This morning we slept in. For two early birds, it means I got up at 6 am and Ginger got up at 7. Which is like wasting the day away. Before leaving the house we had a cup of tea and headed out for breakfast to close by coffee shop. We ended up ordering a croissant with a dollop of cream and a raspberry jam and a Panini, which seemed a little odd to eat for breakfast, but dear God, it was good. We had not eaten since Thursday night on the plane. So that really hit the spot. Our next stop was the supermarket, which was called Despar Teatro Italia. Yes the supermarket was in an old theater which at home seems less unusual in Italy then it would at home. It’s normal to get turned around or lost in the streets of Venice. I say streets, but there are no cars anywhere, just hoards of tourist. So we got turned around, went the wrong direction to get to the market, but accidentally found a lovely little square with a few gondolas sitting there waiting for someone to take them out. We finally found it, and bought the bare essentials which meant wine and iced tea, and spent €6.99 on that. I assumed the iced tea was more expensive than the wine.

We went back to the apartment to do a few things before heading to San Marcuola. Today learned how to use the water bus. Tomorrow we have our first tour of San Marco Basilica, Square and Doge Palace, and wanted to make sure we knew how to find it. It is not intuitive at all. The Italians are good at a lot of things, but letting you know exactly which water bus you’re supposed to get on is not one of them. Nor is informing you of the upcoming stop.

There are things that look like water buses, sitting at the dock and many people, including us, assumed it would leave, but no, it’s just there for you to walk through and get on the actual water bus. The question becomes, which bus should I get on. After making a few mistakes, we ended up finding the right one to take us to our last stop, which was the Ponte dell’Accademia. This bridge is made entirely of wood, a unique choice considering the city’s inclination towards stone and brick for its major landmarks. What truly sets this bridge apart is its unparalleled view of the Grand Canal. As you stand at its center, Venice unfurls before your eyes in a panorama of bustling gondolas, ancient palazzos, and the distant silhouette of the Santa Maria della Salute – a sight that has inspired countless artists, photographers, and dreamers. The bridge offers a vantage point that captures the essence of Venice, a city where water and architecture dance in timeless harmony. The other iconic landmark we saw was the Rialto Bridge. This architectural masterpiece has been standing tall for over four centuries, connecting the bustling San Polo district to the equally enchanting San Marco. With its grand arches and elegant design, the Rialto Bridge draws in both locals and tourists, offering breathtaking views of the Grand Canal and the bustling market below. We went under the Scalzi bridge, which we walked over on our way to our Airbnb our first night. So technically so far we’ve gone over or seen three of the four bridges crossing the Grande Canal. Other things we saw our bus tour included the Rialto market, a few museums, gondolas and a slew of water taxis. Really want to go on one of them next. Maybe tomorrow.

We eventually made our way back to our initial stop, knowing that it was the closest to our apartment. Venice has six neighborhoods: Cannaregio, Santa Croce, San Polo, Dorsoduro, San Marco and Castello. We are in Cannaregio, and we like it. It has shops, restaurants, beautiful small canals and is not all tourists. Being a little hot, we needed some gelato and it just so happens that a gelato place was next to the supermarket. We went in for a couple additional things such as figs and cheese, bread, and more iced tea.

Our last adventure of the day was dinner. We locally at Restorante da Poggi, very close to the apartment. We had a lovely meal. I was able to check off one of my goals for this trip is to try the 4 pastas of Rome while in Italy. Yes I know I’m not in Rome, but we only have two nights in Rome so there’s no way I can eat for pasta dishes when we’re there. Some of the ingredients included slow cooked onions and just-crisped pancetta cooked with just a hint of chili flakes. A bruschetta that was also delicious and had a sweet balsamic vinegar on top which added a depth. I will use that when I make it next time.  it was a lovely walk home, and Venice lights up beautifully in the dark. So I included a few photos from our walk home and then bedtime.