Must summarize this lovely stretch of time with Mom, Lawren, and Mary the Dog in old Venezia. The best part was getting up in the AM and walking with Mary, seeing the daily life of the city creeping like fingers of light through the calle and the campo. Mom was entranced and got around like a champ. Crossing these dozens of canals is no easy task, not for anyone.

Our last full day, October 19th I think it was, we took the vaporetto to the island of Torcello. A long boat ride, great chance to really feel the lagoon. We went past Murano and Burano, found ourselves in the dreamy lap of the water with the distant buildings like an emerald mirage. Torcello is an awesome, ancient place, silent and calm now though at one time it was a hub of commerce. There is a venerable chiesa with Byzantine mosaic, stone remains of Roman foundations, the Throne of Attila, the more recent ghost of old E. Hemingway, who came out here to hunt.

On the boat ride back to Venice, we are treated to a Baroque sunset, piles of clouds and a smoldering orange which somehow seamelessly blended to bird’s egg blue. It’s the kind of weather event folks cross the ocean for, it’s why you spend an early evening in the Lagoon of Venice. We’re so glad Mom got to see it.