Arriving in Venezia

Well all, a very long day. But first let me send a big cheerio to the crew of Calimna. Firstly Angus told me this morning how great it was to see Meredith this week and how everyone just loves to see her. Then lo and behold I get an email from Mares with amazing photos of the exercises she is doing on her surfboard. So I’m missing the Tongan crew and although my brother no longer loves me, I still love him and send him my most sincere and fulsome greetings. I send these greeting even though it isn’t his birthday but I’m just feeling the love.

So back to getting ourselves to Venice. First off this morning I took myself to the central office of the bus company to plead my case, having done absolutely NOTHING wrong, I was sure they would say “don’t worry about the 55Euro fine, of course you did the right thing”. Oh yeh..ever come up against Italian bureaucracy?? They shrugged, told me it was my choice if I paid it or not, they weren’t going to waive it because they couldn’t see the time and if I didn’t pay in 5 days it goes to 100 Euro. I paid, stormed out and told them I was never coming back to Florence…did I catch a glimmer of a smile on their smug faces?????

So then we got on the train and came to Venezia. We followed instructions and were where we were supposed to be at the appointed time having got on the right water taxi etc. And we waited and waited, no Enrico. I rang him twice, no answer!! I was so sure that we stood out as the obvious people we were….2 women standing there like shags on a rock. Then I saw a man who had been standing around, who I thought was getting on the water bus. I eventually went up to him and asked if he was Enrico. Well he was and the very sad truth is that he ignored us because he was looking for 2 young women (he confirmed this, I’m not making it up!!)…good start wouldn’t you think!!

Anyway the apartment is just lovely. It overlooks a canal and is beautifully renovated so we are nicely ensconced. I have the real bed this time so no complaints from me, Tull is on the couch. Then we went off for a walk to see how lost I could get us before tea. I didn’t do too badly and we made our way to the Rialto Bridge and then Piazza San Marco. Well it was gorgeous. It is Carnivale and people are walking round completely decked out in amazing costumes and masks. So lovely and it isn’t even in full swing yet. I took some photos and I feel a Facebook moment coming on!!!

We even found our way back and went to a restaurant just near our apartment that Enrico had recommended. It was great, we had our mandatory bottle of wine and are now back in this lovely apartment all warm and ready to hop into bed and listen to the lapping of the water in the canal next to us.