Saturday was our guided tour - nice but much a duplication of our walk the day before. New was inside St Mark's Basilica, a boat ride on the Grand Canal through the heart of Venice and a tour of the Doge's palace which was the center of Venice's governing body and leadership.
Sunday, we walked in the food market along the Grand Canal and later had a little food fiasco in front of a panini shop (Mary Lea's sandwich fell apart as she ate it and I dropped a full, opened plastic Coke bottle which behaves like a bomb on impact).
Monday, a natural history museum (5 star except very little English help) and the Friary (a seriously impressive, dark, cold cathedral - see Erin). Mary Lea and I took the girls to the da Vinci museum (partly to pee but also a cool demo of some of his inventions).
Monday, we went the Murano island which is famous for the glass blowing industry. It was a beautiful day and except for the crowds, (Deb & I almost went West Side Story rumble on this Italian jerk), it was delightful. As you can tell, too much tourism can affect one's mental health. ;-)
Fortunately, the stores were closed or I would have bought Mary Lea a pair of these.
Yesterday, we returned via train. There are some beautiful mountain valleys in Northern Italy. We got in late and were in bed around 1AM.
We may do some things but the weather is cold and wet. The main focus is getting us and our gear back to Colorado.
On Sunday, all six of us travel to Frankfurt together but we have separate flights back. Mary Lea & I fly earlier and direct to Denver so we get in earlier. It will be good to have the Hayhows home again - safe, warm and near.
Unless something extraordinary happens, this my last post. Sorry it was so long but it takes time and there hasn't been much to spare.
Ciao!
Gene
