Today is our last day here.  We enjoyed a cappuccino at our favorite neighborhood caffe’.  We started each morning there and got acquainted with some of the people who work there.  Because it has rained all day, we haven’t really been able to be out and about much.  We did take our last vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal for one final look at Venice.  Mondays seem to be one of the busiest days here, add the rain and everyplace is more than crowded.  But the beauty of Venice remains.

We got off the traghetto at the busy San Marco square area.  We had seen the high water or aqua alta before.  Or at least we thought we had.  Today, the rain and the crowds necessitated quite a round -a- bout route to get where we wanted to go.  Shops were closed and shop owners were putting up their metal barriers to prevent water from coming in.  We saw one gelatto shop, open for business, but with about 6 inches of water standing in it.  Needless to say, they didn’t have any customers.

I can’t imagine dealing with this as a business owner.  

We’ve had a wonderful trip.  I tend to think that things happen for a reason.  Today’s rain was probably to make it a little easier for us to say good bye to Venice.  One of the things I learned today on our boat trip is that the statue on top of the San Simeone Piccolo church, St. Simeon, waves ciao to whoever enters or leaves the city.  We say ciao Venice!  Thanks for welcoming us on such a wonderful adventure!