After a large complementary breakfast at the hotel, we left Milan literally holding the trunk of the taxi shut. The four of us and the bags were a bit much for this driver. Fortunately the station was a short ride from our hotel. We found the train and easily boarded and stashed our cavalcade of baggage in the appropriate spot. We had settled in and I was up and taking some picture only to discover we were in the right seats -- wrong car! A mom on holiday with her three kids was more than happy when we surrenedered her seats to her. We began treking through cars to try and determine our correct seat locations. Apparently we almost lost Danno in the process. Seems he lost control of a bag and lurched off the train only to be pushed back on by a gent who was standing on the station bank. Nevertheless, we did get seated and enjoyed a lovely 2 hour 30 minute ride through the countryside to the Venice stations. Once in Venice we boarded a water taxi to our hotel, the Realto. We quickly checked in and headed for the Grand Canal. The crowd was horrific. One young man attempted to help with my purse by trying to lift it from my shoulder. When I turned to grab it, he looked at me and informed me I was about to lose it. I informed him I with my elbow that I was not!
We first stopped for a bottle of chianti by the canal. Afterwards we wandered to the Cathedral of San Marco and the surrounding shops. After a light dinner, we went for a gondola ride. This was fun trying to get four seniors into one gondola. Paulo, the gondoleer, was knowledgable and well acquainted with all his colleagues. He spoke to everyone we met by name. He also shared that he and his gondola was actually in one of the Indiana Jones movies -- twenty years ago. We sauntered back to the hotel when I decided to go for my second helping of gelato today. I have a new passion -- lemon gelato! It is so perfect for the heat and humidity! Tomorrow we are headed to the island of Murano. Hmmm, me on an island the specializes any making colored glass . . . need I say more. I had planned to post pics, but the Tech Gods are still frowning on us. I will try to do so tomorrow.
We first stopped for a bottle of chianti by the canal. Afterwards we wandered to the Cathedral of San Marco and the surrounding shops. After a light dinner, we went for a gondola ride. This was fun trying to get four seniors into one gondola. Paulo, the gondoleer, was knowledgable and well acquainted with all his colleagues. He spoke to everyone we met by name. He also shared that he and his gondola was actually in one of the Indiana Jones movies -- twenty years ago. We sauntered back to the hotel when I decided to go for my second helping of gelato today. I have a new passion -- lemon gelato! It is so perfect for the heat and humidity! Tomorrow we are headed to the island of Murano. Hmmm, me on an island the specializes any making colored glass . . . need I say more. I had planned to post pics, but the Tech Gods are still frowning on us. I will try to do so tomorrow.
