June 8:

This morning was taken up with packing and straightening up the place. We said goodbye to Elanora, our pretty host, and headed out onto the road to Venice at 10:00.


Most of the day was taken up driving along the 4 lane highway and then cutting over to the coast and taking a smaller and slower road following some trucks.









Our first hour was through the mountains and a succession of tunnels. After coming down from the heights, we hit the plains and the land started looking like Holland - very flat. From time to time we saw rivers and canals and knew we were close to the Adriatic.

By 4:00, we reached Marco Polo Airport, parked the car, and hauled the bags over to the water taxi pier. The price for a water taxi is twice what we thought it would: 110 euros instead of 50. Turns out our idea of 50 was per person. That was just too much and we selected the much slower water bus for 30 euros total.



It was raining, but we were under cover and reached our stop after about 70 minutes. Once off the boat, we didn't know where to go except to stand under an awning. I went into one of the shops and asked about our hotel. Turned out it was over the next bridge and around the corner. Worked out beautifully. The only problem was no elevator and we're up one flight of stairs. The good news is its only one flight.

The room is small, but clean, air conditioned, and has free wi-fi. The check-in clerk recommended a restaurant right around the corner and gave us a 10 percent coupon. So, we went there. 

Through the window, hard to see, is a vendor selling the famous Venetian masks.






Linda had steak tartare with quail eggs on top and I had mussels. All very good.









We decided we would have our after dinner coffee somewhere else. We walked down a couple of streets and over one bridge and found ourselves approaching San Marco square. We passed a building that was advertising a concert to be performed in 45 minutes. Sounded like a good idea. First, the coffee. 

Around the corner into the square and we are attracted by a quartet playing in an ice cream and coffee shop. We sat down and the waiter in white tie hands us the menu and points out very clearly that there is a 6 euro service charge for the music. We stay and have our coffee anyway. 








It was good with music, the chandelier overhead, the good service and the dressed up staff, but it was the most expensive espresso you'll ever have: 30 euros. I know - wow.

Then back around the corner to the concert. I thought at first it was Vivaldi's Four Seasons, but it turned out to be operatic arias with three violins, one cello, one harpsichord, a mezzo soprano, and a tenor. They performed four or five pieces that I just love including one from Carmen and one from Turandot. We both really enjoyed it.

We sat beside a guy who started talking to us. He wanted us to guess where he was from. Since he was tall, I guessed he might be Dutch. He said no, but the Dutch built his city. Turned out he was from Stockholm. He told us we were lazy.  It was good that he learned English, otherwise, we would not be able to communicate. A weird way to acknowledge that English is the world's language. Among other things, he told us about a play called Venezia, The Show performed in English. Its about the history of the city. Sounded good. I think we will plan to see it tomorrow.

After about 90 minutes and an encore we walked back to our hotel in the rain. Really good day, especially the last part.