May 11, 2022
Day 2 in Venice, and it was laundry day. European clothes washing machines have a vigorous spin cycle, but there are typically no dryers. But there is a clothes line outside of the living room window. And this morning Mom did both. Pictures below.
We laid around the apartment this morning, played some cards (score is now tied 2 games to 2 with yours truly winning today’s contest), read, and had a light snack of half a grilled cheese sandwich each, potato chips, small chocolate squares, and cool water.
Our apartment is just a few feet from one of the biggest churches in Venice – the Cathedral of St. Paul and St. John (first century martyrs, not the men of the New Testament). Twenty-five Doges of Venice, the chief magistrates and leaders of the Republic of Venice between 726 and 1797 are buried there. Their crypts are on the walls and in the floor. It is strange walking over graves inside of a building.
We entered through the Great West Doorway, paid 3 euros 50 cents each and wandered around.
As we always do in these cathedrals and churches, we light candles and pray for the folks back home. There is no spiritual power in the candles, but it is a way to concentrate our thoughts as we pray. I started doing this in Moscow in the before time.
One of the pictures I took was of a section of the ceiling. It is called “St. Dominic in Glory.” One thing that struck me as interesting is one of the people in “Glory” seems to be peering over the edge, looking down at us – kind of like the great company of witnesses of Hebrews 12:1.
The building which is today the Civil Hospital is built up against the cathedral. It dates from the 16th century. The front is an incredible Renaissance construction.
Down the street is a Gelateria and we each had a double.
Well, Bonnie has been bursting at the proverbial seams to tell you about leaving the apartment in Rome and catching the train to Venice, so here she is.
Love,
Dad/Pappy/David
* * * * *
Well, where shall I start. So much to tell!!!
Well, we had told you when we arrived at the apartment in Rome that one side of the street was blocked off for repair work and our driver had to just stop in the street and almost literally put our stuff out in the middle of the construction with traffic stopped behind him blowing their horns vigorously. Well, when we returned from the Vatican tour and rounded the corner of our street we discovered that the construction people had returned. This time they had torn out the sidewalk half way up toward the corner we had just turned. No lie! Where the sidewalk had been there was now dirt and more orange plastic netting spread around it so you couldn’t walk there. We had to walk down the street in the traffic to reach the space across from our door where there were two boards leading out to the street. Yes we walked up to our door on those boards to get inside not knowing what we would find in the morning when we would be leaving with two LARGE suitcases, a computer case and my backpack.
Well, went to bed Monday night and as I lay trying to go to sleep and not worry, I heard a sound which sounded like pouring rain. I said “no it can’t be raining” remember the mud pathway outside our door. But I rolled over to see the flash of lightning out our window and to hear the thunder and the pouring rain. Really!!!
Well, knowing all was lost I rolled over and managed to go back to sleep.
We awoke in the morning and prepared to go. We were to leave the keys on the table and close the door. First you had to make sure the elevator was up on your floor. If you locked the keys up first you would have to walk down 5 flights of steps with your luggage. There was not room for all the luggage and both of us in the elevator so I walked down the steps and your Dad rode the elevator with the stuff. When we finally got to the outside door and discovered not two boards but 4. Of course they weren’t lined up with the door we went out. Dad had to throw the suitcases onto the boards and then we moved them out to the street and proceeded to walk up the street as the cars came down the street toward us. We made it to the corner and the Mikey Bar for breakfast.
After breakfast we started out across the street toward the train station, well actually I started our across the street and your Dad headed around the corner in the wrong direction! I yelled stop! And he turned around and I said “your going the wrong way Vladimir”. The boys will understand that. Then, we moved off in the right direction. It was slow going down the hill for 2 blocks and then across the street and up the hill for 3 or 4 blocks till we got on level ground and into the train station. Of course we were 2 hours early! We went to gates at 12 and 11 where we had figured the train was to be. Then, we waited. Finally our train was on the departure board at the bottom “train 8418" departure time 11:35 but no platform yet. Now according to the impolite person in the train office yesterday they were to put the platform 20 minutes before the departure time. RIGHT! They did put up that the departure was delayed 5 minutes. So we patiently waited. We watched as the train moved up the board. When it was 3 from the top and AT 11:30 they finally put up the gate, not 11 or 12 but 5. We hurriedly got through the gate and headed down the platform to the left 7 platforms away to 5. I had the computer case and moved as quickly as possible. There were people everywhere. I was able to move faster than your Dad. We were in car two which was at the complete other end of the train. The first car was 10. I sprinted down the platform with your Dad behind me sometimes out of sight lost in the crowd. I arrived at our car, not knowing there are two entrances to car number 2 and I should have gone to the second entrance because our seats were 3 and 4 were in that half. I was darn sure that train was not leaving without your Dad. I put the briefcase on the steps and waited for him. He arrived a minute or so after me and we lugged the suitcases on. I started walking back the aisle looking for seats 3 and 4. The first one was 18, rats. So off I headed , finally as I got into the half were seat 10 was I was faced with this oriental looking young man headed toward me dragging 2 suitcases. I said to him “You will have to move because I am coming through and so is my husband with 2 Large suitcases” He looked at this crazy American and backed up. Our seats were almost the last 2 in the car. We finally made it and put the suitcases at the end and sat down. All of this may have taken 10 minutes but before another minute passed the train was moving out of the station. NO lie!
We collapsed into our seats and we were off. This was a fast train which made about 5 or 6 stops. It went “fast” between stops. The first stop was less than 10 minutes after we left. We got a complimentary drink and pack of crackers and Dad went to the “café” and purchased us a ham sandwich of some kind and chips and another drink. It was quite good.
Well, I had noticed on the monitor that there were two Venice stops, ours was the second one and noticing that when the train stopped it was for only a minute or 2 for people to get off and on. Dad asked and was told our stop was the very last so we would have time. Well, we finally arrived and exited the train much more leisurely than when we got on. We walked up into the terminal and bought 2 number 42 vaporetto tickets and headed out the terminal down the ramp, yeah, and to the stop to wait and we were eventually greeted by Danielle. She was so kind and helpful. She took the suitcases got us on and into seats for the elderly. And Dad told you the rest.
We were very tired by the time we reached the apartment. But it is very nice. We settled in and unpacked and then, made a short trip to the grocery store to pick up water, coke, snacks, and breakfast supplies, a “dozen” eggs, there are actually only 10 in the pack, some pancetta, butter, loaf of bread and milk(?). Had some difficulty finding the still water, but a lady behind us in the line when we checking out finally took your Dad to help him find some. Bought a reusable plastic bag (hey, Amy it has a turtle on it) to carry our supplies home. After having a drink and a snack and our pills we fell into the bed exhausted.
Well, he has told you about today except when at supper tonight we met another couple, they are from Ottawa, Canada, and conversed and sat beside for dinner outside in the street. The best place to eat in Venice. Pizza again tonight. There is one thing that Venice does not have a “Mexican” restaurant. I have found a station on the TV which shows a couple of American shows. I have gotten to watch a couple of old NCIS shows.
Well, we are going to try and go to San Marco square tomorrow and see the Doge’s palace. We did not go into it last time because it is very expensive but have decided to do it this time.
I took 2 naps today!! I was very tired!!! It was “exciting” have my underwear, etc on the clothesline outside our window. Ah, the memories of home when I was a girl. Jen and Amy will remember the clothesline. Everything was finally dry by the time we got back from supper. I even made a friend with the elderly lady, her daughter and granddaughter who were looking our the window in their apartment checking their laundry when I was. We all waved and smiled.
Miss you all and love you!! Mom, Granny and Bonnie
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