We never did see the famous blinds

We're still working on this jet lag thing. We've done pretty well with getting hungry around meal times and getting to bed generally around a reasonable bed time. But this morning we set the alarm for 6:30 – with me planning to sleep in an extra 45 minutes – but both mom and I were awake in the 5am hour. Mom was excited she is already on her normal wake-up schedule. I am wondering if this trip will ever find me sleeping in until my normal 8ish.

So the good news with the unexpected gift of time is the opportunity to blow-dry the sweater I washed in the sink last night, as well as the certainty that I won't miss our hotel's buffet breakfast like I did yesterday. Mom was able to partake of the – I kid you not - $75 per person spread included in our package. I, on the other hand, was thrilled to find a little baguette with salami in a nearby Snack Bar and munched as we made our way to a boat to head to Murano Island.

Given our limited time and jet-lagged energy, Mom and I are pleased with our touring of Venice. Prior visitors will be horrified to learn we did not go into any museums or palaces or bell towers. No, instead we just walked, meandered, and strolled all around the island, keeping utter disorientation to a minimum with the use of a much better map than when we arrived.

We did some shopping on the Rialto Bridge, including replacing the sunglasses I dropped in the water as I was being helped out of a water taxi in Murano. Marco - the boat helper outer - and I just watched helplessly as my non-prescription specs disappeared into the murky greenness. I asked if there might be a way to retrieve them with a net or something – they being the most expensive pair I've managed not to lose in 4 years. But, no, no nets were to be found and anyway, as Marco explained, fishing them out might also produce a rat or two. Upon hearing his highly entertaining tale of seeing rats fighting in the alleyways of Murano, complete with his imitation of hissing, claws, and sharp teeth, I decided having to purchase some cheap chic European sunglasses might not be so bad.

We capped off our last day in Venice with dinner at a Self-Service restaurant. I picked up a plate of penne, spaghetti, and pesto fettuccine along with a salad, a dense chocolate dessert, and some vino rosso on tap in a small carafe. We sat outside in an alley and were serenaded by the busser every time he wandered by. It was much more lovely than the prior meals we had in more traditional restaurants. We had one guy tell us twice how to leave him a tip despite the servizio incluso (tip included) clearly printed on the menu. He then lurked impatiently behind us with fresh place mats and silverware and reset the table as I grabbed my purse and pushed my chair in. A later meal had a waitress literally pounding the table with her hand on top of the bill she produced, demanding that we pay now and leave. As rude as it was, she probably thought we were ruder to ignore her and continue our lively conversation with the Australian couple sitting next to us.

Realizing we might not see a gelateria again for a week or two, Mom and I snagged our second helping of the day as we wandered into St. Mark's Square last night to listen to the evening concerts. While sharing a scoop of Tiramisu and Pistachio, we stood in the cozily lit nighttime plaza and listened to two different mini-orchestras play a medley from The Sound of Music. Aside from the fact that I was with my mother, it was an undeniably romantic setting.

So this morning, after our incomprehensibly priced breakfast of fruit and muesli, we will be transferred to our cruise ship. We can't wait to be able to unpack our four suitcases and get settled in for 12 days of Mediterranean ports. For whatever reason, we board today but don't leave port until tomorrow morning. Hopefully that will give me plenty of time to figure out how to get over-priced Internet access. It's gotta be cheaper than toast!

Photo score: Toni = 100; Mom = 232

(And by the way, all dates and posting times are local to me, not Woodhaven)