Day 18: Lido Island and Tim's Birthday

We enjoyed our trip to Murano Island so much that we decided to do some more island hopping today. We took the vaporetto again, this time to Lido Island. Lido is actually a large sandbar, one of the barrier islands that protected Venice from invasion by sea. The Venice lagoon was always difficult to enter because of these sandbars, so Venetians never was forced to build fortress-type walls for protection. They simply had to guard the few narrow passages through these barrier islands from the Adriatic to their lagoon

In later more peaceful years, Lido became the beach retreat for Venetians, and a place where many wealthy Italians and Europeans built vacation homes. The beach is very long with soft powdery brown sand. The Adriatic is about the same color and temperature as our own Pacific Ocean in Manuel Antonio.

Yes, I have sunscreen on.

Two of the lovely old palazzos we found on Lido.

After a day at the beach, it is time to celebrate Tim's birthday. We chose Ristorante A La Vecia Cavana, a charming small restaurant we found on our wandering in the Jewish Quarter in Venice. Vecia Cavana claims to have "authentic Venetian food," so we decided to find out.

Lovely, classical interior of A La Vecia Cavana.

Our waiter was helpful but not pushy. In fact, he steered us away from more expensive wine choices to this fine locally produced Valpolicella.

Tim is one year older today!

We opted for the "authentic Venetian" experience: Baked Turbot Veneziana. Turbot baked with olives, tomatoes, and potatoes filleted table-side by our waiter.

Don't forget the sauce!

Prego! Lovely presentation and delicious. The best food we found in Venice.

And after dinner, of course a gondola ride on the Grand Canal at night with a bottle of Prosecco.

Our gondolier. He mostly talked, but didn't sing "O Sole Mio."

Last night in Venice and the end of our Italian vacation. Happy Birthday, Tim!