You can see amazing sights at San Marco in the early morning.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BRCisU6PkOw

Woah! Leslie, for an early morning video that was a bit freaky. I was expecting something more serene, like this seventeen minute video I have been watching over and over this past week of Venice waking up before the tourists arrive. After the stories I have heard regarding its "amusement park" like atmosphere during the day, I now cannot wait to spend a few days there on my next trip.

The crowds never bother me because I don't often mix with them. I spend time in San Marco in the early morning and again later in the day.

I stay in Castello, near San Marco, and really, a couple of blocks from any of the tourists spots, and it's quite serene and downright quiet. And I wrote about a trip to Torcello recently - I think we were the only ones there!

Wow, Leslie - not what I expected, either! It really shows you the enormous scale of those ships, and IMHO why they shouldn't be allowed up the Grand Canal.

Colleen, I couldn't agree more. When I saw this video I was thrown by the scale of that ugly thing passing through such a peaceful scene. Ghastly!

I've watched that boat go by many a time from the Riva. It looks even more monstrous in person. It's obscenely huge.

It doesn't go up the Grand Canal though. It wouldn't fit!

Doy. Sorry - I meant the Giudecca Canal! (... Anywhere near Venice, is what I really meant. )