Venice in the sunshine

Sorry for the blog cut short yesterday, my data sim card ran out of data so I installed a new one and first it didn`t work, then it didn`t seem to have the data it should have had. 

In the end it was all down to user error, doh….

We have had a very enjoyable day today in the wonderful Venice. Yes we are parked up within spitting distance of the Adriatic Sea, the first time we have seen the sea on this trip and it does look good. Well the lagoon around Venice does anyway.

It was a very simple trip into Venice on the local bus from outside the campsite, it dropped us off at Piazzale Roma, the main terminal for all the buses, coaches, monorails, trams, trains, cruise ships, water taxies, bicycles, rowing boats and coracles !  (only joking) but it is the main hub where everyone starts their journey through this quite remarkable ancient city.

We set off along the many lanes and passages, over the numerous little stone and marble bridges and soon realise a map would be a good idea, so a trip into a tourist shop sees use equipped with our map of the island.

Wandering further and it soon becomes clear there is a photo opportunity around ever corner, the place is just amazing. The churches, the monuments, the ordinary buildings all ooze history and all have a story to tell.

Slow progress is made through the city and soon it`s cafe latte time.

We carry on and eventually reach St Marks Square, so familiar from photographs and films but nothing can prepare you for the beauty of this square and the magnificent buildings on all sides.

Having Louis with us prevents us from going in the Churches and Duomos, but I enjoy just looking at the exterior and of course photographing them. The scale of the buildings and detail of the carvings in the stone work is breathtaking considering how long ago they were worked and the primitive tools available.

Not forgetting the force of motivation for creating such vast impressive buildings, to worship ones God, and I suppose to impress others.

More wanderings take us through the area containing the exclusive designer boutiques, Prada, Channel, Gucci, Dolche & Gabbana, they are all here selling their wares to the well heeled folk from around the Globe.

Next, lunch is calling and we stop at a pavement restaurant we hope will be far enough away from the main squares so as not to be prohibitively expensive. Menu looked ok, pasta dishes for around 10  euro, so we went for it. Very good pasta it was too, but boy did they sting us on the drinks, 11 euro for two small (200cl) beers !!! I think that`s the dearest beer I`ve ever had, cl for cl. Still it was enjoyable and a magnificent setting for a great day in a great city.

Another wander and we’re back at St Mark Square again. This time we make it into the square and marvel that the queues to go into the Basilica. We spent more time strolling around more of the back streets, walking across the Ponte di Rialto, and finally listening to a gondolier singing the cornetto song. That was all we needed, Venice was done. People might say what about all the art galleries, churches and other cultural sights to see? Not for us, we enjoyed what we saw and are all shattered after several hours of sightseeing.

We decided to get the Water Taxi from St Marks Square back to Piazzale Roma along the Grand Canal, another feast of photo opportunties ! this also meant sailing under Ponte di Rialto which is one thing that must be done in Venice.

A cold shower and an extra cold beer “en van” were enjoyed, it has been a very hot day but one of the most memorable in my life, just what this trip was all about.

We have a “free” day tomorrow to do whatever we want, and hopefully the fridge part I ordered will be delivered.

No apologies for the number of photos, it`s very a photogenic place. Edit : It`s taken ages to load the pics, must have a slow internet connection, more will follow tomorrow

I`ll also link some from Castelfranco yesterday.

Sorry, too lazy to label them all !