After an Italian breakfast supplied by Annelise we set off for St Mark's Square (Campo). We had to turn around after two minutes because the map told us we were getting further away from it. You have to go where the bridges across the canals are, as there are small canals in every direction. After admiring the colonnade around the square which housed the usual Italian high fashion outlets, we saw the queues for entering the church and the museum and chose to walk along the waterfront. By this time the tour groups were arriving by ferry and we were walking against the tide. Venice is even more crowded than Rome.
We spent four hours exploring the streets and the only wheeled vehicles we saw were barrows. Not even a bicycle. Without tourists like us it would be a serene place to be. No horses, no donkeys. So many people that there is no room for anything else. It was hot again and the travel agent we found who gave us Croation money was complaining about it as a local. He thinks it will rain on Thursday as we leave. The news is predicting 2015 to be even hotter worldwide than 2014. Australian voters do not seem to care. The lane ways here are even narrower than in Lucca, so we were able to find plenty of shade. The most prolific shops are the ones selling Murano glassware, which makes for very colourful window displays.
Supplies to the shops are brought in on quiet barges and delivered with trolleys made for climbing steps on the bridges. Garbage out is loaded onto specially designed barges. The biggest noise pollution comes from the sirens of the police and ambulance boats.
We found the leaning tower again.
Many of the buildings have render falling off them and we wonder about their safety but they are clearly treasured here.
In Sydney they would be replaced by glass skyscrapers. There are a lot more gondolas than we expected and of course they are in demand. We saw one with a lady playing the accordion and a tenor singing.
In Sydney they would be replaced by glass skyscrapers. There are a lot more gondolas than we expected and of course they are in demand. We saw one with a lady playing the accordion and a tenor singing.
After three weeks in Italy there are some things we have learned:
Cappuccinos do not have chocolate sprinkles.
A basket of bread is supplied while you wait for your meal. Olive oil and balsamic vinegar are provided for dipping.
Frizzante water is usually drunk with meals.
Latte calde is hot milk and latte freddo is cold milk. The hot tap is marked with a C.
Marble is the favourite building material.
Florence specialises in leather.
Venice has glass (we did not see a blind).
Lucca used to have silk but now it is paper.
At the famous areas there are more international tourists than locals. Many Australians.
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