I think of my friends who run tours and how one group leaves and another comes in, each with its own particular qualities and personalities.

So, we said good bye to Donna at the boat and stayed there talking to Elisa for a while. Before we left, Elisa said to me “Don’t buy pumpkin.” Hmmm??? Ken and I went to get coffee and a few groceries before we had to go to meet Linda and Steve (the same friends who we were with in Alba, which now seems like months ago) at the train station. Elisa warned us that when the water is too high the vaps can’t get under the bridges to reach Ferrovia, so I went to check and it was a “go.” We wanted to take the vap because…rain. So, we jumped on the boat and were very early to the train station and finally they appeared. Thet got their Venezia Unica travel pass sorted and took the Vap back home where Elisa was waiting for them. After the check in, Elisa came scampering down the stairs with 4 bowls of hot pumpkin risotto for us–a perfect lunch for this rainy day. She also left us a cake and a large bowl of pumpkin soup to heat whenever we want. Above and beyond! She’s the best.

The rain stopped after lunch so we set out for San Marco. Venice is SO much less crowded than it was on the weekend. We stopped at the Rialto bridge and Ken took a photo at the top.

Again, it is wonderful to see through their ga ga eyes.

We kept on to Piazza San Marco and entered from the side. They hadn’t even seen the front yet and were totally amazed. Steve (always interested in construction and drainage) pointed out that each figure was holding a downspout for water. Can you see it?

These guys go all along the high wall and each of the spouts is somehow integrated into the statuary. The piazza itself was mostly dry, but the passarelle (raised platforms) were still up.

We continued on to the Bridge of Sighs and back up behind Santa Maria Formosa, and Calle Lunga SMFormosa through the narrow street to Giovanni e Paolo. We wanted them to see the hospital and know how to get home from there.

We stopped at the bakery across the bridge to Santa Maria Nova and wound our way to “Mindy’s street” (calle traghetto) to the Coop.

Last stop: The Gesuiti church where L&S were duly awed. It was dark in there, but we could still appreciate its opulent beauty.

Wet and content we came back home. I made some vegetable soup and we had the bread and prosciutto and a salad for a nice dinner as it continued to rain. And we ate some of the amazing chocolate torte with a mocha cream filling (gotta find out the name of this!) that Elisa had left.

The end of a great first day for our new campers.