Before very long you must of necessity come to a calle with more traffic than the others and then you need but flow with the stream to reach some recognizable centre; or merely say "San Marco" or "gondola" to the first boy and he will consider it a privilege to guide you.

Do not, however give up before you must, for it is a privilege to be lost in Venice.
For those who prefer exercise to sitting in a gondola there is the stimulating and instructive book by the late Col.

Douglas, _Venice on Foot_, which is a mine of information and interest; but I must admit that the title is against it.

Youthful travellers in particular will have none of it.

If Venice is anything at all to them, it is a city of water, every footstep in which is an act of treachery to romance.
Even they, however, are pleased to jostle in the Merceria.
[Illustration: THE GRAND CANAL, SHOWING S.MARIA DELLA SALUTE] The shops of Venice, I may say at once, are not good.