OUR WINTER CRUISE: VENICE and the start.

VENICE

Monday 29 October

Margaret drove us to Bristol airport for our flight to Venice. Ewan was in his seat in the back of the car with Moira and asleep before we reached Bristol. There was the usual panic on my part about the size of my bag and whether it was all right as hand luggage. In the end they didn't bother with mine but checked the size of Moira's case. Luckily it was satisfactory, but we had trouble at security; I had a tube of adhesive and some sticking paste that they wouldn't allow and confiscated them. Security is getting crazy at airports, we had to take off our boots to go through the checkpoint, eventually they will have us stripping off completely and issue us with hospital type gowns.

The flight took two hours and we had some wonderful views crossing  the Alps. The airport where we arrived was Treviso and there was a bus waiting for the hour's drive into Venice. We had directions guiding us from the bus terminal in Venice to the flat we had rented, it was a ten minute walk, but it was a struggle with our heavy rucksacks and hand luggage. We had phoned the woman when we came off the bus and she arrived at the flat a few minutes after we got there and let us in. It was quite nice with two separate rooms with a communal kitchen and bathroom. We were the only occupants so it was nice and quiet. 

Heading along the canal to our flat

We had to go with the woman to find a cash machine to pay for the flat. Once that transaction was completed we went into a restaurant next to the bank and enjoyed a lovely pizza and some delicious red wine. It wasn't far to walk along the canals to the flat and we were soon in bed. The area was also away from the tourist attractions, so it was also quiet and we both slept well.

Tuesday 30 October

It was peaceful all night and we were feeling refreshed in the morning as we walked along one of the canals to find a shop for bread, milk, etc for breakfast. It was chilly but the sky was bright blue, promising to be a lovely day. After breakfast we set out again, to explore the city. First we went to the train station to enquire about transport to the docks for our cruise on Thursday. It must have now been high tide as the water was lapping over the canal banks and on to the walkway. We had seen photographs of severe flooding here a few weeks ago, this wasn't too bad and we just had to 'puddle hop' in places. After long waits in queues at the railway info office then at the general tourist info we found that we used the monorail system that services the docks. The 'people mover' as it is called was near the bus station where we arrived yesterday. We found the monorail station, it is only one stop to the cruise terminal, and costs just E1 each.

High water on the canals

It was now time to have a look around Venice. We had bought a street map and began following a route to the famous Rialto bridge that crosses the Grand Canal. Soon we picked up signs pointing the direction to the Rialto which was fortunate as the map was difficult to follow as some of the street names didn't correspond with the names on the map, or maybe it was our poor Italian. It was a nice stroll along the banks of various canals with all types of craft, from gondolas to speed boats. The canals themselves varied from wide, like the Grand Canal, to very narrow with little bridges to cross them. 

The Rialto bridge

Once we were over the Rialto bridge we managed to use the map as a guide to get us back to the flat for lunch. We had found a large supermarket on our way back and bought enough food for lunch and dinner. After a lunch of Gorgonzola cheese on rolls it was off again to do more exploring. We made our way along more canals to the coast and walked by the front where the water buses were arriving with crowds of tourists. From there we followed more canals and the map to Piazza San Marco. This was also thick with tourists and the Basilica was magnificent with its carved towers, statues and mosaics. It was now getting late and we decided to head back and visit the Basilica again tomorrow.

San Marco

Once at the flat we had dinner and off to bed early. The bed was the only comfortable place to stretch out and read. It was a lot warmer tonight, Moira had managed to find the thermostat for the central heating.

Wednesday 31 October

Canal water bus.

Yesterday we bought a 12 hour roaming ticket for the water buses. It just required to be validated for our first trip and it was 12 hours from that time. We started off after breakfast and caught the 'bus' at the nearest point from the flat, Tri Archi, we didn't know where it was going ; it was to be a mystery tour.

The open sea off Venice

The boat reversed out of the canal and into more open water, close to where we walked yesterday. It sailed past the marina with lots of brightly coloured sails on the yachts and out to our left was the Isola di San Michele with its castle like structure of towers and battlements all along the front. The water was quite choppy, the weather was not as nice as yesterday, now overcast, cold and windy. The route continued over open water as it made way round Arsenale with its docks and ship repairs and out to the Lido. This was where we camped when we were in Venice years ago with the girls. There we decided to disembark to have a look around.

We didn't really recognise the area and made our way across the peninsula to the sandy beach on the opposite side. This wasn't familiar either and looked cold, deserted and miserable compared with previously when it was packed with sun seekers in much brighter and warmer conditions. We strolled along the beach before heading back to the water bus station.

Sharing lunch

We wanted to make for San Marco but the bus we were on seemed to be an 'express' and although it went past the Basilica it didn't stop. It turned into the Grand Canal and up under the Rialto bridge to the Ferrovia, the railway station. There we went in search of a loo. Venice seems to be short of these facilities and when you do find one they are expensive. The one in the railway station cost E1, not as bad as the loo near San Marco which was E1.5.

It was now nearly lunch time and we looked for somewhere to sit and have our picnic. As we searched it started to rain so we quickly headed back to the Ferrovia and jumped on the first boat leaving. It was going back down the Grand Canal again but this one took a more leisurely pace, stopping at every station on the way. It was crowded and we were stood near the front just outside the 'driver's' cabin. I was able to take lots of photographs standing close to the rail. The rain was quite heavy now but still there were lots of people out in the gondolas, huddled under large umbrellas. It was still pouring down when we reached San Marco, the piazza was flooded and there were wooden walkways built up to avoid the water. At the columned archway we found a seat where we had lunch. This attracted a multitude of hungry pigeons that wanted to share our sandwiches.

A gondola in the rain

To enter the Basilica we had to use the walkway that went round the square while other people in Wellington boots splashed merrily through the floods. The Basilica was disappointing, the practice seems to be to keep the interior in subdued lighting. This makes it difficult to see the detail in some of the features, especially the paintings of religious and biblical scenes portrayed on the walls and on the insides of the domes.

When we left San Marco it was on another water bus going back along the Grand Canal. We left the bus a couple of stations after the Rialto and walked back to the flat. We had some coffee and a biscuit and planned to go out again but the rain was still coming down. Moira went out to the supermarket for something for dinner. The rain was still heavy when she returned so we decided to called it a day and stay in.

Flooded San Marco

Another couple arrived tonight and waited for the owners to arrive with keys for the second room in the flat. The guy when he turned up told us to be careful if we go out tonight as the tide would be high and the canal banks flooded to perhaps a metre. That settled it we were certainly staying in, hoping the water level would subside by morning for our walked to the 'people mover'.

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