This was a return to Venice
for us and the years between have been kind in some places and not others.
The tourist souvenir vendors have almost taken over. However
it is easier to get around the canals and out to the islands with public
transport.
We stayed in a camping ground on a land spit called Punta
Sabioni outside the Lagoon on the Adriatic . It
is a 20 minute ferry ride over to St Marco
Piazza.
The camp grounds here are very well appointed.
The main road is lined both sides with other camps. Each camp has its own
shopping area on the street, you can buy from Butchers, Vegetable and fruit
markets, Supermarkets, Camping stores, Souvenir and clothing shops and
Restaurants.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE
BEACH
These signs were in a prominent position as we went down
onto the beach showing the rules and etiquette. The beach is marked out with
umbrellas lining each camping ground reserve for hired umbrellas and lounges.
There is space right on the water line for about 2 metres and on each side of
the reserved area was for free spirits like us.
They are very strict if anyone encroaches on the reserved land and there are signs saying one can be fined for housebreaking if on the wrong part of the beach or in the camp grounds if you don’t have an identifying bracelet
It is fascinating
people watching. On the beach people have umbrellas but usually lie in the sun most
of the day. The hired sets are opened each morning after the beach has been
cleaned and paced away at sunset.
The free area is the most interesting. The
mostly german tourists bring there umbrellas and chairs down about 7 in the
morning and stake their claim. Later it is a free for all to get a spot near
the water.
Hardly anyone swims, the usual method is the stand and soak.
It is difficult if you need a pee as the water is only up to you knees for
about 50 metres so it is either lie down quickly or a 50 metre dash out to
deeper water.
The hawkers wander up and down all day selling their wares.
The most interesting to see was the kiosk selling clothing when there was a
quick thunder storm. It was amazing how quick it was packed up and rushed to
the safety of the vans.
Everytime we went down to the beach someone was selling
something.
This fellow had a huge sack of handbags. I wondered if the
women had bought money down to buy or were just looking.
Kev liked this view of the towel sellers. He said it was
nothing to do with the foreground.
There was nothing better at the end of a busy
day in Venice
Out sightseeing days started with a ferry ride across
the lagoon to St Marco. The boats all follow marked channels so they didn't get bogged.
It was the most amazing sight
coming into the harbour. Every type of boat was rushing around the lagoon and
the gondolas had just started their morning tours. It looked like a hard
balancing act as they came out of the small mooring canal to go round into the Grand Canal , they didn’t look as elegant as they do in
the small canals.
As we walked towards St Marco Square Bridge
of Sighs
The souvenir stalls have taken over.
St Marco Piazza was very busy and the pigeons were
everywhere. It is a lovely square and is still thrilling to walk around.
After the crowds had
gone so we went back to the Bridge
of Sighs
Each day we visited the city we alternated between the famous
and fashionable and the ordinary. We sat and had coffee in cute places and
wandered the back streets. Hidden in the small alleys away from the souvenir
stalls are the shops selling real Murano glass and the shops selling the
beautiful carnival masks. We visited an antique gallery with the most beautiful
pieces. Everyday life carries on despite
millions of tourists invading their town. There are delivery boats and people
gossiping in the streets. We saw buildings in various states of repair and the
effects of the rising water over the hundreds of years these buildings have
existed.
We went to see the glassblowing in the factory on Murano.
The shops here sell true Murano Glass.
There are little canals wending through the island and it is much quieter than Venice.
On one of our walks we saw the Romance of Venice. I was taking a photo of a young couple in a gondola and as they passed under the bridge I had the feeling he was going to propose so I followed them and as they moved out into the Grand Canal he sat opposite her and proposed. She said yes and they had a big kiss. It was very romantic.
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