Got up and packed the little luggage we brought with us. Gave the key to Dennis upstairs and headed out. 

We walked to the bus stop for the airport. Got on the right bus for Marco Polo International Airport. When we got out there we couldn’t find the Ryan Air check in counter. Only then did we realize that we were at the wrong airport. Feck. Treviso was at the complete other end of the city. Talked to a taxi driver and he told us it would cost about 60 to 70 euros. I told hom to do it for the 60 mark as we were late. He took off like a rocket along the freeway and got off at the exit in great time but then…. The traffic came to a stand still. The last two kilometers were a drag. Construction everywhere. Finally we got to the airport. I gave the cabbie with the tip 70 euros. He was all happy. Checked in with “The On Time Airline” 

and went to gate 7. Boarded the Boeing 737-800 and left Venice behind. I will take with me fond memories.

Landed in Dublin later than planned and tried to change our US Airways flight on Wednesday to fly out of Shannon instead Dublin. No luck the ticket change fees were going to be more than the price of two new tickets. Went down to Irish Car Rental and picked up a car. This time it was a Citroen C3.

Out of thw airport along the M50 and down the N7/M7. It took us ages due to heavy construction on the M50. We drove all the way down to Portlaoise and stopped at Akrakebabra for a snack. Back in the car and drove down to Tulla. Into Mary’s. A gwal of tea and snacks awaited us. Picked Rachel up from study class. Eamon came over for a visit. We chatted for a good while. Angela called from London, more chatting. Then Mary and I chatted until the wee hours of the morning. Into bed read a bit of the paper. Earplugs in and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Woke up early so we could eat the breakfast at 8am. Manuel delivered it right on time. We leave early so we can beat the rush to go into the Basilica Di San Marco. We walked down the now familiar path to the square passing our bakery so we can get there early.  To our horror when we get there the signs say the place is closed for regular Sunday service. It will open to the public at 2pm.

We walk over to have a look at the famous Harry’s Bar. 

Then we spot a boat tour over to the other islands. We have time to kill so off we go on the three and a half hour island tour. First we stop at the island of Murano. 

This island is famous for it’s glass. We go into a glass blowing factory called “Vetreria Ducale” and watch the guy making some pieces. 






The shop offers all kinds of glass for sale and will ship it anywhere in the world.

Next we head over to the island of “Burano”.

 We get off the boat and watch a woman embroidering linen.  



 Then we get to walk around the place. There are great colors on the buildings and the place is quiter than Venice. This is my favorite place so far. 


























We have a slice of pizza here too.

 The best slice I had to date on the visit to Italy. Back on the boat.

The last stop of the day is on “Torcello” island. 

Not much here but a church and a cathedral. Never the less it is a nice walk around the place. 




















We take the boat ride back along the well marked canal to pier near the Basilica. 



Have another look at the bridge of Sighs.





 Make a quick walk towards the square and we line up. After about thirty minutes we get in to see the burial place of the Saint Mark. 
http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/eng/index.bsm
We sit and rest in the pews for a bit. A prayer or two and we are off. No photos allowed inside. It was worth the visit.  Walked around for a bit more. 

Stopped off for a slice of pizza and headed back to the hotel. Stopped for a gelato near the hotel. I even stopped for another one while Natasha was shopping. When we booked our room for the hotel it was only available for two nights but they will move us into another one that was less than the first. Dennis is the guy who shows us in. Room #11. It’s nice. It is well worth the less money. We could have stayed here the whole time and saved a wee bit. 

 

We head out for dinner and go to a restaurant called, Feck I forget the name but it was very good. Stopped off for a gelato on the way back. Did a bit of window shopping too.

Woke up at 4am. Our breakfast arrived to our at 8:30 just like we requested. We decided we would go in to the “Basilica Di San Marco” for a wee look today. We walked down along the now near familiar streets and bridges to the square.










 We stop off at the bakery for a treat. There were way too many people in line even this early to go in so we said “Feck It” Sorry Mark, and we decide to do the full length of the Grand Canal on boat. This is a great way to see Venice. Going up along under bridges and seeing all the buildings along the way was worth the visit. At the end we hopped on another boat and took it back down again. 

UPS

After getting off the boat we go and have a slice of pizza. We now go in to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. http://www.guggenheim-venice.it/inglese/default.html We pay the 10 euros and in we go. The museum was a nice slow pace and not too many tourists. It’s good to be away from the crowds. She had some nice works of art and a lot of shite. I like museums anyway. You naturally can’t take photos inside but I took a couple outside. 


















RIP


I’m not sure if you can do that or not. No harm.

We walk back to Piazza San Marco. We have a gelato and decide to go and see a show called “Carnival” http://www.venice-carnival-show.com/en/ at the “Teatro San Gallo” The show was ok. It gave a history of Venice up until 1913. Worth the visit. We head back to the hotel.

Head out to the “Pleasure Café” for dinner. 

It was nice but the servings were small. No harm we stop for a slice of pizza and a gelato afterwards. We walk all the way up to the bus terminal and then ride the boad back down the Grand Canal in the dark. 







It looks good at night too. We get off down past the Rialto bridge and walk home. Today we did a whole lot of walking and eating. I hope the walking outdoes the damage of the eating. Back to the hotel.

 Into room #2.

Couldn’t get to sleep last night so good. Finally went off before midnight. Woke up tired to the alarm at 3:01am. Packed up and left. Drove to the airport. Dropped off the car to Irish Car Rentals. Into the terminal and checked in with Ryanair to Venice. Went upstairs for breakfast.

 Down to gate A 65 and waited. Boarded the Boeing 737 and took off. The two and a half hour flight went quick. Landed in Venice.

Took the ATVO bus from the airport to the Grand Canal. Took the number 1 boat down along the Grand Canal to Ca’ d’Oro Pier.







 Got off and walked a very short walk to the hotel “Ca’ Le Vele”  http://www.locandalevele.com/home-hotel.php?lang=ENG&id_hotel=21&id_offer= Buzzed the door and when it opened we went in and upstairs. 

Met Manuel the nice fellow at reception. He showed us our room. #2. It was nice.

Walked down the street after we got settled to a little restaurant and ordered pizza. On the  next table over were a group of people from Florida. We chatted with them for a while. The pizza was just ok.


 We left and headed down to Piazza San Marco. Had a pastry from a bakery on the way. 

Stopped off to have a look at the sights of Venice.







 The Ponte Rialto was crowded

 but Mark’s square was worse. 

There were people and pigeons everywhere. Very busy. We lined up to go up to the top of Campanile in the square. It was 6 euros each. 


There were stunning views of Venice from the top.

After a couple of hours down here we left for the hotel. Talked to Manuel for a bit on the way in. Rested up for a bit and then back out for dinner. We went to a place called I forget the name but it was good. They also charge you 2.50 euros each to seat you. It’s called a “Coperti” or cover charge. Stopped off for a gelato on the way back. That is only one euro for one scoop. We wandered around the streets for the rest of the night.

 Then back to Ca’ Le Vele. SleepzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ