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Verona is also the town of Shakespeare 's "Two Gentlemen of Verona". This Verona, Italy travel slideshow mixes up some pictures of this beautiful old town with videos of our Perillo Tours Familia being pushed to the side of the "two way street", plus the town center of Verona. www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

For this long panoramic view of Venice, Italy from the water, the camera was set on the boat's hand rail, and the boat moved in a graceful arc. Fully zoomed in, aspects of Venice are revealed that would not be visible to the naked eye. This is the best segment of water views of Venice. Our Perillo Tours Familia enjoyed sitting for a bit, absorbing all we had seen in St. Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace of Venice, Italy. Then, the black and white lighthouse of the Murano Glass factory greet us. www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

Remarkable architecture, explained in detail by our wonderful Perillo tour guide. Video was permitted in the golden staircase and the outside courtyard. The Doge was the ruler of Venice. Wikipedia says "The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice and contained the offices of a number of political institutions, arranged around a central courtyard." This travel video hopefully gives you a feel for the immense spaces that were occupied by the Doge's Palace in Venice. www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

Our Perillo Tours Familia is guided thru the inside of the Doge's Palace in Venice. "Perhaps the most spectacular room is the Grand Council chamber or Sala del Maggior Consiglio, originally the meeting place for the legislature. This huge space is lined, walls and ceiling, with paintings, particularly portraits of the Doges, but one of which, Tintoretto's vast Paradise, is reputedly the world's largest painting on canvas." - Wikipedia. This presentation is the best attempt possible at obtaining perspective of one of the largest indoor rooms in Europe, containing a painting that can't be described in words, in a space where they won't allow video. Arrgh! Video really should have been obtained crossing the infamous Bridge of Sighs from the inside. www.perillotours.com

The view of Venice, Italy from the water. Words fail. Pictures fail. Let's try video! A few panoramic views of Venice, Italy from the water. Difficult moving the camera smoothly on a moving boat, but you get the idea. Our Perillo Tours Familia enjoyed the sun and the breeze and the sights of Venice from the water. www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy had constantly changing moods throughout the day. Our Perillo Tours Familia was entertained with different lighting, different crowds, even different pigeons. This travel slideshow tries to give you a taste of the experience. www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

Venice, Italy arrival. We load ourselves and our carry-on luggage on to our water taxi, knowing that Perillo Tours will take care of our other bags. First impressions of Venice are off-the-scale impressive! But wait - we haven't seen the Hotel Europa and Regina yet! Perillo Tours choice of the Hotel Europa and Regina was a clear favorite in our group. www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

Our Perillo Tours Familia seems to do a group salute with their cameras upon first view of this picturesque location. The detail on the outside of St. Mark's church in Venice, Italy, is only matched by the details inside. www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

Venice, Italy waterfront on a sunny day with not too many tourists, being guided by Perillo Tours. What could be better? Well, a boat ride to the Murano Glass factory provided spectacular views of the Doge's Palace and several other landmarks of Venice, all from a sitting position. Sitting made it better, after our walking tours of St. Mark's Square and surrounding areas! www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

Travel to Italy and see Venice. The Perillo Tours website says "Venice is several islands connected by winding canals and elaborate alleys. The Renaissance architecture along the canals makes Venice a city unlike any other." Truer words were never written! Travel to Italy, travel to Venice. www.perillotours.com http://jpmeyer.com

First steps inside Milan's Duomo. Awe inspiring! Fortunately, this church allowed photography inside, so the camera can linger on the multiple 80 foot high stained glass windows. Perspective in the camera fails almost completely - you really must let Perillo take you there in person! http://jpmeyer.com

The square between the Duomo and the Galleria. Here we see a pan of the square, closeup of the Duomo's front door including a spot that has been rubbed shiny over the years by students hoping for good grades on their tests. The front side of the Duomo was undergoing renovations and was covered in scaffolding. http://jpmeyer.com

For good luck, you can spin counter clockwise in the bull's scrotal area? Most of our Perillo Familia is visible here, and a few actually go for a spin. We're on our way to Milan's La Scala Theater via a statue of Leonardo. http://jpmeyer.com

The focus here is on Milan's beautiful Duomo, the impressive Galleria, and the historical La Scala Theater. Our Perillo guide gave us fantastic information by way of our wireless headsets, which allowed us to wander around, get great pictures, and not miss a word. http://jpmeyer.com

Italy travel: Milan City Architecture Tour Such interesting buildings. Such a diversity of styles. The graffiti is most unfortunate, and the "from the bus" footage is not quite National Geographic style, but you get the flavor of this classic Italian town. Perillo's 48 passenger bus did negotiate these little streets with the deftness of a Smart Car, thanks to our driver Lorenzo. http://jpmeyer.com

First, a statue dedicated to Leonardo and four of his students on the backside of Milan's Galleria. Crossing the street in Italy was part of the fun of our Perillo Familia adventure. All of the best opera singers for generations have played the famous La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy. The history of La Scala, also know as the behind-the-scenes stories, was material for many a hi-class soap opera. The main seating are of La Scala was not lit well enough to properly show the two story high Royal Box Seating.

Italy travel: Milan's Duomo Outside. The excitement in our Perillo Familia is evident as we approach one of the largest churches in the world. Our wireless headsets are working perfectly as our tour guide points out the relevant features of this magnificent structure. http://jpmeyer.com

Italy travel: The Altar of Milan's Duomo Most of our Perillo Familia sits in quiet amazement in the presence of the altar of Milan's Duomo. The architectural wonders that are the pillars of this structure are huge, and have been standing thru earthquakes and wars for hundreds of years. http://jpmeyer.com

Our Perillo guide explained the stories portrayed by the stained glass of Milan's Duomo. In the days before literacy was common, these picture stories were vitally important. From the Perillo website: "The Milan Duomo is the third largest church in the world and can seat 40,000 worshippers. Its style is a mixture of Gothic and Baroque elements as its construction took several centuries to complete. Inside and out, people stare in amazement at the beauty of the large number of spires, statues, gargoyles, stained glass, and turrets. The marble Tomb of Giacomo de Medici sits in the southern part of the church while high above looms a golden Madonna."

John's slideshow of North Seymour Island, Galapagos Islands http://jpmeyer.com

Orange pillow lava walk. Galapagos Islands, North Seymour Orange volcanic rock video. Yellow tailed surgeon fish. Blue footed boobies. Galapagos dove. http://jpmeyer.com

Kathy's slideshow of North Seymour Island, Galapagos Islands http://jpmeyer.com

Brief blue footed boobie dance, and more frigates displaying. Galapagos Islands, North Seymour I don't get tired of these displays! http://jpmeyer.com

Klaus demonstrates how a boobie walks. Galapagos Islands, North Seymour Sebastian took a special liking to Klaus. Plus, the shore that used to allow surfing. http://jpmeyer.com

Baby frigates. Adult male frigates displaying. Frigate colony., Galapagos Islands, North Seymour Bring your bug spray! Plus the not-so-rare multi-plumed North American photographers, caught in their usual activity, with the sun in the background. http://jpmeyer.com

"The Marketing Shot" - Klaus Galapagos Islands, North Seymour Klaus was fond of pointing out which picture was "the marketing shot." Here he was extremely correct. Frigate birds displaying, male calling loudly to female, and the Mary Ann in the background. Some would call it "the money shot." One of the two best sequences from this island. http://jpmeyer.com

Main Salon, Galapagos Islands, Mary Ann http://jpmeyer.com

Blood-red full moon video., Galapagos Islands, Mary Ann Taken from the Mary Ann as it gently rocks in the water. Not exactly a 'steady cam' video, but beautiful. Started red, became yellow, then white. Beautiful. http://jpmeyer.com

Eating! Sailing! Galapagos Islands, Mary Ann A quick pan around the dining area, showing most of our group during our first on-board meal. Sailing towards South Plaza Island. http://jpmeyer.com

The Mary Ann, Galapagos Islands http://jpmeyer.com

John's slideshow of Genovesa (Tower) Island, Galapagos Islands. http://jpmeyer.com

Frigates and Boobies, Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. http://jpmeyer.com

Frigate Display, Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. http://jpmeyer.com

Kathy's slideshow of Genovesa (Tower) Island, Galapagos Island. http://jpmeyer.com

Nocturnal birds flying home, plus, "that's an owl's WHAT?" Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. Klaus's theory is that the birds are trying to detect the scent of their own nest to lead them home. Do you remember their name? jpmeyer@jpmeyer.com Also, scientists can tell what species are present on an island by analyzing the remnants an owl leaves behind. http://jpmeyer.com

Katharine's slideshow of Genovesa (Tower) Island, Galapagos Islands. http://jpmeyer.com

Ascent of the Prince Phillip Stairs, Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. http://jpmeyer.com

Male frigate balloon, volcanic fissure, and lava cactus. Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. Nice footage of a really full balloon. A magnificent volcanic fissure, and the cactus which is happy to grow there. http://jpmeyer.com

Male Frigates Displaying and Calling. Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. http://jpmeyer.com

Birds, Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. http://jpmeyer.com

On the beach. Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. If I was to ask for a beach to be built, this is what it would look like. Shells, sand, sea lions, frigates, lava sculptures, soft cacti, jagged cliffs, and a pirate boat in the background. http://jpmeyer.com

Departure; such sweet sorrow. Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. We've seen a 'wet landing'; here's a 'wet departure. http://jpmeyer.com

More of that beautiful lagoon. Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. This is the beach that I would have built, no doubt about it. http://jpmeyer.com

Red billed tropicbird and other cliff dwellers. Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. Our daily briefing summary. The tropicbird swooped right past us! Unbelievable cacti in untenable locations. http://jpmeyer.com

Return to the Mary Ann, where the sails are unfurled! Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. Back on board, where some of the sails unfurled on the Mary Ann, followed by another beautiful sunset. http://jpmeyer.com

Walking in the beautiful lagoon. Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. Mary Ann in the background. Katharine shares a moment with Judy. http://jpmeyer.com

Walking in the beautiful inlet. Galapagos Islands, Genovesa, Tower Island. Deirdre photographing, Edwin gives Lady Katharine an "Arrrgh!", sea lion scratching his ear. http://jpmeyer.com

Kathy's slideshow of Galapagos Islands, Espanola Hood Island Punta Suarez. http://jpmeyer.com

The Nazca Booberie. Galapagos Islands, Espanola, Hood, Punta Suarez. Right next door to the blue footed colony was the Nazca colony. Klaus explained why they were not competing for the same limited resources, but I have forgotten the explanation. If you remember, email me at jpmeyer@jpmeyer.com. http://jpmeyer.com

Why are these animals not afraid of us? Galapagos Islands, Espanola, Hood, Punta Suarez. Klaus gives a very interesting dissertation on the adaptive significance of fear (or lack thereof!) using an interesting analogy to the internet and anti-virus software. http://jpmeyer.com