We are connected!

Time to start blogging now that we have a good internet connection.

We arrived in Venice on Sunday the fourth of October to a gloriously beautiful day. After checking in to our hotel and cleaning up we were off to Piazza San Marco. The streets were packed, probably because it was a Sunday and such a lovely day. As we walked we met Dorothy and Joe, friends from home. It’s a small world! At the square we watched a tall ship sail out followed by the Silver Whisper, a small cruise ship. Our friends went in search of a restaurant they wanted to try near the Bridge of Sighs while we headed back toward out hotel. Along the way we passed a large gondola boarding station. Ironically right next to the gondola docks Hard Rock Café has opened a place; talk about juxtaposing the old and the new!

Before dinner we sat on the terrace of the hotel on the Grand Canal looking toward the Rialto Bridge. The lights on the canal are magical and watching the variety of traffic plying the water is like watching a show. As we sat there an ambulance boat with siren blaring and lights flashing went tearing by. The gondolas turned into the wake to avoid being overturned. No doubt the people in the gondolas were clinging to the sides with some trepidation.

After a nice dinner at the Osteria Barababao (The Inn of the Bogeyman) where we sat next to a wedding party and toasted with them to their long life and happiness, it was off to bed. Tomorrow is another day.