Day 4 - Last day in Venice

The day started with a text from our cutey patooty son Chris, who snuck his phone to bed with him so he could text us. He sent us pix of the cat (who could care less that we are gone) and himself. So stinkin' cute!

This morning we had breakfast on the hotel's balcony overlooking the Grand Canal. It was fascinating to watch Venetians start their work day in their boats. We are a few buildings down from the fish market. I chuckled when I saw it for the 1st time - immediately recognizing it from the scene in The Tourist when Johnny Depp runs along the roofs and then jumps off the balcony and lands on the cop. That is the fish market!

Today was a combination of rain and drizzle all day long. It made for a completely different Venice with a lot more great photo opportunities. (Note: any photo posted during our trip can only be from our phone; we have no way to download from our cameras until we get home.)

We started the day at St. Mark's Basilica. We used a Rick Steve's audio tour which worked perfectly for us. The church is a magnificent creation of mosaics - both on the ceilings and floors. I found it interesting that the entire floor (all mosaics) "rolls like the sea" instead of being flat.

We spent the next 2 hours wandering around. It is much easier to get around here if you are not trying to get anywhere in particular. Though I must say I have a good feel of the place now - Greg, not so much :) Our calves are sore from walking up and down the steps of all the bridges. There are over 400 bridges here which equates to maybe one every 100 steps or so?

For lunch we had tasty pizza at Antico Forno. It is standing room only, unfortunately. Between our long walk and all the rain, a comfy seat would have been welcomed.

Then, instead of boating over to the island of Murano to watch them make glass, we found a guy here. His name is Mauro, and the Internet knows him quite well. He welcomed us into his shop to demonstrate his dying trade. Absolutely fascinating, and Chris would have been mesmerized! Anyway, nice guy - worth your while!!

A fresh nutella crepe was our perfect comfort food for today! Then dinner back at last night's place, and just as good! Lastly we ended our day with a final stroll through St. Mark's square.

We leave Venice in the morning!