San Marco

A lot has happened since cavorting in the realm of Mad King Ludwig II.

Visit to Oberammergau, the site of the famous, every-ten-years Passion Play that has been going on for a long time, the result of a promise to God made by the townspeople when they were spared the ravaging effects of the Plague. Quiet and quaint this time of year. Had dinner at a restaurant owned by a local who, some years back now, was a famous magician in Las Vegas. He was great! Walked to the restaurant in the rain. God thoroughly soaked. Walk back to the Gasthof was dry.

Cut through Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Innsbruck on the way to Salzburg, the home of Mozart. Got to Salzburg, couldn't find our way around to a place to stay, but did drive by Mozart's home and birthplace. Moved on south to Kuchl, a small town with a great view of the Alps.

Got word the next morning that Jan's dad had died. Tears. What to do? After prayer, we were content to continue this journey, which was being done in honor of Jan's dad anyway. We could hear him scolding us if we came back to U.S. Memorial Mass for Pepere on June 27.

The Alps in Austria were awesome, meaning they struck awe in Jan and me throughout two days. Spent two days and nights in Austria. Alps and Alps and Alps. Saw a glacier. Took hundreds of photos. Saw a waterfall that was probably a half mile long. With a lot of water cascading down the mountainside. Spent 28 euros to drive the road. Worth every European cent!

Finally arrived in Venice, after getting that old (new) Mercedes humming and up to 100 mph on the Autobahn. Had to do it once. Jan didn't even get nervous! Smooth.

Venice is a walking-only city, unless you want to take a water taxi, water bus, or a gondola. Bridges and canals all over the place. The streets, if you can call them that, are narrow, sometimes only two people wide. Everything is brought into the city via water and handcart. Labor-intensive.

Viewed the tomb of Mark the Evangelist, the writer of the gospel of Mark, in the church of San Marco. I'm reading Mark in my devotions right now, a coincidence--or not. I was moved, to be so close to the remains of one of Jesus' eyewitnesses. Holy moment.

Mark is symbolized by a lion (looking much like Aslan in the Narnia movies!) with one paw resting on a book/Bible. You see many of those representations throughout Venice.

Visited the palace of the Doges, who were the representative rulers of Venice for hundreds of years. Ceremonial primarily. Held prisoner, in a way, in the palace, because he was not allowed to leave without permission or chaperones, and even then not very far and for not very long. Other than living in the palace, which also had all of the government rooms and a couple of prisons in the building(s)--all attached, it was a prestigious job for those who liked to stick close to home.

Off to Balzano, Italy, today, to see the Iceman, and then on north through Innsbruck and into Germany. Hope to get to Munich, but that might be a stretch.

Jan has shed her tears, as have both of us. The shock of Mr. D's death is still fresh. We will limp along through the final days of this trip, knowing that he is at rest. Thanks for prayers and kind thoughts.