May 22nd - back to Venice

Up quite early, onto the road to Venice. Finally hit the highway the first try!

Return the car at the airport (again found 1st try) and on to the water bus to San Marco. Find our hotel easily (because we had cased the place 3 weeks ago).

The hotel room is wonderful: quite large, very comfortable and it has a small balcony overlooking a small canal on one of the gondola routes. Here, to the right is a sample view.

Off for a walk toward the Opitale area at the back side (non-tourist) of the islands. We pass many of the familiar types of sights - the working gondola carrying goods down a side canal, the amazing views that appearing as we round a new corner.

The destination of this stroll is the restored Santa Maria di Miracali church. This was a successful project of teh Save Venice fund (see City of Falling Angels). We wander many back streets well off San Marco square, but still within the San Marco area. The crowds are thicker than they were back around May4th.

The church is not visible until we are almost standing on its stairs. There are small plazas at either end with a narrow passage and a narrow canal down either side. The church is a jewel.








































Keen observers will have noted the murky colour of the water in the canals from time to time. Some complain of the aromas in mid-summer, but we did not notice that. The tide moves the lagoon, and thus the canals, in and out but we could see problems at high season.

More roaming about.
We go through some classic neighbourhoods where the people live. Just love these views, and there were so many variations.

Even some ham-bone gondoliers. This one saw me lining him up and struck the pose!

Eventually we wound up at the hospital that Opitale is named for. It is an enormous edifice that now houses some kind of international health research centre.

Back to the hotel for wine and cheese on "our" balcony. Waving to the passing gondolas with the gondoliers pointing us-wards and saying "That is the way to live". Amen.

We have practiced going to and from the Fenice (opera house) so we will not get lost tonight in the dark. No, we are not attending the opera (closed, alas), we are having dinner at Ristorante Antico Martini; a disappointment at great cost, but a visit necessitated by Montreal history. One of Penny's father's favourite restaurants in Montreal has the same name (but not the same prices). Interesting sentence. Hardly ever get to use a double possessive.

Tomorrow will be the last day (sob).