Sept. 1-3, 2013

Sept. 1,2
to Venice

Actually EARLY to the airport!  Good start for Ronda!  The plane was an hour late taking off, but it was a good 9 hour flight, with a seat partner who was nice but kept to himself.  Yay. After retrieving my sweater that I left on the plane, I met up with Sandy at Café Express and we got the train to the Termini in Rome where we took the fast train 3+  hours to Venice.  Up & down over the bridge with our suitcases, and 2 blocks later at the Hotel Albergo Marin.  PERFECT place.  Small but clean and comfortable - and the best part is being able to keep the window open at night.  Like everyone else, we got lost walking around and had a great time winding our way back to the hotel after a pizza meal.  Slept soundly with a cool breeze until the fire alarm went off outside our room!  It didn't take long to find out it was a false alarm & we went back to sleep.  Sandy and I are going to get along fabulously.  I'm so excited to be here!  Can't believe it!

Sept.3
Venice

Woke up refreshed at 7:30 and had a great breakfast.  Off to get vaporetto tickets at the rail station and take a tour of the Grand Canal.
Later:  Well, we toured.  Took the vaporetto the wrong way (we learn fast) around the port and to S. Marks that way.  Actually we are glad we did that.  We came home the other way -- during rush hour.  We went into St. Marks today -- really different from what I envisioned.  SO many colors & textures.  I think I was actually impressed most with the mosaic floors and the patchwork of colors and different marbles used.  Stonemasons were artists back then (maybe the good ones are now too?).  Wondered about the half dome over the choir loft.  Designed to throw sound out, then the other domes serve as microphones to the rest of the church??  I'm sure it also signifies the halo of the holy, like you see in the paintings. There are 10? small windows in the front dome.  At 3:00 in the afternoon the sun came directly through the 3rd one......?  I'm amazed at the Byzantine influence all over Venice -- didn't expect that.  I didn't expect St. Marks Basilica to be as dark as it is either -- a lot of dark colors in the marble and stone.  Really beautiful.  The Doge's Palace is much more magnificent in person than pictures. 

We stopped and listened to a very good young violinist in St. Mark's Square. I put money in his case and asked where he was from.  He just finished college in St. Petersburg, Russia and wanted to come to Venice.  He just arrived today and decided to earn his keep in the square.  I said I loved his Gingold slides -- "ah, see, he's Russian!" was the answer.  He was very excited to talk to American musicians.

We went to a concert of opera arias tonight and had a good time watching the small group of musicians.  Some were good, some OK -- 1st violinist needed to be fired and the others would have been happier!  Wish it had been at the Opera House, but it wasn't.  You have to get those tickets way in advance.  We had a wonderful dinner near the Rialto Bridge and came back early after the concert.  I have to get used to all the walking, but, even more, the up and down bridges!  We are both tired tonight.