Saturday 26 May Venice

Woke up in Venice. It’s not every day that you can say that!! Our hotel is superb, on a little back roadway - well, walkway really, and if you lean out the window, you look down to the canal about ten metres beyond the window. It is quite central, about ten minutes walk from the Rialto Bridge, but not right in the tourist heart of this town. And this is a tourist town. I used to think that Central Otago was a bit of a tourist hotspot, but it is just nothing compared to this place. It is no place for claustrophobes, that’s for sure.

Murano Island

This morning we walked down to the other side of Venice, and caught a water bus to Murano island, famous for its glass blowing. We found a ‘fornacio’ (furnace), and settled in to watch a very skilful and entertaining display of the art of glass blowing. The kids were enamoured of the tiny little glass animals that they make here, so bought a menagerie of them (ok, ok, I admit, I succumbed and bought a couple myself).

Glass sculpture, Murano Island

Shaping the handles on a glass vase

Another glass sculpture, Murano

Waiting at the bus stop to catch a waterbus back to Venice

We got back to Venice mid-afternoon, stopped for a quick break and then set off for some art appreciation time. Thought about going to the Gallerie dell’Accademia but it was frighteningly expensive, so we went a bit more modern and visited the Peggy Guggenheim collection instead. Some lovely Picassos, and a very interesting/disturbing Dali, but I must admit, Jackson Pollock does absolutely nothing for me whatsoever, no matter how good they say he is. Looks like finger painting to me! 

As if this town needs any more tourist attractions!
The Leaning Tower of Venice - great, tick that off, now we don't need to go to Pisa!

Chagall - The Rain

Jackson Pollock - go on, tell me that your 6 year old couldn't have done that!!

Magritte - Empire of Light - this was written up as having a disturbing and sinister feeling,
but Romy and I agreed it was actually lovely and restful.

Boccioni - Unique Forms of Continuity in Space

Relaxing and watching the traffic at the Guggenheim.

   Walked back home through the Dorsoduro district, and stopped for a gelato and the ubiquitous Venetian ‘spritz’ drink - very pleasant in the warm early evening.

Gelatos - thanks Ms Gunn!!!

End of another busy day