It was Christmastime 2001, and unseasonably windy and cold on the night my fiance Lisa and I arrived in Venice. The Rialto Bridge, its shops, and those of the nearby Campo San Bartolomeo were decorated and lit up for the holidays. The shop owners were eager to welcome us inside to escape from the cold hoping we would make a purchase. We were shown shoes, we were shown jewelry, we were shown luggage. We accepted each shop’s hospitality and warmth but saved our money until picking up some cappuccino chocolates from the local candy store. We had an even chillier stroll the next day braving Venice’s famous outdoor landmarks such as St, Mark’s Square, the Accademia Bridge, the Salute, and the Dorsoduro. As the day wore on, dark clouds moved over the city from the sea.
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