May 29, 2025: Venice

 (Written May 30th by Brian)

We got up early as the ship was pulling into Trieste. We all met up in a lounge for our excursion, and then they called us in groups to go to the bus to take to Venice. Everyone except Lara and Greg, who took a bus to Slovenia to have lunch with her friend’s son, went with us. While we were heading to the bus, Gabe noticed that he had left his water bottle on the ship. I thought he had left it in the lounge and ran back to check there, but realized on the way out of the ship that he left it at the table where we ate breakfast. Gabe was sad to not have it, but was fine since he got water bottles throughout the day. We set out, and then Gabe realized it was a 2.5 hour bus ride and he was pretty upset that he had nothing to do. He ended up entertaining himself lowering and raising the tray on the seat in front of us, and fortunately the guy in the seat didn’t complain too much (he just moved to the open seat next to him instead). The first part of the bus ride had beautiful ocean views, coastline, and even castles/old buildings, but the majority was on a highway where we couldn’t see much.

Rachel on the bus from Trieste to Venice

After the bus, we took a boat/ferry into Venice itself. This is the same boat ride that Devri and I did years ago with UAM. We landed and then had about 3 hours to explore.

Ferry into Venice

St Mark's Campanile (tower) and Doge PalaceVenice

Walking to St. Mark's Square

The Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs where prisoners would catch their last sight of Venice before incarceration

We, of course, first went to Saint Mark’s square, and then decided to just go into the basilica before getting lunch since the line was short. 

St. Mark's Square

St. Mark's Basilica

Gabe and I had opted for shorts, partially because it had been pretty warm the last couple of days, and mostly for me due to the fact that it was blazing hot and humid the last time I was in Venice and I didn’t want a repeat of that. I figured if I couldn’t go in the basilica, oh well. We were standing in line and dad/Papa saw the security there ask if a guy wearing really short shorts could pull them down at all. He couldn’t without exposing more than anyone wanted, and finally he just waved him on to go inside with a sigh. He didn’t even say anything about our shorts since they were very long compared to that guy apparently. The basilica was beautiful and we wished we had more time to explore in the top floor, etc, but with only 3 hours and at least 3 hungry Savilles, we set out again. In the basilica, though, a girl stopped us and said they were a group from Utah Valley University doing an art history study abroad. They saw Devri’s BYU lanyard and were so excited to see someone from home. We chatted with them for a minute and Devri was jealous that they were on her dream study abroad.

Inside St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Square with Nana and Papa

St. Mark's Square with Grandma

We found some quick sandwiches, a hat for Gabe, and some Venetian glass jewelry for Rachel, then stumbled onto a gondolier ride. They, unfortunately, could not fit us all into the same boat, so we rode with 4 in each. The ride was the highlight of the day for most all of us, as it explored a lot of narrow canals and even a little bit in the Grand Canal and went under the Rialto bridge. This is a bridge of lovers, and so of course Devri and I had to kiss under it. No one else seemed interested in a kiss that I remember. It seemed as soon as my feet touched the boat again, it was time to get out. 

Gondola Ride

Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge 

Kissing under the Rialto Bridge

Grand Canal

Papa, Nana, Michael, Grandma

Gabe, Brian, Devri, Rachel

We went to find the bridge to see it on top and then headed back as fast as we could to catch the boat.

On Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal

Grand Canal from Rialto Bridge

Church of Santa Maria Formosa

Heading back to the boat

Alleys of Venice

Church of San Zaccaria

Back on the ferry/shuttle

While we were walking around Venice, I kept reminding Rachel and Gabe about the scenes from Spider Man: Far From Home where they go to Venice. So, in an atypical move for me, I let those two watch the movie on the way back to Trieste. It was fantastic to not hear Gabe complain about the long bus ride of the way back, and 100% worth not having anything to do but try to sleep. 

Bus back to Trieste

All too soon, Venice was behind us and we were back on the ship again. Oh, and bonus: Gabe’s bag was at lost and found and they immediately found it.

Back to our ship, MSC Fantasia

Rachel's new Venetian glass jewelry

Remnants of the cheese plate at dinner

Dessert, in case you don't recognize it

Sunset on the Adriatic Sea

We all got dinner right away and Devri took Gabe to get him to bed before a dance show later on. Unfortunately, he was wired from the 5 scoops of ice cream he had eaten for some reason and Devri didn’t think he would actually go to sleep without her staying there. I went to the show with most everyone else (minus Leta and Michael). It was really interesting, but part way through I had some more pains in my right wrist that I had surgery on 3.5 weeks previously, and felt like I should write my doctor to see what I could do for it. They answered almost immediately, which never happens, so it must have been inspiration to write right them. They said not to worry about it and just let it rest and take Ibuprofen. We all went to bed, excited to finally get enough sleep that night since it was a day at sea the next day.