Venice

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Venice was another great city. Great for walking, weather and food - though not in that order. We decided to stay in Venice itself, not in Mestre to get a better feel for the city

After a bit of internet research we decided to leave most of our luggage at the train station and take the minimum in to where we were staying. I wouldn't have taken our 4 bags in across those canals - though the streets weren't cobbled like Rome , so not too bad for bags - for all the money in the world!

So we dumped most of our stuff - with me saying we should just leave it all behind for the rest of the trip. We then made our way thtough the streets and canals.

It was overcast and slightly raining - which was keeping things cool. Our hostess Sandra took us to our flat, it was amazing. Two bathrooms and a loft up stairs - the kids were in love. We looked out over the rook tops of Venice, it was magical.

Headed out as usual for food and wine, the wine was an interesting purchase. You take in your own plastic bottle - usually a water bottle and then pay by the litre. They even sold Prosecco like this. All for under 3 euros per litre. A great idea. We tried the Prosecco, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Nero, all great.

Made spag bog - surprisingly - and then planned our next few days.

We headed out early to San Marco - St Marks square. The walk was great, so many little streets and things to see. We left early so felt more like locals than tourists, didn't use a map just walked in the general direction and follwedthe unique Venitian street signs. Went up the bell tower next to St Marks and explored the local area before heading back to jump on a vaporetto - the water bus. Saw the whole of the grand canal from the water and it really makes Venice look very different. Our days were filled with walking and exlporing all of Venice. we even managed to find a park for the kidsto run around it. stuck to gelato every day and tried local dishes like past with squid ink and their very special lunch sandwiches.

Gondalas, what can I say. I had the intention of paying 90 euros to ride one for the 50 minutes. Was all ready to get on board when we began to notice the tourists - yes hundreds of tourists clogging the canals in gondalas - two cruise ships were in and every where you looked you saw tourists in gondalas. it was all too over whelming for me - I couldn't just be another tourist - though I know that I am - so we decided not to get a gondala ride.

Instead we found one of the traghetto crossing points. These allow you to cross the grand canal where there are no bridges - and there are only 3 bridges across the grand canal - it's like a commuter gondala. So you get on and just stand up - they cram as many people on as possible. Then you're off, on a real gondala ride on the grand canal!! Our little gondala ride costed 2 euros for the three of us, BARGAIN. We loved it, the gondaliers were great fun and didn't laugh at us getting on and off.

We all could clearly see the influence of the turkish traders - in venice - so many buildings reminded us of Istanbul. Venice's history like most other placesis pretty tubulent - we learnt lots about who had control of Venice and when, from Romans to Napoleon.Venice was really a great power in history controlling parts of Greece. It also was the enemy of Genova - both were great seafaring powers. It's sad to see it in decline now - locals are leaving as more and more houses become tourist accomodation. Business are leaving to set up on the mainland. Besides government jobs and tourism there isn't anything left so people keep leaving.

We took the Vaperetto completely around the main island and went over to Murano - where the galss makers have been since 1200's, guarding their trade secrets closely. i'm glad we had to travel on or I would have spent a fortune! So many beuatiful - though not always practical - things. Our flat was perfect, allowing us to live away from the tourist areas and with the general Venitian population, it's true that as night falls Venice becomes a different place.

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Comments

[Janey]

:Loving the squid ink linguine
Very Kath and Kim