I woke up without a hangover surprisingly, following my fun night with Bill & Mel, but with a few new mossie bites! Buggers.
I decided to jump on a Vaperretto and head down the Grand Canal to St Marks. It’s a fabulous cheap way to see the Grand Canal. The Vaperretto was pretty busy but it’s such a fantastic ride! So much to see. I actually jumped off before St Marks Square and walked. I stopped in a little church which happens to have one if the only paintings by Reubens in Venice, beautiful. Just before St Marks, near all the hugely expensive designer shops I came across a bit of a Gondola Jam! It was brilliant to watch, all the gondolas and a guy singing opera! Fantastic.
St Marks Square and the Basilica are spectacular. It is such a wonderful space. There was wonderful music being played at one of the Cafes, the sun was shining, the views were fabulous, simply beautiful.
I had a lovely wander and stopped to admire a painting on one of the stalls, the guy setting up who was also the artist called me over, I was then expecting a hard sell, but instead we had a lovely chat about his art, his life in Venice, he talked about the painting that I’d admired and when I said I would think about he took my hand and kissed, no hard sell, no pressure just an artists loving what he does. It was wonderful. My plan is to go back tomorrow and buy the painting.
I jumped back on the Vaperretto and headed back down the Grand Canal, on the way I was standing by the edge, holding onto the side when a very tiny, very old, very smokey lady tottered over muttering and looking at me gesticulating at the place I was holding on to, as she got right up to me she said something about living here, I guessed she wanted to stand in my place and hold on, which is fine, I moved, but she kept throwing my evils and muttering under her breath like some sort of barmy Venetian witch! 😂
I jumped off the Vaperretto at the Rialto Market, a great daily local market selling all sorts but particularly fresh fish and seafood, lots of glorious looking fresh seafood. I love local markets, the hustle & bustle it also puts you in the middle of local life, which is great. I stopped in a little cafe and grabbed a sandwich and some water, cost €3 👍😀I walked back towards the apartment and called into another free exhibition this one was Art & Design. It was fantastic, the work was superb very thoughtful, looking at themes such as recycling, energy transfer, feminism even some about Surfing! I chatted to a lovely Mexican art student who was volunteering during her year studying in Venice, she talked through some of the work. Once again the exhibition was housed in a beautiful old Venetian Palazzo, this one overlooking the Grand Canal with amazing views!
In the afternoon I walked back down towards the lagoon, as this is where Hayley will be arriving at! So excited to see her. 😍
I visited more Exhibitions, one about Grenada, which was a combination of art and a film, very good. More beautiful buildings, more stunning views! To be fair everywhere you look in Venice offers a stunning view!
Hayley’s Waterbus arrived at 5.40! So weird to be meeting her in Venice! We dropped her bag off then went out to explore.
We had a lovely meal and Hayley had her first Aperol Spritz! (She liked it!) Then we wandered slowly back to the apartment, listening to all the church bells and enjoying a Gelato. Perfect.
Ciao Bellas 💖💖
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