Venice Day 4

We all went to Rialto fish market first thing in the morning. I was thrilled because I had wanted shop there since early trips to Venice. The plan was to buy mussels but I couldn't resist a gorgeous Branzino (sea bass) for 18 euro. When you order branzino (or orate) in a restaurant, it can easily be two to three times that. We also bought five kilos of mussels for 15 Euro. It was probably too much, but we couldn't resist.

Around noon, we went with the two older girls and John to the Accademia. We kept it efficient and pointed out the main pieces:

Bellini Sacred Conversation

La Vecchia by Giorgione

Feast in the house of Levi


Alison had decided not to test Julia with the museum and took her instead to get the mask she had been craving. She also purchased mask kits for each of the girls.

Miss Julie was very happy.

The museum goers went to Campo St. Margarita where we bought gelato at Il Doge, our favorite gelato place.

After a very long, hot walk back to the apartment, we took a siesta and then began the preparations for food. I cooked the fish ahead of time and then Alison and John began the monumental task of de-bearding the mussels. And those five kilos? (11 lbs). Not too much for this clan!

What 11 pounds of mussels looks like

Dinner in the giardino of the apartment

After dinner (and clean up) we walked to the Accademia to negotiate with the gondolier. He was very simpatico, but couldn't take 7 in the gondola (6 is the max) so La Nonna e Lo Nonno (Nana and Granddad) enjoyed an Aperol spritz while we waited for them.

Accademia bridge

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