Ciao, Venezia---our last day

We've had a beautiful trip and unfortunately, it's coming to an end soon.  This morning we woke up early (poor planning after last night's fun!) and enjoyed a tour of the highlights with Walks of Italy.  As we trekked across many of the 400 + bridges over the Venetian waterways, I was reminded of how difficult it must be to live and work here. The highlight at the end was a gondola ride through the canals. Just beautiful.

We decided to succumb to the wandering streets and do what any good tourist should do at least once per trip...get lost. Such fun. GPS quit working here and there, and the map? Ha! I used girl scout instincts and remembered the sun the same time yesterday was facing us as we looked across the Grand Canal. Bingo! That navigation method got us back on course.

Pat let me surprise her with the lunch order. I knew there were certain Venetian specialites that I really wanted to try, so I ordered a few: a "Spritz" for each of us to drink (a prosecco wine spritzer, the bitter version includes Aperol), marinated sardines and onions with pine nuts and raisins (nothing like those one gets in a can), cuttlefish with black squid ink over white polenta, and baby clams (beautiful varigated shells) over pesto with pasta. For dessert, we enjoyed the most delicious tiramisu I've ever tasted, along with that put-hair-on-your-chest espresso again.

As we wandered around for souvenirs and got lost again, the sun started setting and the air turned cooler. We took a few night pictures of St. Mark's Square (at least a pigeon didn't poop on me like the last time I was here) and found yet another gelato shop. 

Pat, thank you for being such an easy-going and fun-loving travel companion. I have had the pleasure of knowing you since I was 17 years old and first started dating your son--thirty years ago. It was so enjoyable traveling through Italy with you. I hope you remember it for all the years to come, as I know I will.

Happy Birthday and many more.

Love, Mich

Now THAT'S a proposal.

We had a little view of the Grand Canal from our hotel room--this was taken the morning of departure.