Traveller’s Tales part VII

The first part can be found: HERE

The second part can be found: HERE

The third part can be found: HERE

The fourth part can be found: HERE

The fifth part can be found: HERE

The sixth part can be found: HERE

After finishing our business in Trieste, Lily and I were scheduled to make our way back to Split in Croatia. The most convenient flight seemed to be from nearby Venice. I’ve never been a big fan of the city, but Lily was keen to visit as she had friends there.

We arrived in Venice late in the evening and as our flight wasn’t until late the following day we set out early the next morning to explore.


We caught a water-taxi and headed for the hotspots along the main waterfront as I tried to grab some snaps from the bouncing boat. No easy task hanging out a window with spray flying about.

Soon we were passing the impressive Dominican Church of Santa Maria del Rosario, although I didn’t see any poor Jesuits hanging around.


Shortly after we were passing the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.


Every so often we would pass one of the little bridges over the many narrow canals that intersect Venice. As we did so our first gondolier of the day passed by. The little building to the left with the yellow signs is the water-bus stop. Although Lily couldn’t see anything I had to keep up a running commentary and woe-betide me if I missed out any pertinent detail!


Minutes later we were passing under the Campanile di San Marco. The 323 foot bell tower which sits at the corner of St. Marks Square.


Seconds later St Mark’s Square itself came into view, with St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doges Palace and the Clock tower with the archway into the Mercerie leading to the Rialto (centre of the photo). While all this was taking place Lily was busy correcting my pronunciation. By now I was well-attuned to the fact that each minute with Lily was an education in its own right.


Then past the Londra Palace hotel where I stayed many years ago with my parents. In the foreground can be seen a local water-bus and behind that the bronze equestrian monument to King Vittorio Emanuele II.


Many people think that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a one off. However, the truth is that the Italians specialise in them and Venice is not short of the odd tower which is on the scunt as we say in Yorkshire. Here you can also see another of the little bridges.


Once we were dropped off at the Taxi station, Lily and I made our way arm in arm back to St. Mark’s Square. Although it was still early, only around 9am, the tourists were already much in evidence.


As we walked I paused from time to time to check out the scenery…..


….as well as remembering that any good travelogue also needs to zoom into the detail…


By now the first gondoliers were starting their day……..


Unfortunately the Bridge of Sighs was mostly boarded up for restoration work…


..which meant there were going to be many disappointed customers for the very expensive gondolier rides…….


Meanwhile I decided to capture a few of the classic views as I knew Jaye would complain if I didn’t. I decided I’d better frame some good ones that would pass scrutiny………. so I began to look for something a bit more National Geographic.




After ferreting about these looked like the classic views to me……


All I needed now was a jolly gondolier with the quintessential straw hat! Snap! I found one. Much to Lily’s amusement I overcame my dislike of Venice and began to give my own rendition of the Duke of Plaza-Toro. Not that I’m a comic baritone you understand. All we needed now were the twenty-four maidens to declare their undying love, not that I had any intention of leaving them all to a pair of gondoliers.


Finally, having got those in the bag I was heartened to see so many other girls taking up photography………. To be continued.