Friday

Friday:

One really should slow down when reading signs. I see "ePass" and "fastPass" and "eVisa" and they all register as the same thing. In any case after standing in an ever growing line we took our paperwork to a kiosk and lo and behold it kicked out some tickets sending us to step 2. Now to find a a sign that says "step 2". Yup. There it was between three other long lines. At step two you stick in your ticket and you get your photo snapped and take your returned ticket to step three......  nothing to declare and you're done. Really quite easy. Then off to find the shuttle to the hotel. We were told it would be free but when asked we were advised "there is nothing free in Sydney"

Our shared van to town ran through some university areas before letting us off between King's Cross and Potts Point. It was too early to check in so we dropped our bags and took off for the Botanical garden by way of the naval yard. 

By the time we met my new friend the dragon we were getting pretty exhausted and stopped for a drink where Melanie could not understand anything any Aussie said. Then up the stairs into the Botanical Gardens where we were treated to exquisite plantings, trees, birds, spiders and views. Sorry Amy to mention spiders. 

Alice Ploss posted some wisdom on one of our early posts- when you feel like you are on a ship you know you are tired. So much for our plans to hit Chinatown our first night. Limped home guided by a friendly native (who had no compunctions about sharing his thoughts on our current administration. 

We often joke about having reached the age where we take advantage of the early bird special. But 3:30pm Sydney (which apparently to our bodies was 11:30 the previous evening) was way to early for that. Although the nice folks at the restaurant took pity on us and were kind enough to prepare an early version of that night's special of barramundi on smashed peas - which was spectacular. Hmm suppose I should have taken a photo of that. Also had chunks of potatoes fried n a syrup. Incredibly yummy. 

Across from our hotel was a wonderful organic supermarket. Those of you from Ithaca it's like a green star. We had tons of fun roaming around looking at all the goodies.

 Sorry if my posts are going to be mostly about food. This morning we went out for breakfast and came across a farmers market. It was great fun. I had my first day  Bacon and egg rolls. I expected something like McDonald’s but it was delicious I talked through the man who is cooking  and he compared our president  to what he dropped in the toilet this morning.  His words not mine. Then I came across a man with a black cockatoo to on his shoulder. The cockatoo was a baby. Pretty big baby. David will post pictures later.  I’m having a hard time understanding what people are speaking. We are n the airport  on the way to Karen’s. That’s a 3 1/2 hour flight. In a few days we go to Hobart which is an eight hour flight including the lay over. This is one big country   Temperature is in the low 80s yesterday and today. My body to get used to her in a little bit but I am drinking lots of water

Getting ready

Been a long time since our last post but we’re getting excited to start off on our jaunt to Down Under.  

More Tuesday

So we do a lot of walking, in very narrow places.  And up and down lots of stairs. 

And it was interesting  to see the vaparettos and how houses and business's  dealt with moving products around. 

And Nana thought she'd like her front steps to offer a water option

We have been eating often and well. We're not really inclined to whip out our cameras at every meal but we've been enjoying some incredible food. Melanie is three for three with anchovies for the last three days.  

Tuesday night we ate at al Paradiso

Where we experienced pasta at a whole different level. Venice is great for seafood in general which we have been enjoying. Melanie had a cuttlefish dish with the most incredible polenta. Also ate biscotti which had no relation to the stuff we get in the States. Also the most delicious panna cotta and marscopine cheesecake. Rich stuff 

Tuesday's Venice

Today David did the "hidden tour of the Doge's Palace.  

Besides being the official residence for the the Doge (grand Pooba) it was also the administrative and judicial headquarters with scribes,beaurocrats, judges, secret councils, grand councils, archives dungeons, prison and torture cells and various diplomatic offices.  As far as the scribes, they had to make 3 copies of every note , letter or document. Remember no copy machines. The primary advantage was avoiding the lines (however at 9:00 am there are not many lines) but it was interesting to get a tour on the not so elegant spaces including the cell's of Casanova's inprisonment and to learn more of how the government was structured.  My particular guide left out some advertised items but I got enough to be worthwhile. 

http://www.vivaticket.it/index.php?nvpg%5BfestivalDetail%5D&id=566&wms_op=museiCivici&Language=ENG

The bridge is sighs so named for the sighs of prisoners as they walked over it. 

The place side for the public courts and councils we just incredible. The artwork and architecture truly stunning. But me, being me, the coolest thing was seeing how they engineered the doors so that even with the buildings settling, they didn't get stuck. Of course now I can't find those photos. 

Our hotel

It's a cute little boutique hotel that has the same wallpaper my mom had in my childhood apt bathroom. Cream with red velvet fleur de lis! The bathroom has a jacuzzi but no shower. I'm happy. Today (Tuesday) a bunch of Italian high schoolers asked where the macdonalds was I said I didn't know but the Italian food was better. I had anchovie pizza two lunches in a row tomorrow we leave for Florence by train. There's no cars here so we're getting our exercise. David and I walk separately every afternoon but we both get lost equally. Today no matter which way I walked I ended up back at the Rialto bridge. The weathers perfect. We're walking around without coats or sweaters b

One quick word about back home mom/Barbara is watching Spike. The first day she was giving a glockenspiel lesson and something caught her eye. Spike jumped down to the floor and walked into the lesson  I guess he was wondering where the noise was coming from. 

Monday in Venicia

While we were warned that much was closed on Mondays, we saw little evidence of it.  The history of the place was evident everywhere despite the 21st century retailing. We walked first thing to the Jewish Ghetto. There was an article in the Times a few weeks ago which I am sure hasn't hurt traffic but we were easily able together onto an English language tour.  Within the area Jews were allowed to live so constrained stories were added to buildings for housing, shops and Synogogues. Here are a few shots of the interiors of an Ashkinzik and Sephardic Synogogue.

These first two spaces are above the Jewish Museum area and are not currently "active".  The 400 Jews remaining currently make use of two other buildings (again Ashkenazik and Sephardic).  One in winter because it is heated. The other in summer - just above as it is cooler. 

You can see here the many levels. 

While this area is not currently a residential center for the city's Jews there are a number of Jewish stores, a Kosher deli and a Chabad house. 

Saw some unique glass work.