We got a really slow start today, so we decided to just walk over to Piazza San Marco.  I figured it’s just getting more and more crowded now, so we should take the opportunity.

Coffee at the Puppa Bar and off we went.  All over town there are joyful celebrations of graduations. Well-dressed young people with laurel crowns, flowers and an entourage. Pastel suits for the women were de rigueur:

On the way to the piazza, I stopped in a scarf store. I am just tired of my utilitarian black wool scarf and I got something light and springier. A little retail therapy!

Being at the piazza, staring at the magnificent grand basilica, a feast of people watching–we loved it. The light is not kind to me these days, either high noon or totally flat but here’s one of a bit of the basilica:

We had a 1:00 lunch date with Nan at Vini da Gigio, so we scooted back to Cannaregio. Lunch was so good! We started with sharing moeche, scallops and a bowl of mixed clams and mussels. The clams were the stand-out to me–so sweet and bigger than the usual clams with spaghetti. Ken’s favorite was the moeche, crispy and soft in the center. We also shared two pasta dishes–one with smoked fish and another with duck ragu (no tomatoes) which were both great. One secondo was enough for the three of us–little grilled cuttlefish. We drank, first a very good wine-like prosecco and then a white trebbiano which was great with the fish dishes. We finished with desert wines and cookies. A fabulous lunch, but the company was the best part.

My view at Vini da Gigio:

We rolled home, so full–again! And did the laundry and rested.

We had a 6:00 appointment with an apartment owner for a possible stay next June with our kids and grandkids. In the pictures it looked like it was right around the corner, but it turned out to be a little farther because it’s on the other side of the canal.

Still feeling full, we totally skipped dinner and watched some TV on my computer. At home we watch Nicole Wallace everyday at 4:00–here it’s 10:00. I usually fall asleep half way through. And that’s exactly what happened.