JUNE 19: AMAZING VENICE. our day began with a half hour bus ride(the coaches are very comfortable) in bright sunshine-not a cloud in the sky. We reached Venice and at 10am it was already warm. There are no cars or busses in Venice-only boats. So we parked the bus and took a large(80) seat "water taxi" to the main island(there are 117 islands) of Venice. A special day began. We visited the palace of the DOGE(duke) of Venice: a building filled with magnificent artwork. These people lived in a splendid way. Yet, we also learned from the guide that these people often were very cruel and suspicious rulers who did not care about the rights of ordinary people.  Next door, we toured St. Marks Cathedral, a very large and beautiful church. From there, we went to a glass factory(all of this walking) to see how Venetian glass(world famous) is made.We walk everywhere, there are few elevators, so a lot - A LOT! of up and down stairs.

   Venice at this time of the year is filled, packed!!! with tourists, especially many teens and young adults. The "world" seems to fill St. Mark s Square with every nation of the world. By now the day was incredibly sunny and very warm.

  After a short lunch of pizza(thin, more tomato/less cheese than American pizza), we had time for ourselves. A number of people went on a gondola ride(expensive). I had to finish a promise. I had asked the Blessed Mother for help. In Venice, there is the Church of Madonna Della Salute(The Mother of Health).  To get there, I had to take a water bus(they have bus lines like any large city, but they are boats). I ahd promised her that in response to her help, I would offer a Rosary there. I went to the church that afternoon and offered a rosary in thanksgiving for her help, then jumped back on the water bus and made it back by 4pm.

  At 4:30pm, we all gathered in the ancient baptistry of St. Mark s and offered Mass. The altar was a very large stone. I asked the sacristan why. He said that the stone was from Syria. (St. Mark was supposedly a Syrian by birth.) The tradition said that Jesus had stood on this rock to preach. When I told the group, people were stunned. At the end of Mass, all of us touched the rock in a  very quiet, humble way.

  Afterwards, we walked though the very winding, crowded, exciting streets of Venice to have dinner at one of the thousands of little restaurants that fill the city. The meal, as every meal here, was delicious and very filling.  We then walked back to our water taxi, rode back through a great sunset over the waters, to oru bus, and back home. Today we travel to Pisa and end the day near Florence.
   Everyday, we pray for you, our loved ones and friends. Please continue to pray for us.