The Little Band's First Full Day

Our First Full Day

Finding Our Way

 

Me Trying To Figure Out Where I Am

Route finding is a real treat. When you come from a culture that is obsessed with straight lines and brutalizing the landscape into submission the Venetians’ approach takes you by surprise.

We have an excellent map and my trusty compass. Really this (as I was to learn later) is only important if you are looking for a very specific spot in Venice. It is better to just walk in the general direction of where you want to go and work it out when you get close.

I am afraid that my American obsession of being in control took over here and in some ways detracted from my time in Venice. Still the challenge of knowing where you are in the city was fun for me. It also allowed Barbara and Bob to just wander and know that we would be able to get where we wanted to go.

Campo San Giacomo Di Oro

A Day of Wandering and Wondering

I had read about a good place for lunch on Virtual Tourist so I suggest we wander over there and get some lunch and just see what ever comes our way. My super friendly and flexible companions are ready to try anything.

The Work Bench In Barbara's Favorite Shop

We wander the streets behind the Friari Church till we hit the Campo San Marghera and find the restaurant. It was not a satisfying lunch. The place was busy and we are uncomfortable. Still working out traveling in a strange land kind of stuff.

We ask the wrong things and order the wrong stuff. The construction workers at the next table give me several eye rolls. That did not help much. No worries we will soon become much more comfortable. Still we are fed and happy as we leave.

A “Wasted “Afternoon

A Little Girl Playing Behind The Rialto

We just began to wander towards the Rialto Bridge. I am still not sure of our route but it is just one big happy childlike ramble.

Barbara finds a very nice local artist’s glass shop and buys some very nice things. Not super expensive and the woman was very kind and carefully wrapped things for her.

We wander into the Campo San Giacomo De Oro. After I spend more time in Venice this will become my favorite campo. From there we wander the alleys and eventually end up at the Rialto Bridge.

   

B&B Clown For The Camera

Our First Big Site

What can a person say when they come on a site that has so much written about it? As it turns out, a lot just none of it is very original. Still it is very inspiring to stand where practically every person of any note has stood in the last few hundred years. I can imagine Lord Byron side stroking under my feet on his swim from the Liddo and that is enough for me.

As it turns out some things fit in their place. This bridge is one of those items. It is the right scale, the materials and design are very appealing.

In the states marble as a construction material is used mainly as an ostentatious display inside over blown businesses and homes. Here it is a great durable and beautiful material used in construction for it’s unique qualities. I will see a fair amount of well applied marble while in Italy and it will change my view of it.

We spend the rest of the waning afternoon wandering the alleys behind the Rialto. Sometimes it is fun to just be a tourist. The air is a bit crisp and a light rain falls on and off. We stop for coffee and really just people watch.

The Best Companions One Could Want

The light begins to fade and we go back to the Bridge to catch the sunset. It is the grandest place to see the sunset of all the places in any city I have seen to date. The quality of the light is practically alpine and over the fading beauty of the glory that was once” The Venice of Empire”. It is sublime.

Sunset From The Rialto Bridge

We Make Two Blunders in One

We discover we ate lunch much too early and that dinner is not even an option till after 7:00 or 8:00. To top that we are naively unaware of the Venetian custom to having a drink and a small bite to eat in the early evening. This little respite becomes one of our favorite things on later trips but we bumble on without a clue this time.

Barbara Ponders Her First Ventian Sunset

We go back to the hotel to refit and rearm. Barbara’s bag drama comes to an end when we find her bag on the bed in our room as promised. She is very pleased. Buying whole kit in Venice would be a bit of a financial disaster. No more checking bags!

We End Out Our First Day

We take another toddle and get a nice dinner. Bob learns that Venice is not the place to get an American style pizza. We wander back in the area of San Margehrea. It is crowded with young students. I feel a little old and creaky. We realize that it is almost midnight. After a bit of momentary disorientation we get back to the Marin. We fall into beds and sleep like the dead.

Autumn Sunrise From the Back Porch

Autumn Sunrise From the Back Porch

View From The Back Door

I step onto the cool porch and retrieve two eggs from a basket. It seems two of the girls have decided to make it their nest. One a deep brown the other light blue. What real wealth looks like.

Eggs In A Basket

Tossing in salt, a few herbs a crushed garlic clove and a quick whisking preps the omelette. After fourty five cranks on the grinder handle the coffee is started. Sliding the eggs into the pan Barbara gave me as a Christmas gift and in seconds the omelette is plated and ready.

I quickly wash the the pan and mixing bowl to keep up with things. My grandma Edna always stressed cleaning as you go. A bit of advice I rarely live up to.  My grandma was just full of good advice.

Juggling my plate and coffee I move out to the west side of the porch and the rattan chair that Barbara salvaged and painted purple. The light is building and the air is cool and soft. I hear the tap of Dixie's paws behind me. She brushes past and trots off for the dawn patrol.

 I realize that it would be best to let the Dixie Chicks out before I eat. I step into the wet grass and head towards the coop. The dew soaks into my socks through the holes in my worn out willies. It is chilly but feels nice.

 

Working The Coop Latch 

The Expression On A Chicken's Face When They Think "I am Out Of Here"

Dixie Checking To See That Her Hens Are All O.K.

The chicks are almost as excited as Dixie about getting out of the coop. One of the things I enjoy most about sharing the farm with chickens is the "chickenisms"  like "being cooped up", "hen party" and "playing chicken". What was once common knowledge is now almost lost to the past.

My now cool omelette is very satisfying. I would like a piece of toast but my weight is up today so I need to go a little lean for the day. Breakfast finished, I settle back in the chair cinch up my wool jacket and sip my coffee.

The light changes minute by minute. The rising bird song settles into a steady tune. I hear the goats start to bump round and see Daphne stroll into the yard. She jumps up onto the old tin bin we put in the yard as a goat toy. She looks ready to be put out. The older goats not so much.

A few more minutes to sort out my plan for the day as I drain my cup and it is off to put the goats out and get things rolling.

Living out here is full of sacrifices. It makes it all the more important to really experience and enjoy these sweet moments. I remind myself that it is these small things that I miss when I wake in the city to the drone of the tyrannical automobile instead of bird song.

I feel a great day in the offing.