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Venice (15th April to 18th April)

By Nick Hodge | February 28, 2004

Venice Gallery

[1928] Railway into Venice
Railway into Venice...
[1927] St Mark's Square, Venice
St Mark's Square, Venice...
[1926] Statues carved in the corner of the Doge's Palace, Venice
Statues carved in the corner o...
[1925] Canal, Venice
Canal, Venice...
[1924] St Mark's Square, Venice
St Mark's Square, Venice...
[1923] Skyline of Venice
Skyline of Venice...
[1922] Shadows over Venice
Shadows over Venice...
[1921] Topling Tower, Venice
Topling Tower, Venice...
[1920] Gondeliers working near the Rialto Bridge, Venice
Gondeliers working near the Ri...
[1919] Statues outside Doge's Palace, Venice
Statues outside Doge's Palace,...

Sunday, 18th April, 2004

Eurostar out of Venice to Florence. Strangely, it departs on time and we are whisked away from Italian tourist trap #1.

There is not a soul (well, just a few + air-rats) in the square at 8.00am in the morning. Evidently, the square was under water in the early morning.

Saturday, 17th April, 2004

Liam and I feed the air-rats (pigeons) in the square, and visit the Doge's Palace (the Doge was the elected Duke of the Republic of Venice, and walk across the Bridge of Sighs to see the prisons.

Up the clock tower for a view out over Venice from 60metres up. Liam and I then jump on the Vaporetto for a ride to an overpriced Leonardo exhibit in an old Church.

The local Italian "Top of the Pops" reminds me of the Eurovision song contest.

Avril spends a couple of hours madly packing her purchases. Its not the cost, is the space/weight these items are -- we have to carry these cases!

Quickly purchase some final items from Venice and we are ready to go in the morning!

Friday, 16th April, 2004

I have a day by myself to roam around Venice (and appropriately get lost!) Not to panic. Venice isn't dangerous; there are only pickpockets and as long as you follow some simple rules, you are safe enough.

Firstly to the Academia: a gallery of 14th to 18th Century art. My poor Protestant mind cannot deal with the multitude of catholic scenes of the Virgin and Child (et al). Impressive art, however. Then onto the Peggy Guggenheim gallery of modern art (late 19th Century to mid 20th Century). Again, my poor Provincial mind cannot deal with the artistic input. Squeeze past a Picasso against the traffic of American students to see Magrette and Mondrian pieces. Also a Dali is here too (Birth of Liquid Desires)

Jump on a Vaporetto for a free trip. I have yet to see a local Venetian pay for their water bus. We tourists are paying for their free service! I do get the guilts and purchase a day pass and travel to the Lido and Pte Roma for a quick visit to a supermarket.

Quick visit to a jeweller to pick up Avril's birthday present.

Thursday, 15th April, 2004

Arrive in Venice at around 9.35am on Thursday. Short walk along the train to the Grand Canal, jump on the Vaporetto #1 to Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark's Square) and find the hotel. We are in at 11am.

Imagine this: a unique town that is trapped in the sea. It's difficult to get on and off. Filled with nothing but stores selling items that say you have been to the town. It's last time as an independent town was over 250 years ago, and as a powerful town over 400 years ago. All that is left is tourism. The treasures left from this era are all still here. A marketeer's dream tourist trap. Welcome to Venice.

Thankfully, the high tides at the moment are in the middle of the night: so the Piazza is only flooded when we are asleep. We see the evidence of this in the early mornings.

Eat our first non-pre-made/pre-package sandwiches in a small cafe. Avril and I leave Liam in the hotel room whilst we do a quick visit to the Ponte Rialto (Rialto bridge) to see what is going on. To measure the "value" shops offer, we take some indicative prices: ties at 8 euro, fridge magnets at 4 euro to determine which stores and which areas at the most appropriate to purchase from. In the case of silk ties, they range in price from 7 euro to 8 euro.

Its also difficult to find a shop that doesn't sell glass, masks or jewellery.

Oh, a tip for Venice travellers eating out: do not order from the English menu: service is not included! This is an extra "fee" added to the bill. This "fee" is included in the Italian menu.

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