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We relaxed in the morning, having coffee and going for a swim. I had some time to blog. Just being in the house was a treat. I loved all the open windows with sheer curtains moving in the breeze and the sound of the birds. I felt completely at home.
Deborah offered to stay back with the kids so Tammy, Doug, Tim and I could have a night out. We dressed up and drove to Venice. It was late in the day so we saw Venice in a softer, warmer light. The temperature was still very warm, but at least the sun wasn't shining on us. The streets were quiet because the cruise ships had left, and many shops were closed. Tim found a highly recommended restaurant online, but locating it proved to be another maze of wrong turns, uncertain turns, and stops to ask directions. When we finally reached the restaurant we found out they were full. We asked them to recommend a restaurant, and they pointed us back in the direction we came from, to a restaurant we had stopped at for directions. When we returned the staff recognized us and thought we were still lost.
Our waiter was full of Italian charisma. We enjoyed his sense of humor. We asked him to recommend our dinner. He had a strong opinion about every course and we were not disappointed. We started with zucchini blossoms, prepared in a way that is unique to Venice, and enjoyed fresh seafood from the Rialto market. By the time we left we had learned a lot about our waiter and his family, giving us insight into the way of life in this part of Italy.
The restaurant was closing when we left. The streets varied from dim and empty, to small gatherings around cafe tables.
Doug's belated 40th birthday gift to Tim was a late night gondola ride for the four of us. Some gondolas were finished for the day, but a handful were still out. We found an available gondolier. Tammy and I sat in the fancy chair, and Tim and Doug sat on the stools. The water was black with shimmers of light reflecting the canal lights. Our driver was a 3rd generation gondolier. We could barely hear our boat moving through the water. Every so often we would hear gondoliers announcing themselves before rounding a corner. Just like our last ride, the gondoliers would joke with each other as they crossed paths. Being in the canals late at night was mysterious, so many hidden spots and unknown areas with just the sound of the gondoliers paddle cutting through the water. We completely enjoyed the experience. 40 minutes of absorbing Venice under a starry sky.
We walked to the car park finding our way out of the maze for the last time on this trip.
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