Lost in Venice

Venice was brilliant! Maybe a little pricey, but so beautiful and so much fun just to wander around and get lost down a little ally way. Would love to have had longer time there.



I know the guidebooks say there is more to Venice than St Mark's Piazza, but it truly is a great place just to sit and watch all the people and the pigeons (Jay and I were trying to work out who outnumbered who!) You can enjoy a gelati in the sun or opt for one of the pricey tea rooms. Jay and ! experienced both! We went into a really famous old cafe called 'Lavena' (there was a doco on SBS about a year ago), I had an Italian hot chocolate, which consisted of warmed milk and melted chocolate and Jay had a beer. Of course there's all the trimmings including chips and little biscuits, mineral warter, silver tray... It was our most expensive meal in Venice, coming to Euro 28!



We didn't do any church visits in Venice, instead we opted for the Dogé's Palace and walked across the Bridge of Sighs and visited the old prison cells, armory and the amazing council rooms. If you ever go to the palace and see the main room of parliament, look out for the fallen Dogé who is represented by a black cloth!



In the afternoon we headed over to Murano to see the glass museum and factories. The museum is small but worth the visit, especially before seeing the factories as it helped us understand the different techniques and the different styles of glass being made. It wasn't as easy as we thought to find a factory, you seem to have to wander through the shops first... After the museum I expected to see people in 15th Century robes creating exquisite goblets and chandeliers, but just found guys wearing Italian version of hard yakka! Kinda ruined the romantic mystery behind Venetian Glass...

Thanks to Wendy for tip on Campo Santa Margherita - we had a delicious dinner there - homemade pumpkin Gnocchi! Best dish I've had in Italy. It was also good fun, lots of uni students and good pub atmosphere.

The next day we headed out to the Museum of Modern Art, only to find all the Venetian Civic museums were closed for the day due to a security services strike! Luckily the Peggy Guggenheim Museum (which is privately run) was still open. It was a nice place just to visit, her garden is lovely and quiet and lots of sculptures to keep us entertained. Inside we found Miro, Dali, Picasso, etc... so that made up for the strike. Was disappointed that we missed the costume museum, but it just gives me an excuse to return! Am considering studying Murano glass for my masters, as it would require an excursion!



Was very sad to leave Venice, although I think Assisi and Umbria will make up for it - it's really magic here - but more on that later!

Talk soon,
Lucy.