Dia Nove…Ah Venezia!

St. Mark's Square, Venice 

It is disappointing that we don’t have wifi in our apartment, because we missed an opportunity to Skype with Sara, Phil and the boys last night. We identified wifi as a prerequisite when we booked through Home Away and now we are learning that “available” and actually in the apartment can be two different things.

We are awakened by bells that seem to ring our across the city for about five minutes. What a lovely thing, even if they are a bit loud coming from the church right next door.

We take the computer and at the corner buy crackers and cheese, and a sandwich to take to the park across Via Garibaldi where we sit by a fountain in the shade of large trees and upload the blog, check Facebook and Webmail as we picnic. On the bench next to us are four or five 70- and 80-year-old women who all know most of the older ladies and young children that go by, waving greetings and kissing cheeks. It is a slice of life I could have missed, had we had wifi; so I am grateful for the experience.

As I blog in the park, Dennis figured out the washer in the apartment and put through our first load which is now hanging over the alley like true Italian wash days. Fun. Thanks Honey.

We walk our street and find the grocery, bakery, butcher, toy store, antique store, restaurants, bars and art galleries that form the neighbourhood. Everything we need. It is nice to be in a real Venice residential area rather than the bustle closer to St. Mark’s square.

We walk and walk, get lost, find our way again. At every alley and bridge there are choices and vistas that transport me. I am a little in love with Venice. It is so unique.

We find St. Mark’s Square and enjoy the ambiance. Three different small orchestras play to the patrons of exclusive open air restaurants, and the rest of us can enjoy their music.  We watch the bell tower as it strikes 3 p.m. There are life size bronze figures with hammers that are articulated to strike the bell. Cool.

We decide to buy a three-day pass for the waterbuses for 33 Euros each, otherwise every one way trip is 6.50 Euros each which adds up and it is so much fun being on the water we want to do it as often as possible. We ride down the Grand Canal and get off to explore the Ghetto where Jews were locked up before being shipped to concentration camps. There is a memorial with a line that says, “… our memories are your only grave.” Beautifully said. Even better, now it is a square alive with dozens of kids, playing ball and taking little wheelbarrow loads of water from the fountain to make mud under a tree!

We walk and ride boats all day. A disappointing meal experience is the only blemish on the day.

At home, we enjoy a lovely bottle of wine. I sleep deeply, but Dennis, in his dreams, argues with the waiter from the bad restaurant all night! Frustrating.