The nine hour flight from Atlanta to Venice was already long but it was extended two hours by a delay in Atlanta due to thunderstorms. We arrived at Marco Polo Airport in Venice and headed out on a public bus to get our first views of the historic city. The images above are from a short walk and don’t even encompass any of the regular historic sites. They really do have beautiful step bridges across the canals and brightly colored buildings on the waterways. I was surprised by the extensive use of wrought iron on windows, doors, and balconies. It reminded me of New Orleans – or maybe that should be the other way around. New Orleans reminds me of Venice. There are beautifully decorated gondolas parked along the canals waiting to be hired. We’ll be doing that one evening – the ultimate romantic experience in Venice.