Do You Know What Day It Is? July 7th

We get an esrly start on what will be a long day. Check out of hotel, drive a bit, and stop for breakfast. As in the USA, places along the major freeways are franchised. This one happens to be a McDonalds. But being Europe they have pastries and stong coffee.  Which is what we get. Since I don't eat in McDonalds at home I don't  know  prices. Do egg McMuffin sandwiches really cost $5.00?

View from McDonalds

Venice outskirts by 11:30. Looks like lunch in Venice. Well not quite. El Cheapo parking lot is not where GPS says it is. Drive for almost an hour and uding iPhone msps find it. Or one like it. Since you cant drive in Venice, csr psrking can be expensive. €21 a day. The one I found was €4.00.
Bag schlepping time. On to bus. Off bus. On to water taxi. Off water taxi. Down Venice alleys. Up over stairs bridging canals. Etc etc etc. Did I mention it is 97 degrees and humid. But we find our Air B&B place for the next two days. Up four flights of stairs, into s room with a shower but nothing else. Basically a room in this persons house. And no AC and small fan "I don't  like air conditioning" to quote her. We won't last in this heat.
We will be in Venice for four nights. Two here and two in Jack and Carolyns Hotel on St Marks Piazza. I call the hotel to see if we could get our rooms two days early. Yes for tomorrow night, but sold out for tonight. Only a single room left. I ask if both of us can stay in the single. She asks her boss and yes it can be arranged. So we are off with our suitcsse to find this air conditioned palace. We do and boy is it worth it. Not only for the AC, but we are now where Jack and Carolyn are. Quick showers and off to the bar to meet them.

Jack and Carolyn. 

Taxis outside our hotel. 

How nice to see old friends. Not only are Jack and Carolyn sailing buddies, but we have been all over Europe together. On barges in France and Holland. And Portugal, Spain and of course that Paris Trip. Now we are with them in Venice.
We move to a bar down the canal and do some catching up. Back to the hotel to rest. At least for Mary Ann and Jack. I knew Venice has a tower so I want to climb it. Carolyn is joining me. We get to the base and it is an elevator to the top. That was easy. Great views and a magnificent breeze which is very much appreciated today.

 St Marks from the tower. 

  Venice means water. 

Venice. 

 Venice. 

At the Base of the Tower. 

Dinner at a seafood house just around the corner from the hotel. Another few hours of good conversation and then home to an air conditioned bedroom.

 Our room. Stairs lead no where. They converted stairway into a room.

 Small but air conditioned. 

Lady who also has a birthday on July 7th at our restaurant.