Venice. WOW.

Finally.

We got off the train, followed detailed instructions to our key pickup, then via the Vaperetto (water busses) to the stop, right the way down the Grand Canal, nearest our rented apartment. Again, flawless directions led us to the front door, and not long after a text beckoned Aunty Margaret to our locale. Luck, and the end of a rather protracted PhD, had my sister Margaret in England as a bit of a reward and what better than to chase your nieces around the Serene Republic for Easter – so now we were five (though she did have a rather better class of accom than us, what with St Mark’s Basin views from her second floor window – and us in our back streets apartment.

Venice. It is an amazing place. There are far too many tourists. But there are some off the beaten tracks in the 1x3km city, where you do feel like you’re from mars. Unlike so many other cities around the world, this one really has hardly changed in 500 years. No new roads mean that, when you look out the window you’re seeing pretty much the same view Marco Polo and Casanova did, bar perhaps a bit of crumbling stucco. Best not try and capture it in words, because whoever said it’s hard to take a bad photo in Venice is right.

(Clinck once on the play icon to start the slide show - double click on the slide show to go to the photos in bigger form)



Mik says:

How many years have I wanted to go to Venice? Well one of my first memories was Life of Brian…and the travelogue that went with it, back to Venice” …think I was probably 13 at the time, the age Indi is now.

Well I have been leaving this blog stuff to jim as he really is the one that writes so much better than I but when he said he was leaving the rest of Venice to pictures I had to jump in and write a few words.

Travel fatigue had well and truly set in by the time we hit Venice. Jim and Indi had set us a grueling pace in Rome, Pompeii and Florence and I was looking forward to a bit of a slower time in Venice. But something happened when we crossed the bridge into Venice. A new lease on life! Even though every bone ached in my body like it does after a weeks skiing we were in VENICE the fog rolled in and shrouded the city successfully hiding the throng of tourists gondolas poked out alongside ancient buildings. DOGES palace was an incredibly amazing tour. I have to say the absolute highlight for me was the Gondola ride on our last arvo. I was kinda expecting it to be great but it was so so atmospheric!!! We were in the capable hands of our Gondolier “Mr Augusto” – Marg, Jim’s sister had just purchased a Gondolier calendar and it was a choice between Mr Augusto and Mr July…The younger soccer star! Well Mr Augusto (and his refitted grandfather’s gondola) did not disappoint especially when we hit the open water!

Since I first started glass I had wanted to see Murano and we finally made it. The Museum was good, although not as good as the American one! We watched some Maestro nonchalantly whip up a vase then a horse. He was so not into it. Unfortunately we missed the team of 12 who had of course just finished for the day. I think if you want to see the Maestro’s at work go to the USA! Anyway the shopping was great! So that made up for the lack of good glassblowing. So that’s me checked off, Indi checked off, Sasha checked off so we are looking forward to Jim’s choice… the Dolomites!