Shop around The Grand Canal Shops which lead into St Mark's Square.

Try a gondola ride. We tried the outdoor one which was 10 minutes and $12.50. The indoor rides are 15 minutes and a couple dollars more. I had no idea that the gondoliers serenade you in Italian. Our gondolier, Aldo, had a beautiful voice but all the ones that I overheard sounded wonderful as well. I got goosebumps when we passed under a small bridge and Aldo's voice strengthened with the reverberation.

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum is also on the premises, but I did not visit, having seen the London version and not having the time.

Our gondolier was a handsome young man with a beautiful singing voice. Although we were partial to "our" young man, we heard many beautiful voices as we watched and listened to other gondoliers perform.

Same-day reservations are accepted; the ride wait was approximately half an hour. The gondola seats four people; parties of two or less must share with another party. However, it was not a very busy day, so we had our own gondola for the two of us. Private gondolas can be requested, at $60 for the indoor gondola ride and $50 for the outdoor gondola ride.

The ride is open from 10am to 11pm Sun-Thurs. and 10am to midnight Fri. and Sat. The outdoor ride operates on a weather-permitting basis.

A picture was taken and we could purchase the photos at a reasonable price. I think we got two for $20 (we were in two Gondolas with five people). Only four people to a Gondola. It was like a city within a city. The sky looked very real and I was wondering what the little rings were until I realized it was a dome and those were the supports that held it up. There were houses and shops all along the canal. There were flowers and music and delighted laughter. This was loud or raucus like the Adventuredome at Circus Circus. This was relaxing and a joy for adults and children.

The Venetian of Las Vegas offers two canal routes: one inside that runs through St. Mark's Square and shopping center and the other one that runs along palaces outside the casino. Both offer nearly authentic experiences of riding a gondola through the canals of Venice, Italy. I say nearly authentic because in The Venetian, the canal water lacks floating garbage and distinct smell that comes with it —- a trademark of genuine Venetian canal water.

Each ride lasts about fifteen to twenty minutes, depending on how fast guests board the gondola. Once the guests are on board, gondoliers steer through the canal along which shoppers and tourists watch and take pictures of them as if they were the Venetian nobles and courtesans who are the subjects of gossips. So if you plan on riding one but would feel shy about onlookers, make sure you choose earlier part of the day when less people are around. However, if you are a newlywed couple who are dying for public attention, keep your wedding suit and dress on and choose the prime time to find the most crowd to greet you -—early evening on a weekend. You are guaranteed to be treated like Prince Charles and Princess Di when they were just married. You will see flashes on cameras go off one right after another even if no one had contacted the media for any publicity.

To purchase tickets, you must go to the end of the canal in St. Mark's Square. In the afternoon and early evening, you will find that getting a gondola ride is like waiting for a ride in Disneyland. Expect to see a long line. The cost is $12.50 per person with four people sharing a gondola or $50 for the whole gondola, as of Spring 2003. The gondoliers are trained vocalists and have a fairly good repertoire of songs; so don't be afraid to request your favorite Italian song, but be prepared to pay a little tip.