Venice Day 4 (last day)

4/18/2007 3:55 PM Good afternoon, Luke and I had a very light day today. We woke at 8.30 or so and got the blog squared away so we could insert it when we found an internet point. So I did that. Then we had some crystal light “ juice” and milk. The milk is kinda nice here. It comes only in liter bottles. It also comes in like liter juice boxes. You make a slit on the top and pour. The milk in a box costs like 0.70 € and the milk in a bottle costs like €1.34 .The milk in the box is also shelf stable, as in it doesn’t require refrigeration. Luke also hung the clothes out to dry. We washed them last night. Put them in the drier TWICE, and they still needed to be hung up. So, that Luke did. They are dry now, some were hung in and some hung out. We headed to the San Zachariah vaporetto stop and took #1 bus to the Ca’ Rezzonico. It is an old rich family’s palazzo (palace) that has been turned into a civic museum. We didn’t have to pay admission as it was covered on our museum card. We saw the palace with all it’s painted ceilings, some original furnishings, but mostly paintings. Glad we went, I guess. We didn’t pay for an audio guide, nor have we yet paid for audio guides as Rick Steve’s book gives a guided tour with text. So, Luke was actually my guide. He read aloud as I followed along around the room. We finished up there and caught the #1 again to the Rialto stop where we decided to run around a bit and look around that area some more. Saw more tourist shops of the same genre as I have mentioned previously. We did make a stop back at the piazza that we spent yesterdays lunch at. Also we returned to the cheese shop which we now know is called Casa Della Parmigiano. We bought more asiago cheese, Fontina Toscana and parma crudo. Which is basically a cheap variety of parma ham. We wandered around more- I was in the lead I thought we were heading back to the rialto area but my senses were off and Luke took us back on course. We basically had to turn around and go back the way we came- that’s how off I was. So we did and at 1330 the fish and produce markets were all closing up shop. Luke suggested we go back to our vaporetto stop, but we were looking at the rialto and there happened to be a traghetto stop right there. Traghetto is used when there are no bridges in sight and it would be convenient to cross the rialto if only you had a boat. Basically it is a “taxi” or a “bus” that just crosses the water for it’s route. That’s all it does. It costs €0.50 and is the cheapest and shortest gondola ride you’ll ever have. It is a boat just big enough for 10 people or so to fit on. It is propelled by 2 gondoliers and takes just a few minutes. Can’t beat the price, I told Luke to enjoy this moment. We didn’t even take a picture. So after we crossed we walked a block to our bus stop and found a bread shop and got a few buns as Luke was feeling faint. He was so hungry his stomach had stopped growling. At the bread shop there was a dude selling a half dozen knock off pursed. I said to Luke “here’s my chance!” He thought I was serious. But we kept on walking. Got on our bus which felt like it took forever to get to our off spot at San Zachariah . We walked home and as we walked by the fish specialty restaurants I actually saw a lobster on the ice bed move! Each of these restaurants has a display table showing how good the seafood is there and what they have fresh in today. Luke said he saw one move on the table- I thought he was pulling my leg. He was not. I saw a lobster moving slowly. They keep him alive so they can eat him at the end of the night. Back at our apartment Luke starts to microwave last nights hodge-podge and I suggest a cheese plate. He liked my idea and made one- a good cheese plate. Better than we have ever had in a restaurant. We put mozzarella (which we got at the Punta store before we stopped back at the apartment) and the Fontina, Parmesano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Asiago, dried cherries, and the traili crackers on the cheese plate.. We took a picture of our dinner and the cheese plate. We ate bread along with and I had a glass of last nights left over open bottle of vino. Now we are up to the current time as I am writing, Luke I fear is asleep on the couch as I am writing outside on the huge patio. I still have 1/3 glass wine here. We have to pack tonight and get the apartment. All ship shape for inspection so we get our €300 cash deposit back. We get on the train to Florence in the AM for another fun filled week of museums. We may even go out to dinner there. There should be more dining options there as the whole place can’t be as touristy as Venezia. Good night!