River Countess Cruise Photos

From: Uniworld River Countess cruise review

Day 2: Venice (3)

We had lunch in the Osteria Siena on the Sun Deck of River Countess, where a chef was making pizzas continuously. Salads, prosciutto, desserts, and drinks also were available.

The pizza was excellent--and possibly the best we've ever had in Venice.

On our way back to our cabin, we checked out the buffet lunch in the restaurant, just to see what we'd missed. Cheryl couldn't resist trying a chocolate-covered banana from the display at the entrance to the dining room.

During the afternoon, we took advantage of our free time by walking randomly in Castello and San Marco, where--as always--Cheryl seized every opportunity to photograph the local dogs.

We saw an announcement for the impending Festa de San Martìn (Venetian dialect for the "Feast of St. Martin," a traditional Catholic holiday that is celebrated in Venice).

Halloween, an imported holiday, has begun to make inroads in Italy. We noticed an abandoned Jack O'Lantern in a doorway even though the Halloween and All Saint's Day had passed.

We also passed what may well be Venice's ugliest building: A modern community sports center made of concrete. (Fortunately, the building is well-hidden in a side street off the waterfront, and most people never have to look at it.)

On our way back to River Countess, Cheryl took this picture of our ship through the trees of a neighborhood park.

After dinner, we caught the No. 1 vaporetto and rode across the water to the Lido di Venezia (the long, narrow barrier island that separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea).

It was a cool night, but we sat in the bow and enjoyed the sensation of being out on the open water.

(Tip: If you're on a newer No. 1 vaporetto that doesn't have seating in the bow, walk through the enclosed passenger cabin to the sheltered outdoor seating area in the stern.)

It was a fairly quick ride to Santa Maria Elisabetta, the Lido's main vaporetto stop.

The street between the transit stop was quiet, with only one bus and a handful of local residents in sight.

(Note: Unlike central Venice, the Lido has cars and buses. Traffic isn't as heavy as it might be in a mainland resort or suburb, since the Lido is an island that can be reached only by water bus or car ferry.)

We walked around the Lido for a while. Durant snapped this picture of products from Disney's Frozen in a toy-store window in honor of our 3-1/2-year-old granddaughter, who's devoted to Queen Elsa and Princess Anna.