Venice Day 2

We thought that we ought to have a look at St Mark’s Square as we had not been across the bridges over the main canal yet. It took us most of the morning walking the scenic route. Alec was in charge of map-reading and we did pretty well, but there are the most amazing number of distractions which make following a pre determined path impossible. On the way we dawdled along looking in windows, churches (which were mostly shut as it was Monday) and it was midday by the time we reached St Marks Square having pushed ourselves past the Armani, Gucci, Church’s, Valentino stores and simply masses more designer outlets. Vivi had her eye on a Valentino number for a wedding in July but was dissuaded since she has no room in her panniers – phew!
We stopped in the Campo St Maurizio because we heard strains of Vivaldi coming from a huge building. It turned out to be the Museum of Music where they had a exhibition of violins and the history of Vivaldi’s life. The instruments were all made in Venice from the 1700’s onwards. Vivi listened to 2 of the 4 seasons and then rejoined me outside.

Whilst Vivi was in the church I marveled at what was keeping the tower up!

I hadn’t gone in because rucksacks are ‘verboten’ and I was designated baggage carrier! What intrigues us is that nowhere in Venice is there anywhere to sit other than at cafe’s and bars. So I had joined some children sitting on the edge of a fountain. We think that the lack of public seating is all part of the same conspiracy which includes no free wi-fi access in the hotels and no eating of picnics in public areas (not that many people took much notice of that one). The lack of wifi is a serious irritant as we had hoped to plan our route onwards, but you have to pre-book it one week ahead at the same time as buying boat or museum tickets.
St Mark’s Square was heaving with people and street hawkers.

St Mark's square

There was a long queue to go into the church and also up the tower so we failed at that but another time we will heed the advice that you should get there early. We then came across the opera house quite by mistake which looks fabulous but there are no operas until the end of the month. We found a bench outside someone’s house and broke all the rules by eating our sandwiches and drinking some wine! It was boiling hot and very pleasant.
The Rialto Bridge was a bit of an experience

Rialto Bridge with it's shops and heaving with tourists.

too with so many people on and around it, we fled to the back streets again coming across a flea market in Campo Santo Margherita and lots of children playing football against the precious windows of various Pallazzos. We then spent 2 hours in a Blues cafe with great music and good internet connection planning the route to the Lido and beyond.
In the evening since it wasn’t raining we ventured farther afield in the search of some supper. The area around Tolentino is very pretty and we found what could possibly be described as quite a ‘local’ place and had a very good meal and then a pleasant walk home in what seemed like quite balmy conditions.

On the way out to supper.

One of the fascinating things about Venice is that everything happens from the water. So when you hear a siren wailing it will be a police or an ambulance boat going extremely fast. There are rubbish boats, ice cream delivery boats, laundry boats, beer delivery boats, hearse boats everything you can think of. In fact we think that even the sewers are emptied into some sort of a sewage bowser boat. The canal is very polluted with plastic bottles but to be honest apart from looking very green there isn’t too much else in it!

Rubbish collection boat.

Ice cream delivery boat

Death in Venice boat.