The day started with meeting Barbara for coffee and watching her eat her breakfast at the Combo. Our mutual decision was to go to Dorsoduro and the Accademia museum. We took a nice break in the sun at Campo Santo Stefano. I noticed the brand new slick looking Aperol spot with tables outside and a bar inside:

Over the bridge the view was glorious with the bright sun. First we went to a little souvenir shop where I had seen a pill box I wanted and Barbara got a gift for a friend. The museum seemed packed with school kids near the entrance, but once we got our tickets and put our stuff in a locker it was smooth sailing.

The museum is really very big with way too much to take in, but we managed to focus on Bellini’s work. I liked this one, for no good reason. I do have baby boys on my mind though.

I had read about a restoration happening there and on view for the public. This Bellini altarpiece from the church of San Giobbe was painted in 1487, later stolen by Napoleon, but returned to the Accademia museum. They had a good video explaining the levels of paint. At this point there is tape over all of the cracks, but we didn’t see anyone working on it:

We also started tracking Saint Sebastian, who is in the above piece. Barbara informed us the he is a gay icon ,so he instantly became more interesting to me.

On to a great lunch at Vecio Marangon, but not before popping into the gallery to visit “our” Roberta Coni painting. Lunch was really delicious–I had ossobuco with some nice vegetables. Ken and Barbara both had a hearty bean soup and we all shared some artichoke bottoms. I really liked the small, rustic restaurant. I had a nice little conversation with two Spanish men sitting beside us; their big rec for Venice was the church of San Sebastian, so I guess we’ll have to make it over there at some point.

I saw this house and blooming mimosa tree right near the restaurant:

Barbara had to catch the Alilaguna at 4:30, so we came back to our place and tried to wrap up our visit. It really was a wonderful reconnection with a friend of the heart.

We said our goodbyes at the dock, and Ken and I came home for an extended rest time. We had a bunch of reheated leftovers from the fridge and called it a night.

We watched The Pitt (love love love!) and started the new Apple TV series called Imperfect Women with Kerry Washington and Elizabeth Moss.

This is the beginning of our last week in Venice. Big sigh…