A slower pace was the plan for today as my feet begged forgiveness. Toasted pancetta and cheese for breakfast … following a shower that went inexplicably cold in the middle… just before washing my hair… which by the way now has a splendid Italian bouffant going on. I’m definitely feeling the part!
This morning’s job was to go to the railway station and by our bus ticket to Treviso airport… which is about 40 minutes away, for our flight to Paris on Tuesday. It’s a Ryan Air flight … so of course the cheap flight is balaced by the inconvenient airport … similar to the Jetstar / Avalon thing in Melbourne. The Railway Station is just over the Grand Canal from the apartment… Grand meaning ‘big and busy’ not necessarily opulent.
Anyway this was easily done … and a bit of grocery shopping at the local supermarket and we were ready to wander back to the Rialto Bridge and meet up with another walking tour. The Rialto Bridge is one of the main links between our district and the touristy bit of Venice. It is always packed with people trying to get ‘the picture’ of Venice.
Today’s tour was of St Mark’s Basilica … one of the most amazing cathedrals I’ve seen. It has a very Byzantine design influence and some of the most amazing mosaics I’ve seen. It is not permitted to take photos inside … but they don’t actually police it… which left me feeling annoyed at people who don’t respect the rules…but without any photos of this magnificent cathedral. Anyway here’s one from the outside…
Interestingly, at this time of year the level of the Adriatic Sea rises due to a change in prevailing winds and higher tides… so in a lot of the lower lying area the locals are setting up trestles and ramps so us tourists don’t get our feet wet. There was in fact a large puddle out the front of the cathedral.
You are allowed to take photos from the terrace of the cathedral … Over St Mark’s square (San Marco)
And then out past the Doges Palace
Again photos are not allowed in the Doges Palace and it is better controlled. The walls an ceilings are covered in magnificent renaissance paintings for Venice’s most famous painters in a similar style to Versailles Chateaux. The Doges were the Head of Government in Venice up until Napoleon Bonaparte came along, took over and took a lot of the significant art pieces back to the Louvre in Paris.
Following the tour it was back to the apartment. Our intention was to buy pizza for dinner, but most place were shut … so it was home cooked pasta again. I’ll leave you for today with a sunset photo from the Rialto Bridge (as cliched as that might be!
Until tomorrow!
Rob
Rob's "Beats Working" Blog 