We were running late to the boat, so Tarbell gave a lift to our slowest girl.
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Day 7: FLORENCE/VENICE
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
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We had another relaxing morning since we again were not checking out of the hotel until 11:00 a.m. There was a big Scarpi shoe store near the hotel and a department store close by on the other side, so a few groups took advantage of the extra time to do a little more shopping. By 11, we were on the bus for the 4-hour journey to Venice, including a 1-hour stop for lunch (and more souvenirs!) at a roadside cafeteria.
When we got near Venice, we headed for Tronchetto to board a ferry boat which would take us to the main island where Venice is located. On the island, there are few if any vehicles, just pedestrians and water taxis and gondolas, so for once we didn't have to worry about the girls getting run over! We walked along the waterfront past endless souvenirs stands, surrounded by the sounds of birds squawking, American and Japanese and Italian tourists chattering, gondoliers and souvenir sellers calling, boats banging against the docks--but it was wonderful! The sun was warm, the breeze was refreshing, and we had all afternoon to explore Venice.
We started by going to the Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square), the main plaza of Venice with the huge Doge's Palace and the ornate Basilica with its tall campanile (bell tower) at one end. Music was playing and tourists were feeding the flocks of pigeons while people in the open-air cafes watched and laughed as the pigeons hungrily landed on the bird food and anyone holding it. Marie-Agnès led us on through the piazza to a small street/alley that led to a Venetian glassware shop, where the girls were treated to a demonstration of how glass is fired and shaped into artistic and useful forms. In return, the choir sang Chattanooga Choo-Choo for the glassblowers, who seemed to enjoy the singing immensely. Then Fabio, the owner, asked a trick question which one girl, Alex M-L, answered correctly, so he rewarded her with a free glass horse. She was so excited! After the demonstration, the group of course had the opportunity to buy Venetian glassware at a discount. The hard part was deciding which special piece to buy!
After the glassware shop, each group had time to visit the nearby lace maker, or just shop a bit, or eat a little lunch, or just grab a snack of Italian gelato (ice cream). It was just the relaxing kind of day we all needed. At the end of the afternoon, we took another boat back to the mainland and got on our tour bus for the half-hour trip out to our hotel in Monastier. We settled into our very nice rooms and then regrouped for dinner in the hotel dining room. Dinner was excellent, with a very tasty pasta soup followed by some of the best salmon ever.
Tonight was a special night of the tour: Skit Night! It's a tradition every year for the seniors to put on a skit for the group and to present awards to the younger girls. Since Sarah Cate is the only senior this year, she enlisted the help of the girls who will be seniors this fall. Everyone laughed hysterically as Sarah Cate led the other girls around while doing a dead-on impression of our Rome tour guide, Andrea: "Girls, 'allo! 'allo! Follow me thees way! You must stay close!" We were also treated to an impression of "St. Paul," our monotone guide from Siena, and of course quick ones of Tarbell and of LuAnn. After a few more short but funny skits, it was time for awards, and the one which probably got the loudest applause was the one given to Ariel's grandmother Phyllis: the "Little Engine That Could" award, for perservering without complaining in spite of her very sore knee. While the finale was being prepared, some of the younger girls provided some singing entertainment : Megan and Jesse did an... interesting... song about a striped sweater, and we all thought Rebekah was shy until we saw her do "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend"!! And then came the grand finale--Michael Holden emerged wearing one of the Girls Choir concert dresses! Such a stunning figure, and the mustache added the perfect touch.
Many felt that today was the best day yet, and we all went off to our rooms happy and tired. One more day in Venice and one more concert, then tomorrow night we travel to Milan airport for the flight home!
We were running late to the boat, so Tarbell gave a lift to our slowest girl.
The boat ride to Venice gave a great view of buildings right on the waterfront.
Ariel and Megan are ready for a day in Venice!
(What's the Eiffel Tower doing in the background?)
The girls watched the glassblower heat the glass until it was soft enough to shape.
The choir sang Chattanooga Choo-Choo for the glassblowers in Venice.
(That's Fabio, the owner, sitting among the girls!)
"I won! I won this awesome Venetian glass horse!"
One more chance to buy some souvenirs for the folks back home.
A proud dad and his very special senior.
Senior Sarah Cate recruited next year's rising seniors to help with Skit Night.
Sarah Cate seems a bit surprised to receive her own award from Sally.
We appear to have a lovely new member of the tour choir!
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