Ferrovia

The Iron Way, that's what Ferrovia means.  It refers to the iron tracks required for rail travel.  We took the high speed train to Venice today, the Ferrovia.

The Iron Way

Awaiting the Ferrovia

Mom enjoying 2nd Class on the high speed train

Rosemary is never idle!  go, go, go working on a blanket

The train arrived 10 minutes late and when we disembarked Maria from the Dodo Palace was on the platform waiting for us to usher us to a Water Taxi.  There are no paved road in Venice, you walk or take the Aqua Via, the Water Way.

Mom waving to the folks at home, "wish you were here". Oh, sorry your not!

We settled in and walk to St. Marks and then on to a delicious lunch at Trattoria alla Rivetta at the base of the Ponte San Provolo.  We had two appetizers one was a baked eggplant with cheese and the other was an assortment of grilled veggies and beans followed by either the Calamari, the Calamari with Shrimp or the razor clams.  Delicious, the squid was so fresh I think it was alive when it was cooked, very tender.  We knew we had the right place when we saw all the gondolier's eating there and a Nonna come in for take-away.  The waiter was very friendly and it seemed all of them were singing some happy tune out loud.

The main shopping center is around Rialto Bridge, the most famous bridge in Venice.  It is to Venice what the Ponte Vecchio is to Florence with less gold.

View of Grand Canal from Rialto Bridge

Rosemary rounded a corner and got all excited thinking Jack had come to Venice to surprise her but it was some other masked man working his magic on her!

Rosemary outside the mask store with her new found friend.

Here are the Two Jim's with the Ferro Doge, the Iron Leader, wondering where in the H*ll are we anyway?????  Why boy's we are right here, just look at the map.  We are at the old San Lorenzo Church which is now a archeological site and art exhibit.

The Doge showing their location on the Map.

View from the Academia bridge looking from the Grand Canal to the Lagoon.

Where would Venice be without the Gondola?  Not used any longer for ordinary travel, they now ply the waterways filled with tourists looking for a little of the old La Serrenissima, the Most Serene Republic, as Venice was once called.