Before we go to Lucca, Vijaya and I stop off in Venice for a few days of rest. 

It’s a beautiful city. More beautiful even than I thought it would be.

We check into our hotel near St. Mark's Square. 

The view from our room is a knock out.

We meet up with Bob and Gina Chapman from Graphitti Designs. They were in Rome on vacation and we had plans to hook up in Venice. They are going with us to Lucca, which is one of Bob’s favorite cities.

This is Harry’s Bar, a famous tourist spot where Ernest Hemmingway and Orson Wells used to hang out. The trademark Bellini drinks are overpriced, but the waiters were cool. They gave me the biggest shot of whiskey I've had in a while. And I appreciated it. We spend the next four days wandering around the city's canals and back streets, finding good food and wine.

The time off does me and my arm some good, and I’m ready for the last push. Let's go to Lucca…