Ski/Road Trip: Verona to Venice/Days 9-10

    Sunday was our last day in Verona.  We drove up to see some Roman ruins near the town of Sirmione, which is on the tip of a peninsula on Italy's largest lake.  Many locals were out and about, walking around Sirmione.  Italians sure dress nice -- wow. 

     We were slightly embarrassed but, hey, we're on a road trip so the the cashmere and silk had to stay at home.

      Here are a few photos from Sunday:

Sirmione

Sirmione

Roman Ruins- a villa surrounded by the lake

Roman Ruins

Roman Ruins

Roman Ruins

Lunch

Fair Maiden of the East Wind

Ed's Lunch

Averil's Lunch

Gellato -- Take THAT Baskin-Robbins!

Cones

Cards in Evening

       The next morning was Monday.  We were going to Venice!  But we were slightly delayed.  One of our children, who shall remain nameless, thought it would be fun to put a coin part way into the keyhole of our room door.  Naturally, the coin slipped all the way inside and jammed the lock.  The child confessed.  We went downstairs to have breakfast and tell the manager, keeping the door OPEN so that we could get back into the room.  Then the child who inserted the coin, being the last one out, closed the door.  So, now we were locked out and locked in was our dog and all our stuff.  We told the manager.  They were nice.  They said they would call the Italian locksmith and it would take an hour.  Ed found a ladder and climbed into this bathroom window:

Later, the Italian locksmith came.  The hotel was nice.  They didn't fuss or charge us.  Will the child who shall remain nameless learn his lesson?  We hope so.  He was pretty upset. 

     Then it was time to go to Venice.  We drove in the direction of Venice.  It was only about an hour away.  Then we crossed a causeway and parked our car outside of the city, where it will remain for three days.  Then we took a ferry into the city.  We were dropped off by the ferry at St. Mark's square.  We carried our luggage to the hotel through masses of pigeons.  It's a great room.  Then we walked around for a couple of hours.  WOW!  HOLY SMOKES!  IS THIS A REAL PLACE???

Boarding Foot Ferry (With Dog Bed)

Taking Ferry into Venice

Ferry Rider

Our Hotel

Canal Litter

St. Marks

Pigeon Tamers

     As we were getting back towards our hotel, Ford noticed that we were being followed by a secret Italian agent!!!  We ducked into an alley and lost him -- but not before I took this picture of him: