Nutello, A Nutcracker, Ciao Venice, And A Slice Of Bologna

Thursday & Friday Morning 20& 21 December 2012

Thursday was the end of our stay in Venice. Early in the morning we walked across the Academia Bridge into the Dorsoduro portion of Venice on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from where we had spent most of our time. This is a quiet part of town with broad walkways and inviting piazzas. Our goal was the imposing church of Santa Maria della Salute which stands on the edge of the canal and overlooks the entry of the waterway. As we entered one of the piazzas along the way we were surprised by tightrope walking mime performer who was very cute and had attracted a small group of admirers. We watched for a bit and made a donation to her tip jar before continuing.

The church was rather simply decorated inside but the interlocking pattern of stone in the floor and the octagonal shape was quite different from what most of the churches have been. After a short visit we wound our way back to the apartment since the day was quite cool and damp and rested for our last night in Venice.

Thursday evening was pure magic. While we were on our guided tour the previous day we went past the Venice Opera House and saw posters advertising the Nutcracker Ballet. We decide that we would try to attend if tickets were available. It turned out to be a wonderful evening in an absolutely beautiful opera house. We were able to buy two separate pair of tickets and traded seats at intermission so we could sit with both girls. The building has a long history but little of the original structure remains due to a few fires but has been rebuilt in its original style. The seating is only 1100 so it is quite intimate and the production was beautiful.

We got up early on Friday and had ourselves packed up with the plan of catching the 9:30 Vapporetto boat to the parking garage where the car was stored. Keep in mind this entails hauling ALL the luggage through the streets and over the small bridge to the dock. At 5 minutes before nine I tossed out the challenge that we could make the 9:00 boat and get the show on the road early. We made it by about 10 seconds. Literally walked up to the stop with suitcases clacking away behind us, got on, and the boat took off. Timing is everything.

We arrived in Bologna, made our way into the center of town and I eventually found a parking spot while Laura took the girls to show them the town and got a head start. It was a quite drippy day but our spirits were good and we had a fine time.

A morning Nutello crepe to start the day!! It has to be a good day after that.

She was really quite entertaining.

It may not be very high but the stone beneath her is quite hard.

This is a very peaceful and quiet part of the city away from the bustle of the busy shopping and major tourist areas.

Santa Maria della Salute exterior.

The main altar.

If it had not been quite so cool we would have wandered more.

I missed the shot of the U.P.S. boat but everything moves by water in Venice.

This is an iPhone panorama shot of the Venice Opera House interior. Click on it to enlarge so you can see just how beautiful it is.

And if you have big bucks you can sit in the Royal Box.

I’ll get this. You get that. And we will share the other stuff! Checking out the menu for dinner after the ballet.

By the time we got to Bologna with the girls it was drizzling pretty good. We did get some shopping in and a quick lunch before getting back in the car and making our way to Florence.