Caffé Florian

Bill and I thought it might be fun to put up some of our older pictures -- pictures of extreme happiness.

In the photo above, I'm standing on the dock out back of the Ca'Rezzonico on the Grand Canal. Bill took the lower picture from the third floor of the same building.

Below find the beloved Piazza San Marco

Magical in all weathers.

Our friends, Rob and Theresa, took Bill and John for hot chocolate at Caffé Florian.

We chose to sit inside the famous, 18th century establishment. It was for my birthday. Look at these lovely's comfortably ensconced.

The service is great because it is almost invisible.

You order something and then, somehow, it's just there in front of you,

and you're carrying on talking about how wonderful it is to be in Venice.

Rob fell into chatting in French with the Parisians at the next table. They'd had lunch and were chilling, enjoying the antics at our table. They had suggestions for interesting cafes and restaurants in Paris, Rob and Theresa's next stop.

It was a very comfortable place to spend time -- no sense of being rushed.

Thank you, Rob and Theresa! It was a perfect gift!