then to the extravagant ballroom-sized rooms filled with glorious artworks in every direction of the palace. April 28, 2017

Yes, that’s me standing by what use to be the entrance of honor at the Doge Palace in Venice. The “Stairway of the Giants” was first designed by Antonio Rizzo between 1483 and 1485. The two statues of Mars and Neptune, sculpted by Jacobo Sansovino in 1565, symbolize the power of Venice over land and sea. April 28, 2017

John, Alice and me getting in that group selfie at St. Mark’s Square with the stunning basilica behind us in Venice, Italy. (April 28, 2017)

Though Alice and I move on to Padua, Italy, for our Rick Steves “Village Italy,” tour, her life mate and my travel mate these past few weeks will be heading back home. Until next time, John…enjoyed exploring Sicily and Venice with you…safe travels my friend.

(And, as a side note, we ate a late lunch today at this little local pizza joint, LaPerla Pizzeria. We were told by our local guide Anna, during our Free Venice Walking Tour, that wherever you see the gondoliers…in their striped shirts…eating, then that’s the place to go.) April 30, 2017