Monday July 22 Venice

Our last day in Venice.........
Leisurely breakfast in the hotel's courtyard ---- so many flowers around and even a rose garden.

You can't visit Venice without going for a gondola ride so we headed out for our "gondola experience"

Here we are Ma & Pa in the soft seats. I didn't argue.  I felt like royalty as we settled in our cushioned chairs. The gondola was quite fancy Black with gold trim. Seats almost like recliners. 

There were quite a few going out at the same time and it was like a traffic jam, but they all knew what to do. It was fun to hear the gondoliers call out to one another and their voices sounded echoey between the buildings. I read that gondoliers have to take 100 hrs. of training.

                      It takes skill to maneuver these vessels. It also takes good balance, strong arms and legs.

                             Sandy & Michael each had a chair with a furry cushion to sit on .

                  Going through one of the tunnels. Have to make room for other boat traffic.

Soooo nice. Yes I was relaxed and we were enjoying every minute of our ride.  

                       At the lower bridges the gondolier has to bend so he doesn't hit his head.

 When the water levels rise it becomes more difficult.

 Happy group.

After our ride we walked around taking a last look at Venice. On one bridge there were hundreds of brass padlocks attached to the hand rails of the bridge. Apparently they're called lovers' padlocks. Officials cut them off periodically because of the damage to the bridge.

                                                 

We also saw a pair of shoes for you guys. We had to pull Tom & Michael away. We had to tell them "there's just no room in the luggage"!

Well time has come to say goodbye to Venice. We hopped on a water taxi and headed for the airport to take a plane to Geneva, Switzerland.