Reflections of Venice

Well our 2 weeks visit has come to an end and once again we pack our luggage and move onto other parts of Italy. We loved our stay in Venice and would come back again if we had the opportunity.

They have incredible systems set up to move people and things around the city. The barges move constantly on the canals transporting people and goods. You should see the couriers unpacking boxes and placing them on carts to transport to shops or people's houses. Then there is the rubbish removal, you have to put out your plastic bags on the street before 8.30am for the carts to wheel in and remove. When cart is full they wheel them to the barge waiting and a crane picks up the cart and lifts it over the barge, then the bottom opens and the rubbish is deposited in the hole in the barge.

When moving carts around the city you have to take into account the masses of people, narrow streets and bridges. You can hear the sound of 'attentioni' coming from behind you and that means get out of the way I have a cart that can run you over. Lol

I would hate to be in Venice in the summer as they say its really crowded. We had to get use to the volume of people around us and it was good that our apartment was in a quiet street so we could get away from the noise and sleep soundly. Most people live in the quieter parts and every small community has its campo and church. We lost county of the number of churches in Venice.

We were impressed with the history of Venice and you could spend all day in the many museums. The art work and sculpture were beautiful and everywhere you go you can see history around you.

Food was fantastic with lots to choose from with bars being the cheaper option. Their bars were small and sell most types of drinks and light food which was good for lunch. We brought our lunch from them sometimes as a take away which we then walked to the nearest Campo and sat at the well to eat with the rest of the tourists. The wells where once used by the community to receive water and we were told in those days you could only come twice a day. They have three levels of steps around them so good for sitting and catching our breath.

We visited the Jewish ghetto that was a place for refuge during the time of the inquisition when Jews were persecuted. The Venicians would lock them in by raising the entrances so that they would not be found. Also in the Second World War they hid in the ghetto however Mussolini gave them over to the Nazis and many were taken to the death camps. There are plaques on the wall of the main campo depicting this horrible event.

On a lighter note I brought a new coat in Venice and gave my old one to charity. We also purchase a Murano glass lamp shade to remind us of our visit. We really enjoyed the Peggy Guggenheim museum, I have added a section of photos of some of the art and the gardens. Very thought provoking art.