At some point, it will get better...Venice Day 2 ~ Neil, Jess and the Hot Mess 2025

Venice Day 2

First, I'd like to go back to yesterday. Despite the late day fighting, I have to say they were really good on the plane - and for the most part before the nudging started. Isla and Malcolm actually shared a seat when Jess was not feeling great on the plane - and everyone did their thing with little to no issues of any kind.

Now, day 2 in Venice...

Jess and I started getting up around 7 and then lay around for a while before we started moving. I slept fairly well - though my watch says otherwise. I do know that I did wake up around 1:40 and had to go downstairs to use the one bathroom - the stairs are mad noisy. Neil moved once but otherwise everyone seemed good.

When we came down to start getting ready, everyone was still sleeping.

Look, no fighting - though, Malcolm alleges he was kung-fu hit by her during the night.

We managed to get everyone up and moving so that we could head out to get some pastries and get to the basilica for our 9:30 appointment - everything is an appointment since Covid apparently. Isla said she wasn't feeling good and her stomach bothered her and that she might throw up. While I thought this was just attention, she had the same issue happen when they went to Wales - so we don't know if it is some kind of motion thing, jet lag...not sure. We made out way over the Rialto and to the market - they were getting ready for the day and the fish were being delivered. I wish we had more time to explore and look at stuff but we did not. Also, non one liked the smell (it wasn't that bad).

We grabbed pastries and coffee and ate before we got ready to head to San Marco. If that face doesn't say I don't feel good - even with the powdered sugar all over it, nothing will. We made out way quickly through the streets and they were not too crowded. If you come - I strongly suggest getting up early and seeing things before the crowds start - it is a very different experience and it is much more enjoyable.

We got to the plaza and waited on the line to get in. Aside from the dirtbag smoking behind us, it wasn't too bad. Isla complained a bit more, but we pushed her on to continue to get to see the church. We got about a quarter of the way through before she started to really complain that she was going to throw up...and then she started a little right dead center of the church. Jess took her out and the boys and I continued the tour of the church and then up to the museum where you can go outside on the top, see the horses and see a bunch of stuff that they have preserved or replaced over time. You are also able to walk in the top areas of the church. For some reason my phone was too stupid to save a horizontal panoramic I took from the dead center of the church from top to bottom - it's a shame really because it was such a good shot.

While we were up top, we realized that Jess did not take any phone or water with her and Isla. When we finished the tour we came out to find them and thankfully we did as the square was starting to get busy for the day.

Now, if I have this correct, Isla threw up in a bag the church as they were trying to leave. They got a secret tour of places where the priest get ready (not sure if it was the actual sacristy) and in the way back to some hidden bathroom. They say at the steps to wait for us and someone there gave them some garbage bags. When we go out we found them, and Isla got sick again. Neil wanted to continue walking around and Duncan was happy to come back because he is lazy. I took Isla and headed back so that Jess could walk through the city with the boys. That, dear reader, will give me some time to go through the pictures from my good camera for your viewing pleasure - enjoy.

View from our room...

From the Rialto.

Near the market.

Random Canal

Headed towards St. Mark's

Basilica Shots:

These bronze horses were stolen multiple times and stolent back.

Hobbit Door.

Judas Kiss.

Last Supper

Malcolm.

Still no fighting because they are separate.

Views from the top:

Isla and I are sitting here and she is on her ipad. I got the laundry up on the drying rack and washed the dishes. Neil and Malcolm just got back and Jess is downstairs with Duncan while he finishes his ice cream.

Neil has to come in and immediately state that they got it and it was better than yesterday. At least Malcolm asked he if she was feeling better - he was concerned about her on the tour right up until she started yelling at us for taking too long...

Jess did a short tour of the square and made a few other stops with the boys.

We decided that once they got back and the junkies jumped on their iPads, they had a short amount of time and then it was nap time. Boy did I take advantage of that! No one wanted to share the bed with Isla - in case she was sick, so they shacked up all three in one.

When I got up there was pizza waiting that Jess and Malcolm ran out to get for lunch.

There was some more iPad time - Isla feeling better and then getting things ready for our departure tomorrow. We decided that we would do a walk to a few spots Jess researched. Once everyone was ready to go, we were on our way.

However, before that, Jess shared with me her thievery story while Isla was sick at the basilica. We have this tiny roll of travel toilet paper which has been with us since our first trip in 2005. It has come everywhere with us. It is here. Today, Jess took a roll from the basilica in case Isla got sick again and needed it. She stole from the Pope. I should have reported her and made her run to Il Gobodo.

We found Isla's store...

We probably got half an hour to 45 minutes into the trip when Malcolm decided that he needed to poop. The others and I sat and waited. Jess called for us to come around to the other side of the church we were sitting by because she bought a cookie so he could use the can. That was at like 6:10.

While we think he is just taking a large poo - about 15 minutes later I get a text saying that he is on the floor in stomach pain - and that has changed to the big D. A few minutes more and he barfing. What the actual fuck?

So if you know someone else who is also reading this, you guys should take bets on who is next to drop. We headed back to get him home and then everyone relaxed for a bit. He took another trip to the can and while he was recovering, Jess and I split on our own to go for a walk and get some food. She grabbed a poke bowl and I grabbed more pizza for Isla and me. Neil and Duncan ate some left overs in exchange for a second round of ice cream. After we ate and checking in with Malcolm, who said he was good, we headed back out for ice cream. Of course, he felt good enough for some ice cream.

We walked for a bit and then headed out for a much longer stroll - it ended up being around an hour and in the Canaregio, the old and residential section that we were originally going to stay in. There was more walking, more fighting and some complaining, though a few, this is beautiful came out of Duncan.