Venice. hmmmph. This is my 4th or 5th time to Venezia and all I can say is hmmmph. Don't get me wrong, I love Venice. I do. I have a soft spot in my heart for it, but our arrival was not gentle or kind. It was pouring when we got there. We caught the wrong boat bus. By the time we got dropped off at our stop it was dark (and still rainy). We took a circuitous route to the hotel (walking, with luggage in tow, of course)--it is so easy to get lost at night in Venice, especially when its raining. ugh. By the time we got to our hotel, we were wet, cold and hungry--or at least I was. Our room is up on the third floor with no elevator. Moose's room was right next door--meaning, he had to climb three flights of stairs with his bad knee. Then the hotel sent us to a semi-fancy restaurant that served really mediocre food. After having such delicious food...boy, was I disappointed. Then I remembered, Venice doesn't really have great food. I guess what I mean to say is, most of the restaurants are really unimpressive and overpriced. hmmmph. It's mid August and the tourists are out in abundance. Massive hordes of people crowding through tiny places, across tiny bridges, taking loads of photos, buying lots of trinkets--and we're among them; or rather we are them. hmmmph. There's nothing like judging another tourist to really get a sense of your own unlikeable image. Okay, okay. We spent Friday night, Saturday and Sunday (today) wandering Venice. Tomorrow we go back to Rome to wind up our trip. Let me just say what I absolutely enjoyed about Venice over the past 48 hours rather than point out the disappointments.
At the insistence of Ella we all took a gondola ride. This was my first ever. It was great, in a cheesy, touristy way. The view of the tiny canals from the gondola were wonderful. Last night we had a great dinner, in a wonderful restaurant with kind waiters. Today I went to the island of Murano where they make wonderful things out of glass. I've always wanted to go here and I finally did--I even found a great gift for the dinner gals. Let's see, what else. Oh yes, we went to an art exhibit at the Palazzo Grassi which was so funny. In one room there was a cigarette pack moving around the room, hanging by a thread. You had to move to avoid being hit by it. Travel with Moose has been awesome. If you ever need a travel partner, he's the man. I've never met anyone who had so few issues, so few needs and who sent positive vibes out constantly. I keep waiting for his head to pop off or something. How does he do it?
Off to Rome tomorrow for a few last days and then home on Wednesday. P.S. It is now midnight as I finish this up and the bells are ringing and ringing. Is the church reminding people that they should have gone today?
A bit about the photos below:
1) Mark and Moose on the Rialto bridge in Venice.
2) On the Rialto Bridge.
3) Boats, gondolas looking beautiful.
4)With no cars, how does Venice get its supplies?
5) Ella had to feed the pigeons in Piazza da San Marcos.
6) Ella on the gondola.
7) Moose on the gondola.
8) Venice is so beautiful at night.
