Off to Rome

Our train didn't leave until 11:15 so we took a walk to St. Zaccaria which wasn't open yesterday when we were there. It seems these churches in Italy are open from 10-12 and then from 4:00-6:00, sometimes later. I really wanted to see the Bellini; you know,  this one:

I think it's called Sacred Conversation

And here's the church:

As reported yesterday, we hired a private taxi to get to the train station, just so we would feel important, but also because the Venice squares are packed in the mornings with tour groups so dragging suitcases through the crowds can be tedious. Also, not every hotel has its own private dock so we decided to use it. If we had made 12 friends, they could have joined us in this huge taxi. It was interesting to watch how the gondolas and taxis managed to wait for or go around each other in the narrow canals. And so we had our last trip on the Grand Canal.

And then the trouble began. Once we got to the dock at the train station, a man who we thought was just helping us out of the boat, grabbed our suitcases and put them on a cart and took off for the airport. Both of us have light suitcases and even if they weren't, they roll so we don't need any help. We were so dumbfounded that neither of us said "STOP!" but we just followed him into the station. We started to tip him a couple of euros, but he said the price is 10 euros. We tried to give him a 20 but of course, he claimed to have no change. Quite a scam although he did give us a receipt--really, it said "Scam--10 Euros."

The train to Rome took about 3 and a half hours. The locale of the apartment is reminiscent of the apartment we rented in Paris.  Huge wooden doors that lead to a courtyard. There are about 8 keys on the keyring so it took the host awhile to explain what each one is for. There are two to get into the courtyard and 3 for the two doors of the apartment. There are also keys to lock the bathrooms (yes, there are 2) and the laundry room if you so choose. Of course, you have to turn each key about 3 times in the locks

Outside the apartment complex is a pedestrian street but just a block away is a street that seems like it should be for pedestrians only but is crowded with cars, motorcycles, bikes and people hanging outside of the bars and restaurants (The Irish pub is packed for St. Patrick's Day). If we never left that street, we would have everything we need--a small grocery, pastry shops, a few hundred pizzerias and gelato shops. We had some tasty carbonara at a cute restaurant where you can eat outside because they provide heaters, like civilized folk. Plus, the house wine is always great.

We are very close to Navona Square which we plan to walk to tomorrow, I hear there's a  shop there that serves the best chocolate truffle gelato.in Rome.