Italy Trip - Days 13- 15 - Venice- Part 2

Buds and I went out for an early morning walk both days here. Guilia had recommended a delightful pastry shop to us, and it made for a great way to begin the day.

The bell tower in Piazza San Marco is a typical tourist destination, and consequently has the typical tourist lines. Buds found an ideal alternative for us: We’d head across the Grand Canal on a 3-minute vaporetto ride to San Giorgio Maggiore. There were no crowds, a vaporetto ride is always a treat, and Buds created an awesome time lapse of our experience. Can you see the split second he falls?

Hint: It’s at :08.

We rode the elevator up the bell tower and had it nearly to ourselves.

Buds had the awesome idea that we should stay up there until 1 p.m. when the bell would ring. We got more and more excited and anxious as we waited. We wondered if we’d be able to see the bells start moving before they clanged. Would there be a host of sounds? How loud would they be?

As we were planning to cover our ears, the bell rang one incredibly loud gong with no warning.

For a few brief moments this was us:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tekhh7Iy-sM

Then we laughed uproariously.

A few shots of Venice from up high.

The church brought a bit of a pang because there was an art display by the same artist who has a display at Cheekwood, the botanical garden by our home.

After this, Monkey and I took several hours to head out on an adventure. She had a specific vision for the type of mask she hoped to purchase, and she was willing to walk and ask and work to find it. We visited at least 10 mask shops, and talked to many kind folks. She finally settled on a compromise that fit her perfect vision partially, and fit her budget perfectly.

After the full day, Buds and I went out on a date night. It turned into a date walk. Buds had great ideas for various places we could go. We either couldn’t find them, or they were closed. We walked and walked and walked and laughed and laughed and laughed.

It started to rain, which added to the mystery and beauty of the evening. We wandered into a little trattoria, had some delightful food, seated approximately 6 inches away from another couple speaking English, so we had to pretend not to listen to each other.

Being in Venice for the late nights and early mornings was a huge delight. Getting out and about before the cruise ships off-loaded their passengers or before other folks were out was so wonderful. I loved walking around this city without walking around, over, and into people.

We had a couple more trips to the grocery store, the pleasure of listening to the bells ringing in Piazza San Marco from our living room, and exploring the curving, magical streets of this fascinating city.

And I fulfilled a lifelong dream:

The time in Venice flew by.

And now, on our way to the next adventure: Florence.