Above: An excited Libby in St Mark'sExcitement reigns. I've lived in the Middle and Far East and travelled much of the world but have NEVER been to Venice and have longed to do so for oodles of ages, so am hugely excited this morning (in fact hardly slept last night). Ready by 7.45 so set off and arrived at Gatwick an hour early! Had a coffee and read Brunetti's Venice until I got a message from Charles at 10.30 - turned out he'd been 30 minutes early so had also been twiddling his metaphorical thumbs. Absolutely unprecedented for Charles to be early! Quick re-sorting of equipment so that all the valuable stuff goes as hand luggage - if the check-in bags are lost we'll be clothes-less.
Checked in - I got frisked (the titanium hip always produces a beep!) and I had to empty out my small rucksack - meanwhile Charles' bag stuffed to the brim with batteries, chargers, cables etc is not even questioned!
Plane late leaving, but made up for lost time. BA's current financial straits noted in the lunch - a sandwich. Although we were offered a bottle of wine afterwards - which C declared was more akin to paraffin.
Flying over Venice, the sparkling water, campaniles, domed churches - oh gosh, just beautiful, actually brought a tear to the eye. And then the heat on landing at Marco Polo - divine - having spent 23 years in hot countries I just adore the heat (makes me even livelier if possible). Bus to Venice then a vaporetto and then what felt like a lengthy walk (but nothing compared to the next few days) trying to negotiate the narrow streets with 6 large bags including an outsized tripod bag.
Hotel delightful, right on the Grand Canal opposite the Rialto Market, no straight walls, furniture on the slant, tacky overblown Murano glass mirrors and chandeliers. I'm mesmerized by the view from the window, the Canal is so busy, all sorts of vessels plying back and forth, and all very civilised, no water rage - I could watch this for hours. Who needs TV? Not me for one.
It being late afternoon we change for dinner and set off (sans equipment but avec dot littered map) on a recce for tomorrow, delightful Campo S Maria Nova (Campari soda), Campo Zanipolo (ugly hoardings with Communist posters across square), Campo S Maria Formosa and thence to St Mark's where we discover part of the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs are being renovated and obliterated by ghastly Sisley advertisements. In fact half of the buildings in the square seem to be covered by scaffolding, which is not good news for our filming. Vaporetto back to Rialto for a literary lion photo opportunity (see previous entry). In fact we are beginning to note that the Goldmark logo has taken over this fair city!
Brunetti led us to Antico Dolo in San Polo for some excellent cicheti followed by a divine cuttlefish and polenta. We amble back to Campo SS Apostoli where we indulge in a caffe coretta (and toast Brunetti).
Checked in - I got frisked (the titanium hip always produces a beep!) and I had to empty out my small rucksack - meanwhile Charles' bag stuffed to the brim with batteries, chargers, cables etc is not even questioned!
Plane late leaving, but made up for lost time. BA's current financial straits noted in the lunch - a sandwich. Although we were offered a bottle of wine afterwards - which C declared was more akin to paraffin.
Flying over Venice, the sparkling water, campaniles, domed churches - oh gosh, just beautiful, actually brought a tear to the eye. And then the heat on landing at Marco Polo - divine - having spent 23 years in hot countries I just adore the heat (makes me even livelier if possible). Bus to Venice then a vaporetto and then what felt like a lengthy walk (but nothing compared to the next few days) trying to negotiate the narrow streets with 6 large bags including an outsized tripod bag.
Hotel delightful, right on the Grand Canal opposite the Rialto Market, no straight walls, furniture on the slant, tacky overblown Murano glass mirrors and chandeliers. I'm mesmerized by the view from the window, the Canal is so busy, all sorts of vessels plying back and forth, and all very civilised, no water rage - I could watch this for hours. Who needs TV? Not me for one.
It being late afternoon we change for dinner and set off (sans equipment but avec dot littered map) on a recce for tomorrow, delightful Campo S Maria Nova (Campari soda), Campo Zanipolo (ugly hoardings with Communist posters across square), Campo S Maria Formosa and thence to St Mark's where we discover part of the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs are being renovated and obliterated by ghastly Sisley advertisements. In fact half of the buildings in the square seem to be covered by scaffolding, which is not good news for our filming. Vaporetto back to Rialto for a literary lion photo opportunity (see previous entry). In fact we are beginning to note that the Goldmark logo has taken over this fair city!
Brunetti led us to Antico Dolo in San Polo for some excellent cicheti followed by a divine cuttlefish and polenta. We amble back to Campo SS Apostoli where we indulge in a caffe coretta (and toast Brunetti).
Above: Charles with his caffe coretta
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