We have about a one hour wait at the train station after our 3 days in Venice. It rained here as we arrived and it's now drizzling as we leave, but for the rest of the time, Venice turned on glorious sunny days and balmy nights. Unfortunately, we have both been ill. I had a cold and cough for most of the time on the ship and Grant has had the same while we've been in Venice . Hopefully we have got that out of our system , so that we can be healthy in our last 3 weeks overseas.
Venice never ceases to amaze. It's hard not to be drawn in by the colours, the sites and the sounds, which doesn't include one scooter, bike, or bus! And believe me we haven't missed being skittled by any! Gondolas don't make much noise fortunately.
We have resisted the temptation to buy all the tourist crap on offer here. Murano glass is readily available, as is the cheaper chinese imported version and it is difficult to tell it apart. However I did manage to purchase a watch on one of the many shops on the Rialto bridge, in fact I bought one at the same shop last time I was here 4 years ago. And we did buy a colored glass perfume bottle, which now matches our others from home. Leather gloves were plentiful and I'd like to buy some for Deanna and I, given that we both do the King William St bus run on cold Adelaide afternoons, but I think they will be better value in Florence which is where we head next.
Farewell Venezia! It's a special place. It's hard to believe people actually live here. The History is everywhere...you can feel it and breathe it. The cafe we had drinks at last night, "Florian", opened in 1720. Australia hadn't been settled, yet the Venetians were serving coffee to weary travellers and they are still doing it. Around every corner you expect to see a Venetian in full costume ready for a masquerade ball. Actually I did see a couple of Casanova's!
Ciao Venezia!