Venice

Love the city: contrasts everywhere;
- the hustle and bustle of the water 'main ways' (the Washington beltway has nothing on the Grand Canal traffic!) vs the quiet, smaller canals as you move away from the tourist areas. We took the obligatory gondola ride, but asked to navigate away from the crowds; it was one of the most relaxing experiences ever :)

- the new vs the old; renovated shinny buildings juxtaposed with decrepit facades. I have to say the decrepit ones were more appealing (at least photographically...)

- Luxury and baubles: Cartier, Fendi and the like (all empty by the way...) next to stores replete with cheap plastic renditions of various landmarks.

My favorites? masks and glass. Some of the masks in the real crafts boutiques are masterworks (photos were not allowed, unfortunately, or I'll have had a series dedicated just to them!). The blown glass, esp from Murano, is out of this world.

Beach time today!