To check into our hotel, Hotel Serenissima, Jody taught us how to tell the desk staff our room numbers in Italian, "Buon giorno, camera tre, uno, sette." After getting settled, Jody took us on a "disorientation tour." In this tour, rather than heading to the nearest Metro station, Jody asked for a volunteer with the worst sense of direction, to lead us around Venice. The goal was to help us spot signs to the major sights and learn to navigate from these points of reference such as St. Mark's Square or the Rialto Bridge without fear of getting lost. Gaining this confidence enabled us to navigate around crowds by taking side streets or alleys.
Tip: Google Maps is not precise enough to be of much use in Venice.
Next up was an optional (extra cost) gondola ride. Everyone on the tour wanted to join in. Jody opted out so that she could take photos of us all. Jody arranged everyone into groups and booked the gondolas. Recently, the number of passengers per gondola was reduced from 6 maximum to 5.
Following the gondola ride, we had a group dinner at Vino Vino. This was an opportunity to try the seafood risotto, salad, wine, some limoncello and tiramisu. After dinner, our family decided to take an evening stroll through Venice.
Day 6 - Venice
After breakfast, our group split into two groups to tour Venice with a local guide. Our group went with Elisabetta. She showed us historical buildings and explained how cisterns were used to provide fresh water to the homes. She described Venice as consisting not only of the islands but also the coastal lands surrounding the lagoons. We learned about the lagoons as a defensive system. She told us how most of the island apartments had been converted to Airbnb. Many locals have moved off the island and commute in. She showed us a church that was built to house a Madonna that had been attributed to many answered prayers and miracles. The church is a favorite for weddings. Rice throwing has been replaced by confetti because of the birds.
Next Elisabetta took us to a mask making demonstration by a local artisan. The artisan, told us (with Elisabetta translating) the traditional stories of the masks. From his workshop, he led us next door to his storefront, Ca' del Sol.
We walked past the Bridge of Sighs, an old hospital building, and finished our tour with Elisabetta at St Mark's Square. Elowen befriended a cat near St. Mark’s square. The rest of the day was free for exploring.
St. Mark's Basilica
I had booked tickets for our family to tour St. Mark's Basilica. The gold leaf mosaics were stunning. The Rick Steve's audio guide compared creating the mosaics to tiling a football field with contact lenses.
"Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures." Lovelle Drachman
I decided to explore while the rest of my family decided to rest back at the hotel. I wanted to see if I could find the market (no, it was closed) or a Murano glass jewelry shop that Jody told me about near the Rialto Bridge (yes). I was able to purchase beautiful souvenirs for my extended family at Rialto 79. Jewelry is small and traveled around all of Europe safely with me. I found a local grocery shop for some fruit, drinks, snacks and rolls.
Upon returning to the hotel, I was met with a hungry family. We found a pizza-by-the slice shop. I experienced a delicious pizza with potato slices. Quinn enjoyed a couple slices of his favorite, Margherita pizza. We wandered back over to St. Mark's square and saw a seagull dive down, smack into a woman and steal 1/2 of her sandwich. The guides' warning about eating in St. Mark's Square are legit. Later that evening, we crossed the Rialto Bridge to explore the other side of Venice. We found Ostaria Ai Storti. Quinn had a breaded chicken dish while the rest of us had cicchetti and pizza. We stopped by Venchi for gelato and then returned to St. Mark's Square where we were entertained by the talented musicians.