More to come

Lots to tell you,......
Mah Jong, Church, dinner with friends, the circolo......
Been too busy to write but will catch up tomorrow!

Revealed

I have done a complete circle on the vapporretto number 2. It goes from Palanca round the top by Troncchetto, down the Grand Canal to San Marco, across to San Giorgio and up the Guidecca canal back to Palanca. I stopped off at Troncchetto to get a new timetable. It was a great way to see what has been happening. Some buildings have been revealed from years of been covered in scaffolding and plastic, others now covered for renovations.

The Palazzo Ca’ Rezzonico has now been uncovered and looks beautiful; one across the canal has been covered, the Academia is still shrouded in plastic. Further up the canal the Palazzo da Mosto which has had scaffolding up for many years and is in a bad state of repair is now covered in plastic and has a builders sign up, maybe now it is undergoing restoration.

Pictures

This is a pretty little campo on my way to the vapporetto - it will be a lovely area for the residents to sit in the evening
.

Tradidtional view of St Marco

Then blotted out by a ferry!

The correlli

This morning I have had my first outing with the correlli – shopping trolley. Now I have one of these I am definitely a local. First I went to the bottle shop with two empty water bottles which I had one refilled with red wine and the other with white wine. E2 a litre. I have been assured the wine is good, I’ll let you know. It was then time for a coffee and brioche with people and dog watch. Yes these two dogs were inside the bar!

Saturday morning ladies having a chat

At the coop I was able to boy more heavy things than usual and it was easy to drag back to my apartment. Here is the correlli outside my door with a view to the lagoon.

The next photograph is looking the other way down the Rio Longo. The canal is very pretty, lots of boats including the vaporetto made into a houseboat. They have a wood burning stove which smells wonderful. I have said hello to the couple who are Danish. I am led to believe it is for sale Euros 150,000.

Panorama

Yesterday I had an exciting outing with Annie to Panorama - the Veneto's equivalent of Asda. We just missed the free bus so bought tickets to go on the regular bus which came within a few minutes. Instead of going over the bridge to the mainland we went round the back of the city to Troncchetto where we waited, doors open & there is a bitter wind for ten minutes, then we went back to Ple. Le Roma before going to the supermarket. What an adventure!

We had loveley, cheap coffee & brioche at Brek (restaurant) before having a good look around. Everything was much cheaper than in Venice and there was a great selection. At the cash till Annie had forgotten to have her pomegranite weighed so I went off to do that - but had to find them first to see what number it was. My turn and I couldn't find my purse. The people in the queue behind were definately going, English aaahh!

Arrived

My travel here to Venice was quite painless this year – considering the bad weather of the last two years. My thanks to Margaret and Richard, my next door neighbours, for getting up even earlier than they usually do on a Tuesday morning to drive me to the airport.

Here are a few photos from the aircraft over the Dolomites and of the Islands in the lagoon. I looked out and saw we were flying over Marmalada but didn't have my camera out then. The mountains is very recognisable with it's flat top. The airports were very quiet and there was only 35 people on the plane!

The Dolomites Clouds Venice

I managed fine with my two suitcases and hand luggage. On my way from the bus to the vaporretto I met someone I know from the Circolo – the meeting I attend on a Monday. Unfortunately the ladies name escapes me but we had a chat which was welcoming.

Marta met me at Palanca vaporretto stop and helped by pulling one of the cases, it is about a ten minute walk to my apartment. I was pleased with it, it’s small – less cleaning – but is very clean to start with. Marta showed me around and said there was a vaporretto strike the next day. I would only be able to get across to the mainland – Dorsudoro. I left the unpacking and took off for the Rialto with my laptop to set up internet access and my phone wasn’t working. I got both activated and made my way back to the Zattere while waiting for the vaporretto in walked Gaspare! We travelled and walked back together as far as the coop where I needed to shop. On the way he introduced me to the owner in the salumeria, He lives very near to me.

Wonderful start.

On my way to the vaporretto
I slept late Wednesday morning and it was 11am when I walked along to the shops and had a coffee before stocking up further at the coop. I forgot to take my corelli – shopping trolley – this is the first time I have had the use of one! Later I went over to Dorsudoro and had a coffee in Dino’s bar – welcomed with a handshake and later a prosecco in
Aliague and was kissed by Stephano and stopped for a chat with Phuphio at the news stand. He wanted to know if my reading taste had improved, but no I would still be buying Hello!

This evening more friends have arrived and we are meeting for coffee in the morning and going to Panorama the hyper market on Friday.

I am back home.

Almost ready

Just one week to go!

I still have several Calderdale circuit meetings to attend, a few last errands to run and pack.
The front bedroom is getting very overrun with things I plan to take with me. I just need to halve it! I know I have 46 Kilos of luggage allowance plus unlimited hand baggage weight - but I have to carry, pull and navigate it all on and off the bus, down ramps onto the vaporretto and over two bridges! I will be ready for a spritz when I arirve.

Venetian friends have sent messages looking forward to seeing me which is wonderful. I am so thankful I have been accepted as part of the community there.

See you soon.