Travels of THB: Travel Day: Verona a Venezia

Travel Day: Verona a Venezia

Well, Sports Fans, this was a big day.

The weather turned decidedly cooler. Hooray!
THB and DB left Verona. Hooray! (at least THB is thrilled, way toooo crowded for him)
THB and DB had an easy train shuffle to Venice and the terrific Cipriani Hotel. Hooray!
SC joined us minutes later, "fresh" off her flights from SFO to Munich to Marco Polo airport. Triple Hooray!!! This will be our 3rd Venice Biennale together.

First: a few pics:

a little sign on the ledge outside our window...THB thinks it means if you plan to jump be aware you may electrocute yourself first

THB never could figure out the Due Torri elevators...2 A's and 2 5's?

This town is loaded with brides

THB decides to give you a taste of last night's awful dinner: this is a salt cod scoop - salty - topped by an anchovy - salty - in a deep dish on top of canned green beans with no real way to cut up the anchovy because THB didn't have a sharp knife to use once he removed the anchovy.

This item, an everyday washcloth, was not to be found in Turin or Milan bathrooms. Apparently these towns are still chasing Verona in the simple pleasures of life (e.g., shopping, honoring fictional characters, etc.)

This is one of the 36 venues around Verona set up for kids, which for the last 4 days has greatly increased the crowds in an already crowded town

The weather was so chipper THB wore a sweater for the first hour of our walking around Verona in the morning and in the early evening in Venice.

Things were emptier early than yesterday afternoon and we coasted into the old arena in the middle of town and even got a peek at some Willie fans standing on a balcony in a small interior square, pretending to be a fictional character from 500 years ago. This is pretty much those cave drawings that hucksters claim were made 15,000 years ago. Of course, now you can only see the real fakes of Lascaux.

THB didn't get close enough to see if you had to pay to go stand on the theater set of a fictional character

Pick up some lightweight sandwiches and dine al fresco on the train platform; it's brisk and pleasant.

This spot for kids, making kites, is right outside Due Torri hotel

Not our train!

Take a water taxi, $65, from the train station in Venice to the Cipriani. SC comes in a few minutes later and off we go to tour the grounds, make it to our rooms (next to each other) with great views of the lagoon. Unload our stuff (full unpack, we're hear for six (6) nights), and meet-up to strategize what we will see other than the official Biennale venues (Tuesday and Wednesday with Valentina).

THB and DB are back after a 3 year hiatus, and the weather complies: very clear and moderate

THB pic showing SC looking at the outdoors cooking classroom

Lovely non-suite, "tastefully" appointed

The balcony is functional and comes with a gorgeous view. SC's room is just to right

Almost 5pm, SC is fighting jet lag, so we stroll the side of the Grand Canal to a trattoria where we have 7pm rezzies. They are hosting a private party and can't serve us a drink and snacks.

We're hours too early

Back to another spot where we share appetizers, have negronis, and catch up. The light is extraordinary, SC and THB are facing the canal and getting most of the joy. Venice is special.

The sardines with polenta is terrific

Back to Cipriani and we'll huddle at 10am tomorrow and set off for our first day of chasing the side exhibits that occur all over town when the Biennale is on.