We didn’t really want to linger too long on streets of Venice at night. At least I didn’t want to, the streets were very different from the day where it was heaving with people. The streets now are practically deserted, meeting only a handful of people along the way. The shops were likewise already closed, which makes sense since there were no more people outside. You will still find the odd shop which is still open, most of the time these are restaurants. You might be hard pressed to find any open ones so it is still best to come out for dinner a bit earlier. I have been observing some rather strange “stands” which seem to be laid out on the road. I can only describe them as very short tables, the type which you use to set up a stage. I don’t know if there is something on the next day.
From the Rialto, it was a short walk to the Saint Mark’s Basilica. It was slightly busier here in the area, and I think it is much more pleasant than what we saw that afternoon. Just like the Rialto Bridge, there was a spotlight on the Saint Mark’s Basilica but it also highlighted the unsightly scaffolds which they use for the restoration. It was really unfortunate that it was like this but it needs to be done if we intend to see it for the next thousand years. The basilica itself is very quiet. Visitors can’t go in at night and it is almost eerie. There were still restaurants open here and I though it would have been a great place to eat, seeing how there are much less people and thus much less pressure to leave as soon as possible.