Day 22: Beach Day at the Lido and St. Marks' by Moonlight.
Today was a beach day. We packed up our swimmers and hopped on the Vaparetto out to the Lido (a long skinny barrier island on the ocean side of Venice. It has been REALLY HOT the past few days and we were ready to cool off. We walked across the skinny width of the island, past cute little shops and out to the beach. We rented an umbrella and 2 beach chairs (because we had to have some shade) and ran across the burning hot sand and into the warm water. The water is shallow for a long way out into the water but it felt so good to cool off.
We spent the entire day playing at the beach. We at thin crust pizza for lunch and rented a paddle boat with a slide. Kate got stung by a jelly fish and Kira slept for 2 hours under the umbrella. Everyone had a blast playing together at the beach. I don't have many pictures because I was too busy enjoying myself in the water.
On the walk home, we stopped and got fresh peaches, nectarines and apples from a little fruit stand (so yummy on a hot day after the beach) and Isaac and Calvin dribbled the soccer ball all the way back to the Vaparetto.
It was our last night in Venice and we had finally realized that the food just wasn't that varied or frankly, that delicious. And even though it was cheaper than Switzerland, with the "cuperto" (cover charge per person) and the 12% gratuity/service charge added, it was still pretty expensive to feed seven humans when we go out to eat. So Kira and I hit the grocery store on the way home from the Lido. Quick side note about the grocery store in Venice: it is the cutest. It is in an old theater and the ceiling is painted and the walls are wood and it is the most modern, clean, organized grocery store we've been in on the entire trip. It's so cool. It's called Teatro Italia. I should have taken pictures. Anyway...we got all of the stuff to make a delicious homemade Italian dinner: yummy bread, pasta, sauces, fruit and lots of fresh veggies for a yummy salad. We realized that our dining room in our apartment has a better view and atmosphere than all of the restaurants, and at 1/3 of the cost!
After dinner, I was determined to go to St. Mark's square after dark. I had read that it was magical and I just couldn't miss it.
"While Venice's splendid decay is undeniably charming by day, it's especially memorable after dark. Near the end of the day, the stifling crowds thin out as hordes of day tourists retreat to their cruise ships and mainland hotels. Then, as the sun goes down, a cool breeze blows in from the lagoon, the lanterns come on, the peeling plaster glows in the moonlight, and Venice resumes its position as Europe's most romantic city." - Rick Steves
The younger kids were wiped out so they stayed home while Kira, Jeff and I took the Vaparetto back to St. Mark's. It was better than I imagined. It was so magical, lit up by the lanterns and the nearly full moon. There were a half a dozen orchestra platforms around the perimeter, lined with seating for cafes and the dueling orchestras took turns performing their pieces while onlookers sipped drinks and we danced in the twinkling square. We danced and strolled and skipped and pondered and reminisced about this amazing, magical European vacation. It was the most lovely night of the whole trip. I feel so lucky!
We spent the entire day playing at the beach. We at thin crust pizza for lunch and rented a paddle boat with a slide. Kate got stung by a jelly fish and Kira slept for 2 hours under the umbrella. Everyone had a blast playing together at the beach. I don't have many pictures because I was too busy enjoying myself in the water.
On the walk home, we stopped and got fresh peaches, nectarines and apples from a little fruit stand (so yummy on a hot day after the beach) and Isaac and Calvin dribbled the soccer ball all the way back to the Vaparetto.
It was our last night in Venice and we had finally realized that the food just wasn't that varied or frankly, that delicious. And even though it was cheaper than Switzerland, with the "cuperto" (cover charge per person) and the 12% gratuity/service charge added, it was still pretty expensive to feed seven humans when we go out to eat. So Kira and I hit the grocery store on the way home from the Lido. Quick side note about the grocery store in Venice: it is the cutest. It is in an old theater and the ceiling is painted and the walls are wood and it is the most modern, clean, organized grocery store we've been in on the entire trip. It's so cool. It's called Teatro Italia. I should have taken pictures. Anyway...we got all of the stuff to make a delicious homemade Italian dinner: yummy bread, pasta, sauces, fruit and lots of fresh veggies for a yummy salad. We realized that our dining room in our apartment has a better view and atmosphere than all of the restaurants, and at 1/3 of the cost!
After dinner, I was determined to go to St. Mark's square after dark. I had read that it was magical and I just couldn't miss it.
"While Venice's splendid decay is undeniably charming by day, it's especially memorable after dark. Near the end of the day, the stifling crowds thin out as hordes of day tourists retreat to their cruise ships and mainland hotels. Then, as the sun goes down, a cool breeze blows in from the lagoon, the lanterns come on, the peeling plaster glows in the moonlight, and Venice resumes its position as Europe's most romantic city." - Rick Steves
The younger kids were wiped out so they stayed home while Kira, Jeff and I took the Vaparetto back to St. Mark's. It was better than I imagined. It was so magical, lit up by the lanterns and the nearly full moon. There were a half a dozen orchestra platforms around the perimeter, lined with seating for cafes and the dueling orchestras took turns performing their pieces while onlookers sipped drinks and we danced in the twinkling square. We danced and strolled and skipped and pondered and reminisced about this amazing, magical European vacation. It was the most lovely night of the whole trip. I feel so lucky!
These boys (and all of us) are getting so tan.
Waiting on the floating "bus" stop for the Vaparetto.
Our yummy homemade Italian dinner.
The Rialto Bridge
The Vaparetto at night in the Grand Canal.
St. Mark's from the boat.
In front of the Bridge of Sighs.
Such a romantic city! ;)
St. Mark's Basilica.
St. Mark's square at night.
One of the dueling orchestras.
Dancing in the square.
Santa Maria de Salute (Church of Our Lady of Health - built to give thanks for surviving the plague).
We made a little mistake on the way home. Jeff was sure we should get off the "slow boat" (the #1) and wait for the faster boat (the #2). We waited for 25 minutes at the stop and along came another #1. Hahaha! We didn't get home until after midnight. All of the kids were fast asleep except Kate who had been up worrying about us. But we had called & texted so she knew we were running late.
One nice thing about the detour was that on the second #1 boat, we got to sit in the very front of the boat for beautiful views down the Grand Canal.
The alleyway to our apartment.
What a magical night!
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