The GREAT thing about smartphones, and map apps, is that they CAN be helpful. The NOT SO GREAT thing about smartphones is that sometimes the apps work, and sometimes, depending on wifi service, hotspots, etc., they don't. Mine was mostly a "don't". I got really great directions while we were in our various hotels, but, once we got out onto the streets of whatever city we were in, it was a quick and painful "crash and burn".
So...remembering vaguely how the app said to get there, we headed in the general direction of the Accademia bridge (the closest to where we were). There are random and occasional directional signs on the sides of various buildings, so we followed the ones we could find, and DID get to the bridge. No surprise, the bridge was PACKED with people. What WAS a surprise was that, once we crossed, and started following the signs to La Salute, the crowds disappeared, and we actually had room to move around and walk. It was LOVELY!!!
Deliveries...Venice-style!!!!
We sat on the steps of La Salute, looked out over the bustling canal, toured the inside of the church (which was mostly closed off for renovations), walked along the pier, and had lunch at a little sandwich shop nearby (and ate our sandwiches on a tiny bridge across a small canal). It was peaceful, and relaxing, and a really nice start to the day!!
After lunch, we headed back to the hotel for a few minutes, then went to the Royal Gardens to meet our tour group for the "Walking Tour of Venice". According to the Avventure Bellissime website, this was supposed to take place as a introduction to the city on the previous day, but, for some reason, it got switched to our second day there. As a result, we'd already seen some of the stuff on the tour, but, it was good to fill in some "background information" on what we'd seen, and we were able to see some things that we hadn't had a chance to the day before.
For some reason, I didn't write down the name of our tour guide, but, as was the case with all of our other guides, she was very knowledgeable, and did an excellent job! Sandy, Bill, Barb, Tiffany, and Megan DID end up in our group this time (yay!), but Mikey, Lee, Loren, and Derek did NOT (boo!), and we almost lost Jim, as he was supposed to be in the other group, even though Marilyn was in ours. We got it all worked out (so that he could be with Marilyn), and headed off to explore the city.
We started at St. Mark's Square, toured the church (GORGEOUS!), and learned about the history (and centuries of additions) of this amazing building. One of the highlights was seeing the Golden Alterpiece, (Pala d'Oro). Rick Steves' describes it as containing "250 blue-backed enamels with religious scenes, all set in a gold frame and studded with 15 hefty rubies, 300 emeralds, 1,500 pearls, and assorted sapphires, amethysts, and topaz (c. 1100)." It was BREATHTAKING!
Our guide said that it was spared from plunder when Napoleon sacked the city because it was hidden behind a large painting.
After St. Mark's, we wound our way through the city, exploring sights like the Realto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs, various churches and piazzas, and government buildings.
We ended up at St. Mark's Square, and, after I made a REALLY, REALLY long hike to find a public bathroom, RAN back to the Royal Gardens to meet our group for a "Grand Canal Tour" of the city. This time, Duane and I were the "odd men out"...Mikey's group and Tammy's group were in one boat, and Duane and I were in a boat with seven strangers. I was NOT happy...!
The tour was hot, and the canals were crowded, but we saw the city from a different vantage point. We saw the "leaning tower of Venice" (since many structures are built upon and supported by wooden logs, buildings "settle" unevenly...no telling how much longer the building will remain standing)...
...and saw "real life" things like the Venice hospital (complete with water ambulances)...
...gas stations, the cemetary island, and lots of cool waterfront villas.
After the tour, we made plans to meet as many of our "tour buddies" as possible for a final dinner. Mikey, Lee, Loren, and Derek ran off to do some quick shopping. We went with them, but then decided to get back to St. Mark's Square to wait for everyone to get there.
Jim and Marilyn arrived, followed by Tammy, Dennis, Chase, and Ann. Mikey, Lee, Loren, and Derek arrived a few minutes later. Tammy's group had to take care of some business back home, so wasn't able to join us. We said our goodbyes on the piazza (sad!), then the rest of us found a nice cafe off the square (except for Sandy's group, which we didn't see again). We were going to have drinks and sit and listen to the music at the Florian, but the "sit down fee" was 6 euros, and drinks averaged about 11 euros...too expensive!
Ai Due Viscovi was a DELIGHTFUL little ristorante! We were the only people there for most of the meal. We had an AWESOME time sharing stories and experiences from the trip, exchanging e-mail addresses, and chatting one last time.
After dinner, Duane and I attempted to find an internet cafe to check in for our flight from Rome to New York. We never DID find it, and, when we asked a shop owner near where we THOUGHT the place was, were informed that they closed at 8:00 (it was now 8:30).
We headed back toward the hotel, seeing an AMAZING full moon over the Grand Canal, and some fun paper lanterns, then went back to our room, packed, showered, and went to bed so that we could get up at 5:00 to get ready and catch our water taxi.
Our adventures in Italy were ALMOST over...
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