| With European cruises increasing in
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| | floods, which it does often enough for
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| popularity, more and more Americans
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| | the city to build elevated walkways
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| passengers are likely to make port in
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| | around.
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| some of the great cities of the
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| | Nearby is the Doge's Palace. Doge
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| Mediterranean. One of the oldest of these
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| | (dough-jay) is the name the Venetians
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| harbor towns is still a top port of call
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| | gave to their ruler back in the day when
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| for modern cruise lines: Venice.
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| | Venice was an independent nation. It's a
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| Venice is not like anywhere else on
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| | sumptuous kind of place, fit for a
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| earth. It's not the only city that is
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| | monarch, but most tourists enjoy the
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| laced with canals (Amsterdam has canals,
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| | lesser accommodations better. The Doge
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| too, so does Stockholm), and it's not the
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| | had so many enemies he annexed a prison
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| only city with an ancient past (Rome
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| | to the palace which is reached by
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| probably beats Venice in the historical
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| | crossing the Bridge of Sighs. There is a
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| department and Florence definitely edges
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| | self-guided tour of the prison but it is
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| her out in art). But there is something
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| | very important to stick to the pathways
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| incredibly different and delightful about
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| | marked. You are perfectly free to wander
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| Venice.
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| | around as you see fit, but the place is
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| You can't drive in Venice. Entrance in
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| | like a honeycomb and you can get lost.
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| and out of the city is by boat (you take
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| | Getting lost is a typical Venetian
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| a water taxi from the airport), so
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| | experience. The city is full of unmarked
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| arriving by cruise ship is close to the
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| | streets, twisted lanes, and narrow
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| way the city was meant to be approached.
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| | passageways.
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| Once in Venice, you navigate on foot or
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| | One of Venice's favorite native sons was
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| by boat. By far, the quickest, easiest,
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| | reputed to have been lost. Marco Polo
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| and least expensive way to go from point
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| | lived in Venice and set out for China,
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| A to point B is to jump on the boat-bus,
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| | where he spent 20 years. When he
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| called a vaporetto. You buy tickets for
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| | returned, he was vilified by Venetians
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| it just like the bus. If you're a cruise
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| | who called him "The Liar" for making up
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| passenger in town for the day, it may pay
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| | stories. You can visit his home. It is
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| for you to buy a pass good for the whole
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| | located on a short cul-de-sac named "The
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| day. Not only could it save you some
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| | Liar"The Liar."
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| lire, you don't have to hassle with
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| | Venice was always better known for
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| buying tickets when you want to get a
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| | commerce than art, but there are some
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| ride.
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| | artistic treasures. If you like eating
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| Water taxis are another option, but
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| | what the locals do, you're going to try
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| they're a bit more expensive. Even more
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| | seafood and a dry sparkling wine called
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| expensive, but delightfully romantic and
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| | Prosecco. Of course, most tourists end up
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| unique, are gondolas. Expect to fork out
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| | enjoying more generic Italian favorites
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| a lot of money for the experience, but,
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| | here, too, such as cappuccino or espresso
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| trust me, it will be an experience.
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| | and rich gelato.
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| Most Venetians get around by foot, and
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| | If you have time, take a vaporetto out to
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| you probably will, too. The city has all
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| | Lido island. It's an island that's just a
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| the twists and turns you'd expect from an
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| | short boat-bus ride from the main drag
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| ancient town. The city is crisscrossed
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| | (the Grand Canal) and there is more
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| with twisting and turning canals, leaving
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| | relaxed (and less expensive) shopping and
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| you occasionally in the strange
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| | some beaches.
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| predicament of being able to see where
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| | Another great thing to check out is
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| you want to go but not being able to find
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| | Murano, an island famous for colorful
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| a passable route to get there. Relax,
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| | hand-blown glass. You can buy Murano
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| Venice has something interesting
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| | glassware all over Venice, including a
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| practically around every corner, so even
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| | special design known as mille-fiori
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| if you get lost, you'll probably still do
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| | (thousand-flowers). In Murano, you can
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| a lot of great sightseeing.
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| | watch artisans at work and get a much
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| The biggest tourist spot in town is the
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| | broader sampling of their products. But
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| Piazza San Marco where St. Mark's
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| | expect to see Murano glass in most of the
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| Cathedral is located. You can tour the
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| | shops.
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| cathedral and even climb the towers (not
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| | Glass purchases from large stores can be
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| hard) to get a panoramic view of the
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| | shipped to you at home; most shopkeepers
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| square. Legend holds that the cathedral
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| | will be able to make such arrangements,
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| contains the grave of St. Mark, author of
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| | at least for larger purchases.
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| the Gospel according to St. Mark.
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| | Venice is a well-known city for tourists.
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| You'll see a lot of pigeons in the square
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| | It always has been, and cruise ships and
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| and a lot of tourists. Depending on when
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| | package tours to Europe continue to
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| you travel, you may also see scaffolding
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| | feature it prominently. But Venice is
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| or wooden walkways around the plaza.
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| | also a very personal kind of city. Two
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| These aren't risers for a concert or
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| | tourists visiting the city on any given
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| show. They're footpaths to help the
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| | day can walk away with distinctly
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| locals traverse the square when it
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| | different impressions and experiences.
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