From Florence to Venice

Today we moved house, going north by train very easily to the lagoon, the grand canal, the old stone walls and twists and bridges and muddy dark canals, sprinkled with sparkling lights and huge ornate facades. Venice. We got lost right away, and stumbled into sunset, a music museum, a man husking artichokes in a boat, a Christmas market, and a thousand dark narrow watery streets. We found ourselves in a cozy secluded restaurant where they served cuttlefish and cabbage-purple clams with ginger. Now home by our Christmas tree-on-the-road, kindly installed by our Air BB hosts. We are Christmas-lonely, but Road-happy.

I should mention the great tour of Florence yesterday with Adriana, who told us a LOT about Giotto, Botticelli, Philipo Lippi, the Medicis, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, and Panini. My favorite thing was a Brunelleschi street performer, who gave me a silent blessing.