Venice

Well we made it!  Not even the strike could stop us.  Just a joke, the strike was only 8 hours the day before.  It seems to be a bit of a tradition to have trasportation strikes.  Although we did see trains durring what they called a strike, it was very limited service and there was no service between the 5 villages of Cinque Terra.  But this was a new day and we were at the train station as they opened to get our tickets to Venice.  We arrive and it is just a beautiful with a small bit of bad luck.  This place is packed!!!!!! Beyond packed.  I can almost see why some might come for just a few days and never come back.  Had I not had that first glorious trip, I am sure I would be one of them.  But I do know how beautiful and quite it can be if your here at the right time.  When we got off the train and saw how packed it was on the vaparetto's we got a water taxi and found our way to the apartment.  It has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and view of the canal.  The windows are not as big as I would like because I love looking out at all the happenings out on the canal.  I call it Venice TV.  But I found that if I put a chair with a pillow to make me a bit higher I can look out quite nicely.  I wave to the people passing by and they wave back.  It is a great way to spend an evening. 
But Linda has an even better way.  Our second night in Venice, she treated us to box seats to La Traviata at the Venice Oprera.  It was magnifacent.  We got all dolled up and off into the night we went, found this unbelievable teater and our seats.  It was a wonderful night. Linda and Rachel in one box, Don and I on the next box over.....fronts seats in the box.  CAN YOU STAND IT!  We had a lovely couple in our box that was from Japan. They were perfect box mates.  The even took the picture of all 4 of us after the event.  Sooooo all you followers now you can see Don.  I have had many requests to see his handsome face.  Some think he was lost or is not on this trip.  But I can tell you he is....most of the time he is manning the camera.  Even he loved the Opera.  No fuddy duddies on this trip....everyone is having a blast.  Even the crowds can't bring us down. 

Next morning Rachel and I are up with the sun.....off to the Rialto market.  This place is off the hook amazing.  Fruits, veggies, and the fish......all that glorious fish.  Some still flippin and a floppin it is so fresh. The crabs and octopus so big you just can't believe it.  Tonight Rachel and I will cook.  We got hugh shrimp and mussels for a pasta dish that we will make tonight.  Buon appotito!  Stay tuned for the next adventure.