Venice days 1-2

Okay, here I am at the desk of the hotel, de je vu, no? (If you followed our kids tour through Paris, you know I had to work a shift at the desk, literally...to use the computer.) So here I am again, working the night shift at the Al Gambianno in the sweetest little suburb of Venice. If I ever come back to Italy, AND I WILL, I am sure to include a return to this little gem. It's a typical mom and pop pensione, or boutique hotel, except it's "momma" and her "Mario" doing all the work.

We've had a magical day in Venice. There are really no words to adequately describe a day filled with remarkable sights that have their footings in 800AD and are now slightly intertwined with the modern, while clinging with both hands to something akin to the 1950's. After having a guided tour of the area near San Marco Basilica and The Doge's Palace, the collective group checked all of our boxes. Gelato...check, Murano Glass Blowing demonstration...Check. Burano Lace school and store...check (and might I add a WOW)...Then we all split up a little to have wonderful lunches around the piazza, more gelato...(yes, more...in homage to Aunt Anne..again, reference to another trip). Shopping for Carnivale masks, GONDOLA RIDES!!! (I've made a personal decision to now become independently wealthy, buy a Palazzo on the Grand Canal and go everywhere by Gondola. It was just that fun. And to be doing all of this with our families is hard to describe.) San Marco Basilica, Peggy Guggenheim Museum, drinking from aquaduct fed fountains, and the list goes on.

The sweet observances from today are our children giggling amongst all of this, tears of emotion (Rita wins this prize) and some "fluttering and flapping" from excitement happened at least three times today. Of course, no day would be complete without a little upset, so I am proud to announce that Judy was almost tossed into the canal by a couple of gondoliers (embelishing of course) for insisting on being in the boat with the rest of us when crossing the canal in a taxi maneuver. Funny now, but I was very very worried for those gondoliers today! I don't think they realize just how scrappy 'Judy from Texas' can be.

We are tired, but of course in the best kind of way and our clothes that we've worn the last two days are so awful that I am sure they could walk on their own to Florence behind the bus, if needed. We've just enjoyed a wonderful meal together here of pasta, roasted chicken with rosemary, salad and Lemon Italian ice with fresh Kiwi topping and will shower then rest our weary heads and minds. We are headed to bed and will enjoy one last meal with Momma and her Mario in the morning and then off we go to Florence.

My shift here at the Gabbiano has ended and I am afraid if I sit here much longer, I'll be required to go to the kitchen to do the dinner dishes. So I will bid you adieu or better, 'Buona Notte' until I can arrange another job at the next hotels' front desk.

Ciao Ciao
Lisa