This morning’s watchword is Wellingtons. Wellies are really what are needed to walk around Venice. Half the streets are flooded in the early morning and people have to walk around on elevated boards set in the middle of the streets. By 13.30 ish the waters had subsided and we could actually walk on St Marks Square
Things that struck me:
- There were lots of people in the Louis Vuitton shop. The one at the hotel in Bucharest only had two guards and two members of staff.
- The Doge’s Palace was stunning and very much worth a visit. It and the whole area around St Marks Square just oozed wealth and power. You really got a sense of Venice as a world power during its heyday. I could imagine being surrounded by Venetians in period dress making political decisions, talking to ambassadors and doing business deals.
- Although it was a miserably damp day and although Venice would probably look much nicer in the sun we were able to visit the Bell Tower and Doge’s Palace without having to queue. You could imagine long waits at the height of the season and it looked as if the place was pretty busy as it was.
- The narrow streets with buildings so close that at times you could almost reach out and touch the one opposite made me think of what London might have been before the Great Fire. The buildings here are all stone built unlike the wooden construction of 17th Century London.
Our hotel, the L’Orologio, is in a really convenient spot right next to the fish and vegetable markets and near to the Rialto Bridge. Famous as it is, the Rialto is I’m afraid not much of an attraction in its current boarded over state. The hotel is less than one year old and has a great combination of Italian design whilst also being very comfortable.
We had a pleasant breakfast at around 09.15 and then “hit Venice”. At 11.30 we stopped for a cuppa. Anne had cappuccino and I had a very luxurious chocolate with a brandy. It seemed the right thing to do, so miserable was the weather. Tomorrow is forecast to be nicer, sunny even.
Back at the hotel for a chill at 2.30 ish and then out again, in the drizzle, looking for some action. There was none. Most people with any sense were indoors. We wandered looking for a bar to sit in. There is nothing along the lines of a pub. They have what look like sandwich shops with small shelves where people stand and sip at espressos or some pink Venetian plonk.
As we were aimlessly wandering looking for a haven I stopped still in my tracks and a local woman behind me bumped into me and muttered something. I guess they have to put up with the tourists but they (we) do bring a lot of cash into the city.
I leave you with a multitude of videos: