Today is really a relaxing catch up and leisurely visit to the tourist spots of Venice. After an enjoyable but hectic travel day today is a much more leisurely pace.

Breakfast was served in another restaurant. Here at Kempisky San Clemente Palace it is celebrated as the start of the day with a spectacular brunch type smorgasbord commencing with champagne and then moving progressively through the various phases. We skipped the champagne but enjoyed breakfast and returned to our suite and then collected coats and awaited the 10.20am motor yacht (launch) to St. Marks square and the spectacular Doges Palace, the Basilica of St Marks and the square with its magical music. We also of course see the Bridge of Sighs and of course the gondola with their happy singing gondoliers.

The weather is dry but very grey skies and little infrequent bursts of weak sunshine. But temperatures are 16-18 degrees Celsius and it is quite pleasant out and about. We walk through many side-streets and take in the magical Venetian glass and fine linen, although to be fair there is less linen than on prior visits and far more shops selling tourist trinkets.

After 2 hours plus and many photos we stop for lunch in a cafe type shop and enjoy panini, with a drink and cappuccinos. We have enjoyed our time but the swarming crowds and 3 cruise ships arrived this morning so it is slow and tedious to walk about.

But please understand we are not complaining, there is still a wonderful totally haphazard bustle to everything. A clear change is the number of Chinese tourists. Japanese and Italians still predominate but there are changes occurring. There seems to be far less Brits and relatively few Americans.

At 2.20pm we again board the motor launch and make our way back to the hotel having enjoyed our time.

Jeanette has posted photos on Facebook. We will relax before going back in later for dinner and to listen to some music.