Tonight Vinicio made us some homemade vegetable soup for dinner. All meals seem to be accompanied with fresh rolls and breadsticks, parmesan cheese and olive oil; delicious!!! Vinicio has worked at the Hotel Flora for 33-34 years along with his beautiful wife Francesca. As the bartender, Vinicio's office is a small space just off the breakfast room and front lobby and he keeps our glasses topped and our stomachs full. It's a two barstool room and each night three or four gather in the small space sharing stories about our daily travels through Venice. Nancy's mom's painting is proudly displayed over the bar which gives it an even more personal feeling of home.
The bar and breakfast room are just off the hotel lobby overseen by our dear friend Giovanni. He is the "GO-TO" concierge and knows everything about anything in Venice. He calls ahead for any reservations that we need and find any other information to help us along our travels. I will forever think about the wonderful sound of Giovani's greeting "buon giorno" each time I enter the lobby and his smile as we leave our room key at the desk to venture off on some new treasure hunt.
Jean is another guest and artist from MA, who comes to Venice often and like Nancy who made this journey ten times, stays at the Hotel Flora every visit. We made friends with her right away. Jean came on this trip to find a place to sell her prints.
And who can forget Kelum. Kelum is one of the staff who makes sure we have our tummies full in the mornings and takes care of our needs in the bar in Vinicio's absence. Kelum is originally from Sri Lanka, where his wife and two kids live. He works in Venice and travels home a couple times a year. He makes the most delicous gourmet sandwich for a midnight snack.
Stephano was one of the morning waiters who serves our every need by filling our late's and cappuccino's the minute we sit down for breakfast along with our fresh squeezed blood orange juice and croissants.
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