Venice

Marathon in Venice. Perfect conditions for it. I just hope the runners had time to enjoy the fabulous views!

 

I guess they sighed as they went past this bridge 😁

 

So many gondolas, it was remarkable. Especially as each one costs 80 euros per thirty minutes!

Of course, no visit to Venice would be complete without a visit to S. Marco square. It was fantastic even with the hundreds of birds swooping just over our heads.

I just could not imagine how the square must be in summer. Not for me, for sure! I uess every table would be full!

 

Amazing shops with so many weird and wonderful things!

 

How gorgeous to spend time by the Grand Canal again, this time on land. The Rialto Bridge is fantastic and the view down the canal very special. So many comings and goings usually, though as I took this next photo there was a sudden lull in traffic.

 

At every turn there were picturesque, narrow canals, gondalas, cute bridges, rooftop terraces and of course vibrant colours.

 

In the maze of little back alleys we found some unbelievably priced goods, especially clothing. These shoes cost over two thousand dollars! 

 

As for this gorgeous dress below 🤔 it cost nearer three thousand!

 

Unfortunately the fish market was closed as it was Sunday, but the vege stalls all had these beautiful bunches of chiles. Woukd love to have taken some home.

 

Here below is the super view from the fish market up the Grand Canal.

 

I cannot believe I resisted these meringues 🙂

 

How could I not remember my visit of forty years ago? Scenes like the following two seem unforgettable. The colours, the reflections, and  the peace and tranquillity of a car-free city.

 

 

Time for an aperitive I think. Imagine if it could be on this rooftop! 😀

 

As we left for dinner and an evening walk to enjoy the fantastic city lights, we saw this massive cruise ship , which would certainly  have dwarfed our Albatross. Iceland and Greenland seem so long ago now, but I still have such brilliant vivid memories of the many special places.

 

What better than a final glimpse of the Basilica di San Marco lit up. 😎

 

Ravenna markets and arrival in Venice

Back to sunny days ! How gorgeous to see this huge magnificent flower contrasted against the cloudless blue sky

 

Our firsr stop today was the Saturday market which was absolutely massive. I don't think I have ever seen such a vast area of stalls selling everything from kitchenware to bedding and even beds, plus of course dozens of clothes stalls, food stalls, flowers and plants. It was very colourful and there was a great relaxed atmosphere. 

 

Heading back to town, we passed this square next to the Duomo. I really love the pine trees here, Pineta, which look like wonderfully huge umbrellas, umbrellone! 

 

We really enjoyed our short break in the Slow Food area. Amazing Trompe d'oeil

I had a frustrating time there when I met some Japanese tourists and wanted to help them out in Japanese, only to find that all I could say was in Italian!

Not only did we enjoy the huge general market, but we were treated to another small but very colouful farner's market in the majestic arcades.  

 

Nearing the time we needed to head back to our homestay, we happened upon a fantastic tiny museum with very unusual mosaics , including these pretty birds

 

Plus there was a brilliant view of the very first church  we had visited, s.Francesco, where we had seen the underwater crypt with its goldfish in it! Really unique.

 

Cute sign on the window of our favourite restaurant, the Palumba!

 

And now, here I am in Venice, about forty years since I was last here. Funnily enough I have virtuallt no memories of that time, so was totally blown away by this incredible place and our fabulous trip down the Grand Canal, made even more special by the gorgeous cloud formations. 

 

I loved everything about the forty minute trip - colour, architecture, the bustle, gondolas, bridges, and , and , and!

 

I could not help but wonder how amazing it would  be to sit and enjoy an aperitive on the top of this building 😀

 

The sun set. What perfect timing!

 

We had a delicious meal close to our b and b. The end of a super day.

Ravenna and Classe

The Adriatic and the long sandy beaches were not quite as fantastic as I had imagined. Out of season they are not great places to visit, though I did enjoy a paddle in the shallow and clear water of the Adriatic. The beach sadly was a construction site, with sand being shifted around to create protective dunes. Regardless of all of this, Joy ans the other Barbara in my class , and I had a very good time strolling along collecting shells!

 

I loved this 'airdresser's' name! 

 

Yesterday we took a very rickety bus to Classe, just out of town. Here, there is the amazing Basilica di s. Apollonare with its fantastic marble pillars and even more fabulous mosaics.

 

Here a close up of the sheep. Such incredible detail.

 

Outside in the garden I found the terracotta pot of my dreams! Will have to make do with just a picture!

 

Today, the weather I have been accustomed to for the past months returned! It is amazing how blue sky changes everything😀 it was lovely to have lunch in the Piazza di Populo with the sun on my back!

 

I am not sure of the significance of these lovely birds in the gardens near Dante's tomb, but I really like them!

 

What a perfect evening for the Festa dei vini in the old town. Gorgeous setting and some good wines.

 

Here, Joy and I at the start of the evening. It was fascinating to hear everyone rave about NZ wines when I told them where I was from. Everyone everywhere I go seems to be in love with New Zealand. It is great!

 

There was such a fantastic atmosphere here in this corner of the square. We had a delicious small plate of pasta with mushrooms. 

 

As we left, we found a fantastic Slow Food area - so colourful.

 

Ravenna

So, here we are in the mosaic capital of Europe and it is time to get the brain cells working again ( actually, I think I have used them pretty well up to now anyway!)  to attend a week of Italian.

Gorgeous home and remarkable bed in the attic.  After my just about falling out of the skinny single bed on the first night, the owners of b and b kindly  made up the double bed for me. It is amazingly high. In fact, to look at it it seems you need to take a run at it to get on! Wasn't sure if my fear of heights would be a problem! No worries. Just need to be careful getting out of bed during the night. I simply slide down the side!

 

The city of Ravenna is a wonderfully comfortable size, with lots of pedestrian areas, hence clean and  calm! 

Street art is also very interesting.

 

Basilica di S Vitale is one of the most famous tourist attractions due to its phenomenal mosaics. Some of the most famous can be found here. They date back to sixth century. Sadly photos cannot do justice to the mosaic masterpieces here, many world-renowned.

 

Mausoleo di Galla Placida is tiny but the fabulous mosaic of the Good Shepherd ,, which adorns one of its walls, is beautiful.

 

Actually, I loved the marble window areas almost as much as the mosaics here.

 Needless to say, food here is delicious. One speciality  is piadina, a type of flat bread, with numerous fillings.

 

Today we went to the Basilica di s. apollinare nuovo, the largest area of mosaics from the 5 and 6 th century in Europe. Very impressive indeed. 

 

The mosaics showing the Three Wise Men were particularly amazing.

 

Battistero degli Ariani was another smaller monument with this fantastic mosaic composition on the ceiling -  I had a stiff neck after an afternoon of mosaic viewing!

 

A very similar design was to be found on the ceiling of the Battistero di Neoniano. 

While the colours of paintings fade, the glass olours remain just as intense, even 16 centuries later. Brilliant!

 

After 3 hours  of Italian in an excellent class with a very nice teacher, followed  by lunch and sightseeing, we were really happy to get back to Il giardino Roccioso, our b and b. Trying to do my homework in the lovely garden there was quite tricky, thanks to Roneo, one of the four cats,  who was delighted  to have company outside,  away from the visiting grandchildren 😀