We weren't planning to visit this city at all, in fact were avoiding it due to what we heard about hordes of people crowding narrow streets. BUT since we were so close, we figured "Why not." and visit we did, on Tuesday.
Below is graffiti we passed walking through a tunnel under a highway - this turned out to be a ten mile day! The whole message is "I don't need nothing else but you." But it was too long to capture fully!
A piece of map showing how close the station is to the action on the large canal.
Danny on the train - we were both lucky to get seats but not together - we had to wait an hour for a train as the first which left five minutes after we got to the station was full.
We thought there might be a tunnel since Venezia is off the Adriatic shore. It is accessible by GIANT CRUISE SHIPS on one side and a road/train causeway from mainland Italy on the other. We weren't sure how to find our way once we got there but the train station dropped us literally in the thick of the things on a large and busy canal where water taxis, gondolas, smaller motor boats and sightseeing barges were motoring or paddling simultaneously.
Santa Lucia Train Station is the low building to the left, as seen from the first bridge with the conflagration of water vehicles in front. Below is our first view of Venezia looking down from the steps of the station.
Picturesque alleys, one building with linens drying in the breeze. 
Obligatory gondolas below - full disclosure, we didn't rent one and there were a LOT of them! They were actually quite pretty,
There were many old decorative doorbells.
And everyone under age 50 was carrying a Fjallraven Kanken backpack!
Photo taken on the way over the first bridge by a couple from Atlanta who have said they would look us up on Facebook. They had not met many Americans overseas in Italy, and truth be told, neither have we - politics were NOT discussed.
Below is the major form of transport - various water taxis which were often in traffic jams with boats of all sizes, motorized and not.
Taking a break from walking on the stone walkways over multiple bridges. When we arrived around noon, we were able to walk along canals in more residential sections where there were very few people i.e. tourists. Later when the ships docked, we walked toward the Rialto Bridge and walking was close to impossible. Everyone was having a good time but I can see why people are having difficulty living here as permanent residents. We took a water taxi back to Santa Lucia Station.
Currently there are about 60,000 year round residents and the number is shrinking. The city with its conglomeration of beautiful old world buildings (snaking with internet and electrical wiring plus wooden beams shoring up dry rotted old ones) and is sinking (glad we went to see it now!) and in constant transition. For locals the environment is tough. There are ongoing studies about what to do about the continuous onslaught of cruise ships and incoming bus tours but no real solutions.
On to Slovenia tomorrow!
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