Jen and Rebecca Row, Row, Row a Boat

The centerpiece of our visit to Venice was our gondolier rowing lesson scheduled for this morning.  After we let the apartment owner and the gas man into our lodgings to install a new gas meter, we set off to find our meeting point.  It was on a quiet canal near the edge of Venice – a perfect spot to learn.  Jane, our Australian rowing teacher, took up rowing as a hobby shortly after moving to Italy 23 years ago after she married a Venetian.  After a brief lesson at the dock, we set off down the canal.  Rebecca took the first turn and was a natural at it.  Jen over-thought everything (surprise!) and didn’t do nearly as well, but she managed to keep the boat moving!  Anna did really well too, but she had the luck (?) of rowing us through the shipping channel so that we could practice steering in the lagoon. 

Jen guiding us down a canal.

The real fun came as we became “real” gondoliers our in the lagoon, getting up on the back of the boat and rowing just like the guys in the stripey shirts in the touristy sections of the city.  All of us managed to row us in a straight line without going in circles, which we consider an accomplishment.  Jen probably won’t be moving to Venice any time soon to become a competitive rower like our instructor, but we all had a good time learning a traditional Venetian craft.  It was also a nice way to get to ride through the side canals with someone else rowing you instead of paying the exorbitant fees to hire a gondola.

Rebecca as a gondolier out on the lagoon.

After our lessons and a quick lunch at a sidewalk café, we headed back to do the more traditional touristy things. But first, we found a shop that filled a 1.5 liter water bottle full of Pinot Grigio for us for 3.5 Euros. Delicious bargain!  And just what the locals do. Our last night in Venice evening entertainment was secured!

It looks like water, but really it's wine!

We made our way down the Grand Canal in a Vaporetto during daylight this time, and ended up at the Doge’s Palace where we wandered through the elaborate rooms as well as the jail, over the Bridge of Sighs, so named for the sighs made by prisoners as they caught a glimpse of the canal for the last time for the duration of their sentence.  We were pretty impressed by the awe-inspiring art in the rooms, and we were excited to find ourselves in the palace hall, which is the largest room in Europe.

Fancy Doge's Palace

Jen is obsessed with seeing churches, so after we finished our tour of the palace and a quick trip to the purse store, we set off for a church on the other side of the canal.  Sadly, it was already closed for the day.  But we roll with the punches, so we hopped back on the Vaporetto to find a spot to watch the sunset over the city.  We sat at the edge of the canal for about 30 minutes as we watched the sun slowly set.  It was well worth the wait.

Salute was closed, but still pretty on the outside.

Sun setting on Venice, and our vacation.

We headed back to our neighborhood in the Canareggio for dinner.  It may have been one of the best that we’ve had in Italy so far.  Pizza and pasta all around!  We had a round of limoncello and some cheesecake before going home to pack for the flights home tomorrow. We packed while starting in our 1.5 liters of Pinot, and finishing off our wheel of truffle cheese.  Thanks for the good times, Venice.

Keep your fingers crossed that we all see our luggage again!