Heading South
We got up early to pack up for our short trip to Venice. Rolling our luggage through the streets of Belluno, it seemed much shorter than when we arrived. Down, down, down the escalators to the big parking lot and off we went.
Our gas tank was pretty much empty. It cost about $85 to fill it up. Gas prices…hmmm.
The drive was only about an hour and a half—out of the mountains in through some agricultural land, mostly corn and grapes.
Arriving in Venice is often tricky but we had our best approach yet. We made no wrong turns (a first) and easily found a spot on the 10th floor of the parking garage (for rental returns). At the Hertz counter, there was a young couple trying to rent a car, but they didn’t have an International Drivers Permit and they were busy getting it on their phone. The representative then told them Hertz was out of cars. He told them to wait and some cars would be returned, like ours.
The vaporettos are a mess because of construction on the canals. We had to catch the 5.2 and it was uncomfortable full when we boarded. Jammed in like sardines with our luggage, we made it to meet Elisa at Fondamenta Nove. We had a wonderful, chatty reunion with her. She and Ken talked politics while I bought tickets for Homo Faber online. They are just about sold out for the rest of the run.
We made a quick run to the Coop supermarket for some basic supplies. Lucky for us, Elisa had left us a wonderful lunch.
It is wonderful to be in our home away from home in Venice ,but we both have that pit in the stomach feeling, worrying about Tallahassee our real home. Hurricane Helene looks unprecedentedly treacherous. We had lots of texts from neighbors. Our generous next door neighbors worked hard putting away all of our stuff outside. Josh called and talking to him was great medicine.
We really needed a distraction so we headed down Fondamenta Misercordia to find the bread we loved last year. We missed the street and the short walk turned into a long one but eventually, with some help, we found it. I knew we needed some alcohol therapy so we stopped into Marcianino for drinks and a few cicchetti.
We walked home on Strada Nova, got some cash and saw this:
The evening was mostly talking and texting and emailing with neighbors. Some are saying this could be a Cat 5 storm. I have such mixed emotions about being away. About half of our community is evacuating. I feel the terror even at this distance.
Looking out at the view we have loved over the years calms me, to some degree.
I do hope your community makes it through with minimal damage.
I’m praying for the safety of your Florida property and all your loved ones.
That’s tough to have to worry about your home while you’re away. I’m praying that it will all end up okay.
Hi jen. Enjoying your commentaries. If you send me a copy of the photo of your husband, I would do a kind of portrait of him. It’s a really great photo great look of someone perhaps contemplating how his house back in Tallahassee is doing. Marina Brown
I know Tallahassee is at the top of your worry list and I hope it will be okay. My father-in-law was a farmer, and when weather threatened his livelihood (which seemed to happen annually) he always said, “You can’t do anything about it, so there’s no sense in worrying.” I’m not trying to downplay your concern. I just hope you can find some relief in the city you love so much. Remember its nickname: La Serenissima.
Enjoying all your posts. I miss Italy!!
Praying for the best with this monster hurricane about to hit.
..hope your home survives..even though our home is in south Florida, I’m on pins and needles [being away in Amsterdam]..I keep looking online at the live camera in our living room [showing our pool area through the window]..it’s still scary, but looks like it passed our area, doing no harm..WISHING YOU AN UNEVENTFUL OUTCOME at your home in T’hassee..regarding Venice, IT’S MY LEAST FAVE CITY in Italy..spent a few days there in 2018 on our cycling tour of Italy..seems to me like ‘Disneyworld, Euro style’…so many tourists, so many hawkers…I’m glad we made it a stop on our tour, but the 8 days cycling leading to Venice our last stop, was really GRAND…just loved cycling through vineyards, small towns, and lazy country roads…GLAD TO HEAR YOU FOUND your sweet spots there, and are loving it…AGAIN, HOPING YOU FIND NO DAMAGE TO YOUR FLORIDA HOME,and your trip is memorable in a positive way….
Hello, I am very much enjoying your travel stories. We share a love for Italy.
I wish you and all the people who live in the hurricane area the very best and hope that this ordeal will be over soon without having caused too much damage to people and properties.
Love that photo of Ken. Glad you’re “home”.