We've been to Venice ...

We knew we wanted to revisit Venice, but last year we were so lucky with the weather,we thought it would be impossible to equal it.  However, a good forecast spurred us on to go this week.

Venice is just in a realm of its own, not just the canals, but the maze of tiny streets, much like the souks of Morocco, the absence of cars, and the sea light all produce an effect that is almost mythical.

This time we stayed in a hotel in an old Palazzo very much in the ancient centre of the city - like all the palazzos, it has a water gate where goods and people can be loaded and offloaded.

We walked to the Arsenale - the ancient naval base of the Venetian Republic, still in use by the Italian navy. There we caught the end of a team rowing event - illustrating the dramatic standing-up style better known on the one man gondolas.

(This post nearly never happened - on our last morning, the camera card became corrupted, and it appeared all our Venice photos were lost; it was very disappointing.    Back at Barga, it still looked as if the card was beyond repair, but a piece of software bought off the internet miraculously saved the day.  A very 21st century experience indeed!)

Gondolas and vaporettos on the Grand Canal seen from the Rialto Bridge 
on our walk from railway station to hotel

but the smaller canals have their own charm - note barge with load of chestnut beams 

Barbara at front door of our hotel - fortunately there was a side entry for pedestrians!

View from our bedroom window

Where light meets water

One of the magnificent lions guarding the Arsenale (they were pinched from Constantinople!)

Racing rowers at the Arsenale

Night view of La Fenice - Venice's opera house where Verdi operas had their first nights

Our waiter took our picture in this restaurant near to La Fenice

Through the maze on the way back to our hotel