Venice 4 - stuff

The shopping in Venice is extraordinary. You name the label and you will find a store here. I even found a couple of Australian designer labels! There are also heaps and heaps of the mask and glass stores with prices as diverse as the tourists that visit. Occasionally you will stumble across a very different store and they were the ones that I loved. There was a store where a man made leather bound books in the traditional methods. The store smelt like leather and the books were magnificent. There was another store where they sold minature porcelain items such as handbags and shoes! These were just adorable and some of them caused me to laugh out loud. I resisted the urge to buy a mask even though there were some trully inspired ones that were just beautiful in their appearance and the way in which they are made because, quite honestly, what do I do with it when I get it home? The cost of the ones that I was admiring also made me rather pragmatic.

Claire sent me hunting for a particular candy dish that she wanted and I, seriously, traipsed all over Venice (including the outlaying islands specifically Murano) looking for this dish. When I eventually found it, well I didn't actually find it but I found a glass master who would be willing to take it on as a commissioned work, I couldn't do it because I couldn't in all conscience pay 290 euro for a glass candy dish the size of my hand. I had better things to spend that on... like the best el diablo pizza in the world and the most succulent grilled fish and beer and wine and essi buranelli biscuits etc etc etc! HAHA

These are just some snaps that I took. Above is an entrance to a smaller canal off the Grand Canal. Below is the Rialto Markets which are there every day from 6am to 11am. The apples were to die for! So fresh and crunchy and juicy at the same time. Also the freshest of fresh fish.
Venice has few public gardens. In fact space is at a premium that there are also only 53 private gardens which can't be seen by the public. This is one of the public gardens not far from Rialto Bridge. It was really nice. I had a picnic lunch which I bought from the markets and it was actually peaceful because I don't think many tourists knew it was here because there were only about 10 other people in here the whole time I was.

Below is a church located on Burano Island. Again, if you notice the lean, it is actually there. It isn't the angle of my camera. It too is sinking and I am told that it leans about 6 feet! I have no idea what "6 feet" means but that's what the guide says. The Island is famous for it's fishing community and it's lace making. Also it famous for it's fabulously bright coloured houses. Painted that way so drunken bum husbands could find their way home to the correct house after a day of fishing and drinking! How funny is that?

On the day I was leaving Venice (Friday 4th November) there was something happening and no amount of asking questions got me any answers! The tourism board didn't open until after I left (being 12pm) so I couldn't go in there. But, there was military and police everywhere. And I am presuming that it was a good thing and not a bad thing because they were all in their full dress uniforms. Can I begin to tell you how much drool was being added to the already heightened water levels in Venice from all the women??? Yumina Yumina they were all gorgeous! Even in their silly 18th Century english bobby style hats with fluffy bits hanging off and wearing capes with ceremonial swords!! It was fantastic!!! The police were a bit funny about having their photo's taken and you had to try it surrepticiously. I managed to sneak the below one while Iwas waiting for the ferry to take me back to the airport. *sigh*. It had to happen on the day I was leaving didn't it?