Traveller’s Tales part IX

The last part can be found: HERE


Taking the backstreet Lily and I continued our journey to the San Polo district of Venice. One of the advantages of taking the back alleyways was being able to stand on the little bridges that cross the minor canals where the Gondoliers ply their trade. This party have hired the services of an accordionist and a singer in addition to the Gondolier which by my estimate must have set these tourists back the best part of $500 for half an hour. Seeing a thrifty Yorkshirewoman on the bridge the man recognised the error of his ways.


Here you can see the Gondoliers making their way up to the Grand Canal.


Here the Grand Canal is just the other side of the little bridge.


There’s nothing finer in the winter than hand-made Italian leather gloves and despite the exorbitant price I treated myself to an emerald green pair.


The traditional masks I decided however weren’t my scene. I’d already heard about the wicked goings on at the masked balls in Venice.


Shortly we reached the Grand Canal close to the Rialto bridge. You can see the number of water-taxis plying their trade. The whole scene is best described as frenetic.


There was even a Gondolier available to sing us a few bars of Puccini which Lily enjoyed thoroughly but he soon threw his hook when it became clear we were not going to grease his palm.


The whole place reminded one of either Times Square or Piccadilly Circus with the constant to-ing and fro-ing.


Finally the Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto) came into sight. It is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal and is the oldest bridge across the canal. It was completed in 1591.


How the boatmen avoid collisions I don’t know especially as boats lack brakes……


The whole place was heaving. Goods being unloaded, Gondoliers plying their trade and water taxis everywhere, plus the odd water bus. Virtually all goods arrive here by water.


Here is a view from the bridge itself looking down at the chaotic waterway.


The bridge is a good place to observe the Rialto, which has been for many centuries the financial and commercial centre of Venice. It is an area of the San Polo sestiere of Venice also known for its markets.

From here you can observe girls out sight-seeing……….


…look down on the busy hotels and cafés…


If you stay long enough you can watch the world go by……. even brides (Venice is a very popular place for weddings).


There is a continuous stream of traffic of goods of all kinds…….


Wine, food in fact everything has to be brought in by boat which in part may explain the exorbitant prices.


Souvenir shops run either side of the bridge where you can buy tourist bric-a-brac to your heart’s content……


From the bridge you can even see Italian men going about their every day work.


Even dogs being taken out for a walk….


However by now Lily’s feet were giving out so we took a taxi to her friends who conveniently had their own mooring….. to be continued.