PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, MORE GONDOLAS

Ah, Yes, the Bridges of Venice County!



The best way to view the Realto Bridge, from a gondola!

PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, GONDOLAS

More Gondola-eers



Cannot believe that Sam did not fall out!



Here is the one with me in it!




Christina certainly enjoyed her Gondola ride!



Duck under that low bridge, Ms. Lemay!

PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, PART 8

Sometimes, the best way to get your first look at venice is from the water taxi.



we came across the lagoon from Jesolo, blue sky, blue water.



From the boat, there did not seem to be any crowds.



At the Murano glass studio, they made a 1-minute glass horse for us. Sorry about the focus.



Starting our goldola ride, perhaps the high point of our trip.

PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, PART 7

The first in Elaine's series, Mother & Son, this is Sam and his mother Crystal.



The second in the Mother and Son series, this is Greyson and his mother Elaine.



On the bus between Pisa and Florence, Mses Lemay and Luckadoo relax.



Ou group poses in front of the Sante Croche Church in Florence. It is not a cathedral, despite all the famous people buried in it.


At a truck stop between Florence and Venice, some of us relax and stretch our legs.

PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, PART 6

These are called the Doors of Heaven, and they open into the Baptistry in Florence.



This is a view of the side and dome of the Duomo in Florence, fantastic brickwork.



One of the statues in the Plazza Signiorie of Florence, this one shows the aftermath of the beheading of Medussa, the snake-headed woman, whose look could turn you to stone.



Another statue in that Plazza is called the Rape of the Sabine Women, commemorating when Rome took over the Sabine area.

PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, PART 5

In the Duomo Square in Pisa, this is the Baptistry. They had a separate building to get baptized in because in the Medieval church, you could not enter the cathedral (the Duomo) until you had been baptized.



This is a bird's eye view of the Baptistry tank. Almost big enough to swim in.



In this photo, you can compare the lean of the bell tower of Pisa with the corner of the Duomo, and see just how much it really leans.



This is a well-preserved piece of the old Pisa city wall, over 1000 years old.



Moving on to Florence that afternoon, we did a walking tour, and here is Elaine's photo of the Florence Duomo and Bell Tower (Campenelia). It does not really lean, even though in this photo it looks like it.

PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, PART 4

Along the "lover's walk" between 2 of the Cinque Terra Villages, the Lover's seat, along with a collection of padlocks! Strange local custom.



A photo that shows the tropical climate of this area. There are also areas of cactus! A large body of water, but lots of sun and heat.



Here, the Watkins clan waits patiently for the train to the next village. There are 5 villages in all.



Even at the train station, the view in the Cinque Terra area can be worth-while. Pastel-colored houses abound. They manage to build on every available semi-available area.



The view of the cliff trail that we walked between the first and second villages. This is the so-called "lovers' walk".

PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, PART 3

CINQUE TERRA beach with people, shows the beauty of the area.



Another C T beach view, without people, just sun, sand, and cliffs!



One of the Cinque Terra village and farming areas, perched on top of a sheer cliff!



Now, this is the way to go fishing! If you do not catch fish, the experience is still wonderful!



The colorful house are part of the ambiance of the Cinque Terra area of the Italian Riviera!

PHOTOS BY ELAINE WATKINS, PART 2

Even the young can become tired, when exploring a new place.



Elaine's photo of the Med. cost between Nice and Monaco.



One view along the rocky coast of Monaco, near the bus parking lot.



The changing of the guard in Monaco. Not as huge as at Buckingham Palace in London, but a royal guard, none-the-less!



A view of the beach at one of the towns in the Cinque Terra area of Italy.

Photos by Elaine Watkins

Our first look at the pebble beach that is Nice, France.



On our way, many of the group sitting and communing on the floor at RDU.



The Mediterrnean colors of the red-orange of Nice, France, and the blue of the ocean.



Elaine Watkins is here trying to find out if the ocean water is warm enough to swim in. It was not!



A typical "old City" street near the water-front in Nice, France, on our first day walking tour.