No running off up 100 steps to get to the internet bar this morning. It’s out of bed, sitting at a little desk overlooking the canal. Chris has gone off for a walk so here I sit very happily saying good morning. Yesterday was a long and busy day but it all went OK.
We got back to Venezia Mestre to drop off the car. No problems with the car. Little scratchy-poos not noticed, to our relief. We then loaded up like pack horses…Chris, particularly, ends up with a whole lot of junk she gathers around her on the way (including a hobby-horse she bought at the festa the other night!!), and got on the train to take us into Venice.
I had packed judiciously with my little day pack so I went to left luggage with my case. Not sure if that was a great decision, it cost me 36Eu but good not to be lugging a case up and down steps around Venice. However at the big bridge a young bloke grabbed Chris’ case and carried it up for her. He was looking for money of course but didn’t get any!! Then I thought I could have given him a few Euro and saved myself a fortune….but then there’s getting back to the station with afore-mentioned case. Anyway for my sins I ended up looking like a right idiot carrying a fucking hobby-horse through Venice!!
We got to our familiar Venice Hotel, Hotel Della Mora, a very simple, unpretentious place that we both love. As I have said it overlooks the Canal and couldn’t be more pleasant. Then it was off to take in this city and to find some of the Exhibitions that are running along with the Biennale. First though, a glass of wine or 2 and and a sandwich in a piazza near here.
Then we went in pursuit of 2 exhibitions by Damian Hirst that Chris was very keen to see. He is controversial and very different from anything else I’ve seen. The first exhibition was at the Punta Della Dogana and if it was only to see the building that you were there to see you would have been satisfied. It was a fascinating and engaging collection in the most fantastic setting with the sculptures set against the backdrop of the Grand Canal. So that was great. Then we went off to the second exhibition of his works at the Palazzo Grassi, another great venue and another view of his amazing work….if not a tad of overload for me but not for Chris.
Then lets try and find our way back to the hotel….oh yeh!! This is Venice remember!! Round and round and round she goes!! Anyway by the time we got back to the hotel we had just enough strength to get a glass of wine to our lips. But a little later enough oomph came back to get us down the road for a quick meal before bed.
The beds are very close together here Rose, you would die!! I found myself shoving them apart….old habits die hard!!
Today it’s off to the Biennale and from what we hear the Australian pavilion is one of the best so thats’ where we’re heading first off. It’s lovely to be back in Venice, it is such a beautiful city and it is very easy to stay off the tourist trail and in lovely areas that are not crowded. However I’m sure we’ll be missing our swims as the day heats up.