La Serenissima #1

View from the front of our hotel

Got our little baggage train from the Florence hotel to the station and eventually onto the train. Left on time (well possible a couple of minutes late). We didn’t have the benefit of any entertainment of the sort we had on the trip from Rome to Florence. Instead we had three American women behind us who came on relatively late with numerous pieces of luggage and one of whom talked incessantly in the sort of loud nasal accent which can only serve to reinforce the prejudices of others (well me in particular).

Our hotel is the terracotta number in the middle

Arrived at Venice Santa Lucia station at 12:30 to clouds and rain. Managed to get ourselves onto a ferry – with just a little help from a local. The ferry terminal is right outside the hotel so straight off an into reception. We are on the Grand Canal looking straight across to San Giorgio Maggiore. The hotel has an interesting décor – the walls in our room are covered in gold brocade while the bedspread is the same pattern in red and gold.  Ju thinks it has the feel of a Victorian brothel. She must have had a interesting former life if she knows what that was like. Will get some photos taken and slap them up for comment. Thanks in advance Sarah!

We'll do our best to behave

Got sorted and had lunch in the restaurant at the front of the hotel to watch the world going by. Well that part of Tokyo that isn’t in Hawaii! Clearly Venice is a favourite.

Then watched around St Mark’s Square and scoped out the shops around the edge. There is some amazing glass on display. Some of the chandeliers which were jaw dropping (and that’s not necessarily a positive comment in all cases). Then roamed some surrounding streets catching some classic Venetian sights.

We have booked on a small group walking tour of the Basilica and other areas in the morning and one around the Doge’s Palace tomorrow afternoon. Think we’ll go out to Murano on Sunday. morning.