Traveller’s Tales part X

The last part can be found: HERE


Once in the San Polo area we had an opportunity to see a little of Venice which is off the beaten track. Here, many of the houses were showing their age and in a bad state of repair.


The waterways here are very narrow and passing can prove problematic.


Venice is not without it’s odd characters. I assumed that these people must be the local Mafia.


Some of the gondolas plying for hire are very ornate and require considerable upkeep.


San Polo is where many of the local markets can be found. Although there seems to be a total absence of anything you can purchase and eat yourself. This along with the total lack of public seating is all designed to force you into the horrendously expensive café’s.

Venice’s history was based on trade a knack they haven’t relinquished in the twenty-first century and even in Shakespeare’s day it comes as no surprise that his character Shylock is found here:

Signior Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances:
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,


Nevertheless markets always fascinate me…..


Especially to see the variety of colours and unusual vegetables…..


Although there are lots of things I don’t fancy eating…….


…here mullet and salmon seem to be very popular…….


…what women there were about didn’t seem all that friendly……


... the waterways are less crowded and in some ways more scenic than those nearer the Rialto Bridge.


..and certainly more colourful


Finding where Lily’s friends lived proved more than problematic and while she could guide me to within a few yards of where they lived I still had a lot of name plates to trawl through.


It was an incredibly hot day and even the pigeons were having trouble coping.


Of course in Venice people parks boats like they would cars anywhere else….


After lunch with Lily’s friends we made our way slowly back to St. Marks’s square to pick up our water bus back to our hotel…..


It’s great to see so many women turning to photography and I was able to bag a few more photos for my collection of ‘Nikon Girls.’


Venice is a great place for weddings with people coming from as far away as Japan. I even got invited to take a few shots of the happy couple…..


… finally one last look at St. mark’s Square….


…..a couple of minutes spent helping some very lost Japanese girls…….


….one last ‘classic’ Venice shot…..


… then onto the big water bus……….


…and a final wave goodbye to Venice. Our mini break was over. Our next destination was Split in Croatia and back to work again.

Venice is not one of my favourite places I’m afraid as the money grubbing tends to leave a bad taste in your mouth. Although there is a lot to see and I guess everyone really needs to see it once. But for those of you following my holiday destination recommendations I couldn’t really give it any more than 6/10. Sorry Venice but some public seating and reasonable coffee prices wouldn’t kill you!