Sunday & Monday  16 & 17 December 2012

Laura and I arrived on Sunday afternoon to get ourselves in the apartment and situated before the girls were to arrive on Monday.  It all went pretty much without a hitch.  A small 20 Euro “tip” to the parking garage attendant upgraded our spot from on the roof to the second level in a more secure and monitored area.  Not that we were going to be needing the car in Venice for obvious reasons but we felt better about it.  We could also fetch anything from the car more easily this way.

We had a wonderful seafood dinner at a restaurant that specializes in southern Italian cooking styles and we loved it.  I finally got a large helping of mussels which  I had been craving for the past couple of weeks and Laura opted for fresh tuna.  We wandered, which translates to getting “unlost” from the maze of pathways and what one might call streets here in Venice, and then called it a night.  A big day tomorrow with the new arrivals.

Claire and Alessandra are here!!!  We met them at the airport at noon and all went well on their journey across the globe.  Allie was especially hungry and they both thought a nap would be in order before too much serious touring could commence. We sprung for a water taxi back to the apartment instead of the slower and more crowded Vapporetto.  It was a nice ride and we heard all about the plane trip.  Once we got in the apartment and luggage placed it was back outdoors to “feed the beasts.”   We then “unlost” our way over to the Piazza San Marco thus giving the girls a taste of the lay of the land.  I think they were suitably impressed and equally confused about how in the world you figure out how to get someplace without repeated “unlost” moments.

Welcome back to Italy girls! Let the fun begin!

Claire! Allie! Where are youuuuuu????

The neighborhood piazza 100 yards from our door.

I wonder what would happen if somebody showed up in one that was RED!!!?

Sunday evening in Piazza San Marco was very quiet.

They made it back to Italy. Styling in the water taxi.

Along the canal to the apartment. A Venetian high traffic area.

I hope she is not looking for the well that is supposed to be in the piazza according to the map.

Sorry girls wandering with dad entails a few photo stops.

Love locks on a bridge over the Grand Canal.

Shopping has begun.

Quick! Look! The sun is shining!! And, St Marks is looking good all cleaned up since the first time we were here.

Why does anyone want to be a pigeon roosting post?

Sporting one her new trip appropriate early Christmas scarf presents.