News

Firstly my brother and his girl-friend are getting married at the end of April in Paris ! It's only going to be a civil wedding and a cocktail with family and friends.
Then you remember I told you I'm now involved in a drama group ? I had an audition lately. I didn't get any part but a few of my colleagues congratulated me on my performance. I was going to operate the lights in their end of May production. Instead I'm going to do the prompt ("souffleur" in French). No, I'm not going to be stucked in a hole underneath the stage... I don't know yet how it's going to work...

Last evening and last day in Venice

Saturday night I had a Japanese-Italian meal at Rialto Mercato. We had a shower and a couple came in rushing from the terrace. The lady called her Dad and said they were having "fun" in Venice ! Sunday I went to San Marco the long way : Plaza Roma and Tronchetto (the bus station) and there caught the Water bus to the airport.
It had been a wonderful break in this "fantastico" City.

Bye bye Venice (3)

Bye bye Venice (2)

Bye bye Venice (1)

Venice : Day 4

This morning I wanted to visit Salute Church and la Dogana Dal Mar. I made a late start from the hotel and took the vaporetto. Now let me tell you about public transport in Venice. The "vaporetto" is a water bus which runs in most parts including to go over the islands and the "terra ferma" (the continent). There are slow lines and faster ones. From the railway station to San Marco it takes one hour on the slow one (at least 10 stops) and 35 minutes on the faster one (about 5 stops). Then if you need to cross over the grand canal where there are no bridges you'll most likely find a "traghetto" post sighted at the end of a narrow street. They are in fact gondoles for 10 people, they run as soon as they are filled up and it costs 0.50 euros. To go on the vaporetto you need to buy a ticket or a pass before hand but - except at a few stations - there is no control whatsoever.
I arrived at La Salute at lunch time so I made it straight for a restaurant right behind. A very nice place overlooking Giudecca Island. They offered me a grappa at the end of the meal. When I saw the bill I thought I might as well drunk it... I paid happily and was even going to kiss the waiters but then I thought better of it.
La Salute - as much churches - didn't reopen until 3 and la Dogana Del Mar was closed for repairs. So I went instead to the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Collection. They have all the best Modern artists' paintings and sculptures in there and a delightful garden.

Venice : Your blogger opposite San Marco (Dogana Da Mar)

Venice : Day 3

Today has been a lovely day. Even quite warm at times. I spent the morning in the Cannaregio where used to be the Jewish Ghetto. I wanted to have lunch in a local restaurant unknown to most tourists. Except if you have the right travel guide. I was there at 12:30. It was fully packed with Venezian people. They asked me to come back at 1. I went back to the hotel to get change and came back at 1:30. They asked me to wait a further 10 minutes. 30 minutes later they let me in with a French couple. We had to share a table. So we had a chat, talking mostly about food as you do among French... I must say it was nice to be able to break for a short while from my solitude and to have a laugh !
It's nice to notice that over here when you try to speak Italian they most of the time answer you back in Italian. No offence but I resent the fact that as a tourist in some places they speak to you systematically in English.
After lunch I went back to the hotel where I had a rest and dined.

Venice : Madonna Dell'Oro

Venice : Unity Celebration of Italy on San Marco