Today we caught up with some friends that we had not seen in a while, Mauro & Giorgia Mambelli who live in Ravenna, about an hour drive south of Venice. We met in Fiji in 1998 on a cruise that Kim and I took celebrating our 10th anniversary and their Mauro & Giorgia took as part of their honeymoon. Having managed to keep in touch over the passing years we finally had a chance to get together again this time with our children in Venice, they have been more adventurous than us, having 3 girls 13, 10 and 1. All I can say is good luck Mauro!

It was great to talk about what has happened over the past 15 years, most interesting was hearing about life in Italy these days, they have a variation of what we have been experiencing in the United States. Flat employment, immigrants competing for jobs, illegal ones getting health care without contributing taxes… All sad and too familiar. The girls got along great and hopefully we can build on this for future visits both here and in the US. Good to see you Mauro & Giorgia!

After relaxing a bit Kim, Syd and I headed back to Piazza San Marco to listen to the bands that play in the various cafes and restaurants that line the piazza. Indeed a bit touristy but Sydney requested it, a warm night and the band at Gran Caffe & Ristorante Quadri was on and friendly. What else could one want?

The Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge.

A cruise ship towers over Venice.

Future fashion models

The Academia Bridge in the evening.

Locks on the Academia Bridge (By Kim)

The band in action.

Today we moved on from Milan to Venice. As in the past we took the train however this time we were on a Rail Europe Train rather than a Trenitali, the Italian national train service. EC 37 originated in Geneva, worked its way thru Switzerland and northern Italy ending in Venice. A swift, smooth ride every announcement was made in four languages, Italian, German, French and English. What was interesting was how the name of each stop was pronounced slightly different in each language, sometimes matter of fact, sometimes with a little passion.

We have now taken up residence in Venice at one of our favorite hotels in the world, Hotel Palazzo Stern on the Grand Canal. Kim and I stayed here in 2008 and we managed to get the same room that has a porch overlooking the Grand Canal. We were here in October 2008 while the financial crisis was peaking. Those events seared the trip deep in our memories and we are experiencing major déjà vu feelings being back.

Milano Centrale

Sydney ignoring the Italian country side…

The taxi ride in Venice.

Hotel Palazzo Stern

Sydney on the Accademia Bridge.

Kim & Syd at the Bridge of Sighs

In Piazza San Marco