After a day on the road we arrived at Camp Serenissima in Venice, we stopped on the mountain road along the way to buy locally produced honey. We had bought some Lavender honey when we were heading south and it really was the most delicious honey I had ever tasted, so we just had to stop and buy more to take back to the UK! The journey up through Croatia, through Slovenia and into Italy was pretty easy except what they say about Italian drivers is true!
Our first day on site was dedicated to a few necessary chores (using the washing machine and tumble dryer) and a cycle ride out along the riverside then on Wednesday we caught the bus into Venice. One of the attractions of this site is the bus stop opposite the entrance and we were able to buy a guide map and our bus tickets at reception.
The journey into Venice was through a scruffy industrialised area, along a long bridge and then the bus arrives at the terminal on the edge of the historic city.
Venice was built on a collection of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges, the first thing you notice is the lack of traffic noise - there are no roads or cars just canals and boats ferrying around all the people. If you want to travel in style then the way to do it is on a Gondola, but we decided not to splash out the necessary 80€, extravagance is not our style!
The architecture of the city is amazing with so many special places of interest - churches, art galleries, museums and the like, but the place every tourist heads for is St Marks square and the Basilica. It was teeming with people but you can't take away the splendour of the magnificent
buildings all built in about the 15th and 16th century.
Sadly the Basilica is undergoing restoration at the moment so it's not looking it's best!
We just wandered round enjoying the grandeur and the people watching -so many nationalities in one place! Some of the atmosphere is obviously lost by the fact that the whole city feels as if it's geared toward the tourist, so many tourist nicknack shops and fast food outlets (this is Italy so fast food is Pizza!) If you want to have a special lunch then the square is the place with its white coated waiters lavishing attention on the diners and a quartet playing elegant music. After you have dined you can then stroll among the designer stores and perhaps buy a new Gucci handbag? You will be safe - the armed guard will make sure of that!
Anyway we bought a few souvenirs from the tacky kiosk and got the bus back....
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