Sunday was Easter and luckily, the Easter bunny knew just where to find us. The kids woke up to easter bags full of goodies to enjoy during our trip including chalk and bubbles and eggs scattered around the hotel room. And bunny ears. 
Luckily most places were still open on Easter Sunday so we headed out to explore the Dosoduro and San Croce areas of Venice. Unfortunately it was still raining.
Our walk took us over the Ponte dell'Accademia, one of only three bridges that cross the grand canal. 
We usually avoid art museums on our travels figuring the kids would be bored and J & I would spend most of the time trying to keep them contained but I made an exception this time to visit the Peggy Guggenheim museum. Her collection is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, a mansion that sits on the grand canal.
Most of the pieces were from Peggy Guggenheim's private collection and in every room there were black & white photographs of her home and how the artwork was displayed. Not a great picture but the silver Alexander Calder 'under the sea' sculpture on the wall was used as a headboard in her bedroom. What a way to live!
C was actually interested in looking at some of the art and discussing what she saw.
After the museum we searched for some gelato (yes, good behavior bribery at the museum was involved). Throughout the entire trip K did not waver from choosing strawberry ice cream. I guess he takes after Grandpa Corky. C on the other hand would choose whatever flavor looked good through the window. The kids were good about sharing their cones with one another - one lick for you, one lick for me. Unfortunately on this occasion, most of c's ice cream ended up on the ground. K was a good sport and let C share his cone.
With our cones we walked along the canals, past the Gondola service area. Or as K would call it the "pirate boats". No matter how many times we corrected him during the trip, he still chose to call them pirate boats.
The walk was quaint and scenic, and two musicians playing in the street was the icing on the cake. Both kids stopped to listen and did not want to leave. 
Campo Santa Margherita...more pigeon chasing. 
My brother had given me a recommendation for lunch nearby but by this time the kids had reached a tired and cranky phase so we chose to eat across the street instead at a place that looked a little more casual. We split two pizzas - one margherita and one with salami. Decent enough pizza, like a slice from NYC, but still not a 'wow'. Back in London, the kids don't actually eat pizza (blows my mind, what kids don't like pizza??!!?) so we were a little nervous about eating in Italy. But C quickly warmed to pizza eating. K was still a bit finicky and would eat it only if he was super hungry and there was nothing else. In this case, he ate a few bites of the crust and then fell asleep at the table.
After lunch we were finally greeted with some sunshine. Yay! We walked to the start of the Vaparetto line at Piazalli Roma to take a nice, long boat ride back to the hotel. On the way, we stopped at a playground in Giardino Papadopoli. The kids played here for over two hours - a nice break and change of pace for all of us and a good way to enjoy the sunshine.
Late in the afternoon, we finally made it to the vaparetto stop. Once on board, the kids quickly fell asleep and I managed to take a few photos along the canal from the boat. Photos really don't do this city justice.
J chose the night's restaurant - La Feluca. Bunnies heading out for dinner.
I ordered the special - a seafood pasta that arrived in a display shell. It was a good meal and by the time we left there was a line out the door. J stayed at the restaurant to enjoy a cup of capuccino while I took the kids back to the hotel.
Overall, a memorable way to spend Easter. Or as they say in Italy, Buona Pasqua!
Is it too late to be adopted by you and J? :) Love the bunny ears.
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