With a heavy rain falling, we arrived in Venice by train and took the vaporetto (water bus) to our home-for-a-week in Accademia. The water of the canal is a cool green and jammed with boats. Elijah and Natasha begin counting gondolas, but lose interest after reaching over 100 in the few minutes it takes to get to our stop on the Grand Canal. After a really good gelato at Nicco's, we meet Connie and William at the bridge. Then it's pizza (what else!) as we await Steve.
It's night and Joel and I take the three kids for a walk through the city in the rain. Elijah and Natasha are so happy to be with William. They stomp their way through the puddles to Piazzo San Marco, where we count the lion statutes. Arm-in-arm, the three wet, tired, and happy kids wind their way home and, eventually, to sleep. -- MaryAnne
