Today marks one week since we arrived and it has flown by. I’m so grateful there are still two to go.

The weekenders are out in force making it seem like the normal crowded Venice. We were thinking of doing a day trip but changed our minds at the last minute and instead headed for the Gallery Bartoux where our friend Shannon (another renown Slow Traveler) had fallen in love with a painting she posted on Facebook.

So, over towards the Accademia bridge we go, stopping at Tiziano for coffee. The gallery is wonderful. Being big fans of contemporary art helped us appreciate it. I really liked this painting which reminded me of the work of a friend and local Tallahassee painter, Anne Hempel:

We also saw “Shannon’s Painting” by the very interesting Brazilian Gabriel Moreno:

Somehow we must have “looked the part” (maybe dressing in all black) because we had an elegant salesman attach himself to us giving lots of great info.

We both fell hard for this work by Roberta Coni:

From there we walked to Campo San Barnaba. The fruit boat is still there. Here’s a shot from the bridge:

And then on to Campo Santa Margherita. Saw this alien? mannequin hanging out on someone’s terrazzo:

In the busy campo, women with carellos were all lined up at the fishmonger and as I watched I could see him sipping a good sized glass of red wine in the back.

We saw two fresh new Pace flags–one in Dorsoduro and one in Cannaregio:

I am sure they are a reaction to the war. (Insert sad face emoji/ insert angry face emoji)

On our way home, we stopped at a new gourmet food store called Nonna Bruna. We were looking in the window and the guy offered us a taste of his porchetta. No gift horse syndrome for us–we tried it and bought some to take back for lunch. And we grabbed some fresh agnolotti at the shop near Tiziano. Interesting, they have a little corner of Asian products in the back corner.

Lunch and rest time followed. Elisa sent us a bunch of ideas for day trips and places to visit.

It seemed like it was about to rain, so we went for a quick walk before dinner. Bought a bottle of organic wine at the shop right near the Coop and got a few things from the surly guys. I think that will be our last visit to them. .

We have a lovely profusion of orange on our table now:

We started a new series: Madison, by Taylor Sheridan. Ken loved it and I liked it. Michelle Pfeiffer is wonderful to watch.

Well, we ticked all the boxes for a wonderful week. So glad we are old enough to fully appreciate this travel thing and young enough to endure it.