Postnote to yesterdays entry.... I had just posted when a local started asking me about my phone - ended up going on my first italian gelato date - hilarious! Got told i have very important eyes. He was very young and charming and I was curious to see if all the cliches were true (yep, they cut to the chase fast and are over the top romantic). I blew him off after I finished my icecream as I wasn't really interested and it's hard to find a real connection when t...

Breakfast is served in the room again (chocolate croissant, cappuchino, bread and cheese), but it's not quite the same without the view of the grand canal! This morning I walked to the famous Campo de fiori, home to a produce market during the day and bars at night! Ther fresh produce is so lovingly displayed, you immediately want to buy the huge range of fruit and vegetables. I am seeing alot of beans and artichokes, stone fruit and zucchini flowers (still try...

I woke late and enjoyed a long slow breakfast at my window posse, and watched Venice go about it's daily business. I caught a midday train to Rome, it's a 4 hour journey that went quickly thanks to my new book about the stig and top gear compliments my motor enthusiast English friends. Rome is a massive contrast to Venice and lake como. First of all they are crazy drivers - there are no lanes, there are no sides of the road, you do what you can get away with ...

A glorious day, I was woken up to the sounds of many rowing teams passing my window and giving a team chant as they passed under the accademia bridge. I watched them all go past as I ate my breakfast from my window. Today is a major festival in Venice, all the maritime areas of Italy are here to compete in rowing races through the grand canal and the town is eerily quiet of locals except for the canal banks! The vaporettos have been suspended for most of the da...

Amazing to wake up in Venice, I listened to the sound of water outside my window and boats passing during the night, then the sounds of the cafes setting up woke me early. My breakfast was served in the window alcove, marmelade croissant, roll with cheese, juice and tea with an amazing view. I wanted to hit the ground running and get ahead of the tourist crowds, so I was in the first group to go in the basilica de San Marco today. This was an absolutely stunning ...