Monday (Venice)…

At last…a HOT breakfast. Haven’t had one since London. Even better…this breakfast included a very good cappuccino. Pleasantly warm morning for a walk through the Dosoduro neighborhood to Santa Maria de la Salute…perhaps the most photographed church in Venice after the Basilica in San Marco. Caught the #42 vaparetto around Venice and out to the island of Murano…famous for its many centuries of glassmaking. Hadn’t been to Murano since our visit with Curt and Cheryl. Had a pleanant lunch on Murano, including fresh calamari (Cheryl would be proud). Bought several Murano glass items from a friendly glassmaker who told tall tales of his friendships with Menachem Begin and Telly Savalas–an unlikely pair to name drop. The cool morning turned into a warm and sunny afternoon, so the direct #5 vaparetto was in order. Photos of pigeons on the way through San Marco. Back to the hotel to drop off our glass objects d’art. Early evening stroll and then dinner along the canal facing the Giudecca. Pastas were excellent. Got ‘adventurous’ with fish dishes and ended up with fish mouths staring up at us. Thank goodness for post-dinner gelato. (Returned to one of Cheryl’s favorite gelato spots…we think it has declined and that Cheryl should return with us to sample new spots !) Walked off dinner as a light rain began. Caught a summer lightning show on the horizon over the Giudecca. The rain should make everything smell fresh tomorrow.