Going Home

 Our pickup time was 7:30 on the final morning, so we didn't have time for breakfast. The hotel packed breakfast in a bag. Vera's walk was in the dark on an almost deserted square. The only people out were cleaners, dog walkers, and a few people taking low-light photographs. 

Murano, Burano and Torcello

After our snack, we caught a boat to visit these three islands. 

The first three pictures just show pictures along the shore.

Then we arrived at Murano, which is famous for its glassmaking.Of course we had a demonstration.,

I took this picture after our group left the room. The artisan is getting ready for the next group.

Next, we travelled to Torcello. For the first time since we arrived in Venice, everything is green, rustic, and uncrowded.

Our last island was Burano. Here, they are famous for lace. If our stop had been longer, Deb would have spent serious money on tablecloths, runners, placemats and clothing. The houses are bright and colourful. 

Florian: The Oldest Cafe in the World

We deserved a break, so we stopped at the Florean for a treat.

Yes, perhaps I do look a little smug.

Vera enjoyed the music, which is a good thing, since it actually cost us six euros just to sit down when the music was playing.

Deb and I enjoyed our treat: crisps and a monstrous coffee favoured gelato with whipped cream an cookies. Yum!

We needed something to drink, so we chose two of the classics.

The musicians are professional classical performers.

Here is the bar.

A Panoramic View of Venice

On our last full day in Venice, we took an elevator to the top of the belltower

This is Saint Mark's Square with the marathon route still set up.

On the other side of the canal we can see Saint George's Cathedral.

Looking along the shore of the Grand Canal.

The top of Saint Mark's Basilica.

Some people just hanging around.

This is a bell tower and it is a clock tower on the square.

The clock itself has a very beautiful twenty-four hour face. I have no idea whether it is working or not.

A floating bridge crosses a side canal.

This picture shows some of the decks that are on top some of the buildings. You can also see the bell on top of the clock tower.

The bells are ringing because it is sunday. The faithful are being called to mass.

Sunday Morning Marathon

In the morning when I took Vera for a walk, they had obviously finished setting up the track for the marathon. They were also busy setting up an extensive set of bleachers. At first, I assumed the bleachers were for the marathon, but then the marathon was underway and the bleachers were not finished. Then I remembered that Alesandro told us that the President of Italy was soon to visit Venice. Maybe?

The first thing I saw on the track was a bicycle with an official looking marker. Then a single runner passed and He received an applause. I am guessing that he was the leader. The next few runners came ome by one.

Then there were small groups.

By the canal I saw a mass of runners coming across a bridge. I saw one runner pushing a wheelchair with a handicapped person. The were men and women. Some ran together in teams.

Eventually there were crowds running in the square.

Debby Working with her dog in Saint Marc's Square.

Venice by Foot

Today we took our time,not finishing our breakfast until abou 10:30. A stroll through the square took us to the Grand Canal, and we just wandered. We stopped for lunch of pizza which was excellent. Then we booked a two hour tour with a private guide.

This bridge is just outside our door. I took the picture from the hotel.

A line-up of gondolas waiting their turn to get out into the Grand Canal.

Some people we know standing on a bridge. The tower growing out of my head actually is leaning to the left.

After we ate, we rested for a while and then met our guide Alesandro On top of the belltower is a golden archangel.

Our guide told us that this is the oldest cafe in the world.

It is called the Florean. We might just stop here for lunch tomorrow.

Our tour went to the places where the real Venetians live. I liked the floerboxes overlookin the canal. Alesandro has lived in Venice all of his life, but he has recently moved off of the island because living costs have skyrocketed. The actual population of Venice is only 49,000, But that number is swollen dramatically by millions of visitors every year.

This is where the rteal Venetians live.

Some buildings have decks on the roof. In the summer when the temperature and humidity soars, they provide a cooling escape in the evening after dinner.

The Venice Opera house.

The well in front of the opera house is no longer used.

The spiral staircase in this home is very unique and very famous.

It is the only place in Venice where I have seen any grass.

People actually live here. They hang their laundry out the window and they have balloons to celebrate birthdays.

These frames and boards are for use during floods. When the water rises, they set up the frames with the boards on top so people can still get around. They are everywhere: in the square, on the streets, along the Garand Canal. I have seen them, but I just thought there was construction going on. No, they are just there in case....

This is the Town Hall where George and Amal Clooney were married. Notice that there are more flood walkways.

Across the canal is the hotel where George and Amal had their reception.

The sign speaks for itself. She did want to study theology, but she wasn't allowed. She had to settle for philosophy.

This is the famous Rialto Bridge. The original wooden bridge collapsed twice, so it was replaced with a stone bridge.

This is just a light that I liked in a restaurant. I assumed that the glass was Murano glass because there were crystals inside.