Ok, I have to admit that I am struggling to remember exactly what we did on Tuesday 20th May so I’ll post some photos and hope inspiration gets me so I can add some words…
I remember this one. White seems to be the go to colour and I almost missed this remarkable lady as she shimmied past. I’ve never seen a pair of pants made out of fringe before.
As an aside, glittery jeans are quite popular here. I won’t be getting any but I have seen quite a few women wearing them.
Arches were installed to stop the buildings falling inwards
It’s not very clear but I noticed this old chap as he watched the world go by.
A final pic to show the bend in the walls.
I’m up to date now so next post is Friday, our arrival in Florence
Today we left the ship and spent the day in Venice. Leaving the ship was quite a palava with little to no communication from the ship people and faced with having to negotiate our way from the drop off point to the hotel which was near the railway station. Seemed easy…
We walked the length of the drop off point (1km but felt like 5), dragging our bags behind us. Found a vaporetto and just hoped we were going to end up in the right spot. We did.
The hotel. Possibly needs its own chapter however, I’ll condense things a bit.
It is a converted convent (or monastery, not sure which) so I was primed for accommodation “cells” and, I have to say, I wasn’t far off. We were taken to the lift and given a brief tour of the lower floors. The public toilet was under the pulpit (not kidding), the walls were covered in crimson coloured flock material and our room had a chandelier.
The beds (possibly medieval) were comfortable-ish and the bathroom had gold tiles and mould to maintain its rustic charm (or maybe mould because, you know, Venice)
Our chandelier
We had a look around and found our way outside which was pleasant. A few nice plants which, on closer inspection, proved to be imitation. The lawn was a lush, brilliant green but when the house maid started vacuuming it we realised it too was imitation.
Another vaporetto ride took us to St Mark’s square as we had booked to see a performance of Vivaldi’s Four seasons in the church of Santa Maria della Pieta, just along from the Doges Palace. Built between 1745 and 1760 it is a “jewel of Venetian architecture” although the facade was not completed until 1906.
The church of Santa Maria della Pieta.
I am reliably informed (thank you, Google) that the church is commonly referred to as Vivaldi’s church. He worked there for almost 40 years as a priest, teacher and composer. I think he was Scottish. He was called the Red Priest due to his red hair and he could play the bagpipes (I made that bit up. No idea if he could play the bagpipes but the abandoned and orphaned girls, who lived at the institution of the same name, were taught many instruments including the bagpipes so it goes to reason. Also, the church was built from 1745, an auspicious date in the Scottish calendar.)
The concert was wonderful but I have never sat on more uncomfortable pews in my life! Seats in Italy seem to be very short in depth or extremely deep so I am either perching precariously on the edge with a lot of sphincter clenching to stay in place or else I am sitting like a toddler, unable to bend my knees.
8pm came and went and I was thinking TG! I can unclench and leave but oh no, the audience insisted on lengthy applause and so the orchestra returned 6 times (count it, 6!!) to do encore after encore.
Following the concert Venice revealed its wonderful and subtle evening light.
My apologies for the delay in updates but it’s been busy and stressful since we visited Split. I have decided to do these days back to front as I can remember things out of sequence (it’s a skill).
Today we saw Venice from the Accademia side which was very pleasant and quieter than yesterday.
We have caught the vaporetto a few times and, luckily I have Glenys taking control of which one to catch or else, I fear, we may end up in Trieste.
The cost of the vaporetto is iniquitous! $40 for one stop and one way. We purchased a day ticket (yesterday) which was $50 each for unlimited vaporetto travel. Naturally I left them behind so we had to walk a really long way to get back to the hotel. Sorry, I’m going back and forth a bit but stay with me.
So today…
The Accademia sideMurano glass chandelier
The Accademia side is very arty with lots of art students marching around with their portfolios. Pity they didn’t have their work on display. I would have loved to see it.
Lots of interesting side streets
I waited for this little group to move on but they were set in their conversation so I took the photo. Glad I did as they were still there, in the same position, when we returned an hour later
Entrance to an hotelPerpetual art.
Glenys thinks this piece of construction art represented Pergatory but I thought it was the storyboard for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. See following image.
Michael Jackson pre white glove eraGondola Service CentreSketchers in action Collection of masksThe best one. I thought of you, Rhonda, when I saw thisTaken through the window. Sorry about my reflection 😆
This was a fascinating little shop. It had pigment powder in this display box at the window and I’m almost sure I read that this shop has been around for centuries and still has some original glass jars of lapis lazuli pigment powder used by many of the great artists of the renaissance. Could be wrong of course, it’s happened before but it is a nice story, nonetheless.
Pens and seals
I was very tempted by these seals and pens but it would mean I’d have to return to letter writing and save Australia Post single handed.
Next door to this great shop was another amazing shop. The owner created wood block designs of all things Venice and she printed these designs on everything you could imagine from calendars to cards to mouse pads and posters, little boxes and note pads. I bought a t shirt because I don’t have enough. It is a great design featuring books and cats. I’m not a cat person but we saw so many (not many in Venice, I’ll grant you) that I thought it was a nice reminder.
Hot priest…
I also thought a nice calendar for 2026 would be good and this guy was on every pop up calendar shop. The shop owners tried to convince me that he was a young priest helping his church by posing for a calendar.
Old priest. Not hot.
My image of a priest is the above and, I have to say, a calendar featuring this chap is more believable.
I also saw the first priest on another calendar for Gondaliere so I think he was either selling himself to the Gondaliere Association to get more $$$ for his church or he was a male model. I think this is more likely the case.
Adjustable legs and sleeves
I’m in Italy so I thought I’d keep an eye on fashion (you know important this is to me). Followed this chap as I was fascinated by his outfit. It looked to be made out of polyester (though probably silk) and it had zips on legs and sleeves so he could alter his look when he felt like it.
Found our way back to the hotel and just about to go for a quick meal before I repack my bag again.
Next post will be for yesterday. Keep up, I’ll be home soon and all will be back to normal.
Rhudimentary 