May 21, 2022
If you’ve heard all of this before, don’t raise your hand, but some thoughts follow I thought worth repeating.
What is the deal about Eliza Doolittle Day? In her imagination, after one episode when 'Engry 'Iggins is particularly mean to her, Eliza imagines being good friends with the king who proclaims, "Next week on the 20th of May, I'll proclaim Eliza Doolittle Day." Great scene in the movie as she imagines shooting Higgins.
We have seen some incredible buildings, and I think it is incredible that those buildings ever got built because they were using, as Mr. Spock might have said, "Stone knives and bear skins." All hand tools, cutting, chiseling, lifting, stacking, and on and on. Plus Venice is literally raised out of the water and all that has to do with that. Amazing buildings I hope you all get to see!
I was asked if Tintoretto painted on the ceiling like Michelangelo did. Tintoretto did paint the ceiling as did Michelangelo, but contrary to legend, neither did it laying on their backs. They built the scaffolds and then stood on them, looking up and painting with their arms raised, which I think would be harder than laying on their backs. And when you consider the ceilings were not just flat like our ceilings those paintings become even more remarkable.
Have you ever wondered – since we mention it in almost every blog – how many gelato stores there are in Venice. I asked Google how many gelato stores there are in Venice and the response was: 9 best gelato stores in Venice, 11 best gelato stores in Venice, 7 best, 6 best, 10 best, and on and on. I didn't even open any of those links, because I haven't found a bad one yet -- some we like better because of the choice of flavors, but all good (except the strawberry sherbert that I got one night not knowing it was sherbert -- I do not like sherbert of any flavor).
And totally non sequitur, toilet paper is single ply, definitely not Charmin. You just use more than 4 squares at a time, and the toilet system could flush a dead cat, so there is no danger.
Well, enough of that. Several blogs ago we talked about taking an evening walk after supper and finding a church we’d never seen before (in Venice finding a church we’d never seen before is like going into an apple orchard and finding an apple we’d never seen before).
This one is the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. It was built to house a small image of the Virgin and Child painted around 1409. Construction started in 1481 and the church was finished in 1489.
The painting was displayed outdoors in a calle near the a private home, where it became a popular place to pray for those who lived in the neighborhood. Over seventy years later, miracles began to be credited to the image, and the idea grew up to build a church to house the painting.
A staircase leads to the raised high altar where the original painting is displayed.
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| The picture behind the candles is the actual painting from 1409. |
There is some incredible carving inside the church, and those pictures are below.
And as always, Granny lit a candle and we prayed for special needs back home.
From there we walked towards the Rialto Bridge to stop at a pharmacy to pick up some drugs, and do some final souvenirs shopping. We were successful with both ventures and on the way back stopped at a gelato store where there has always been a line. Today was no exception and we joined the que where we purchased the most expensive gelato we’ve bought on this trip, receiving the smallest serving sizes. The gelato was good, but was definitely a tourist shop. Now we can say, been there, done that.
Then it was back to the flat for a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and potato chips, followed by naps and the initial packing for our trip home (which story, and others, I will turn the keyboard over to Bonnie for her recollections).
Oh, after supper tonight we walked to the campo of the church of St. John and St. Paul and just strolled a bit. I took this picture of the church in the evening sun.
TTFN
Love,
Dad/Pappy/David
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Yeah!! I slept till 5:30 with no interruptions. We puttered around this morning and ate our cannolies . Then, he helped me wash my hair. We took our baths and dressed for our excursion into the city. We were visiting the church of the miracle which we had found the other day. It opened at 10:30 and we were there a little early. So we waited. We watched the canal and the boats that were on it. While we waited a tour group arrived and they swarmed into the church when it opened. We patiently waited while the group went in to the church. It cost 3 euros. It is an absolutely beautiful church. The stone work had been cleaned and some restoration in the 1990s. We stayed a while and relaxed in the coolness of the space. They had a huge balcony in the back that contained the pipe organ. Behind the little ticket booth below the balcony was a ladder leading to the floor of the balcony. It appeared to be the only way to get the organ.
After we left we headed toward the Rialto Bridge but didn’t intend to go all the way. We went by the farmacia we usually use and there was a line with about 20 people waiting to get covid tests. Have to have it to go home. We were just wandering and looking in the shops. We went a little way and then turned around. We decided to stop at the gelato shop that always had the long line and try it out. I had chocolate and strawberry cheesecake. Though good and about 2 euros more expensive it was no better than what we get at the shop near our apartment. They had cups made out of cone material and you could eat them. After that we headed on back. He wanted to stop at the farmacia because he wanted to get some medicine, no nothing is wrong just some cream. You would not believe the line was as long or longer. He bypassed the line and went in and got what he wanted. Then, we headed on to home.
The garbage from yesterday was still there when we came out this morning but when we got back it was finally gone. We made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Had some potato chips and a drink. Then we headed off for a nap. After the nap it was time to work on the packing. I emptied both cases and started sorting stuff to pack. We are packing a spare set of clothes on top in case we should be in the rain. Praying no rain!!!
I got everything packed except my machine, the transformer, toilet kits, pjs and the clothes we will wear tomorrow. We plan to take our baths Sunday night so all we have to do is dress and go in the morning.
We chilled for a while and then we went to supper. I had lasagna and he had spaghetti. We also had a salad. Then, we went for a short walk and stopped in a shop so I could get a couple of things. Then, off to the gelato store for a snack. Yes we had gelato twice today. Well, we are back in the apartment and the TV is working tonight. So we are currently watching NCIS. Soon off to bed.
Tomorrow morning we are off to the boat to the airport. We are going to have breakfast out and not cook. We don’t know how long it will take. Then , we will come home and rest. Monday will be a very long day. Pray for us as we get our covid tests tomorrow and then fly home Monday.
Love you all. Miss you all. Mom, Granny and Bonnie
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