The weather forecast for Thursday had been bad ever since we had set off from home so we were expecting to have to write the day off. But it turned out to be pretty good. We set off on foot across San Polo and Santa Croce to visit the Rialto markets where there were some stunning mask shops.
We had promised ourselves a gondola ride if we had any money left on the last day and we spotted our opportunity whilst pausing for coffee close to the Rialto Bridge.
Guide books tell you not to expect your gondolier to sing to you (although you can pay ahead for a serenaded gondola tour). But our gondolier not only whistled and sang but also looked like Richard Gere. What more could we ask for?
He took across the Grand Canal and through a maze of smaller canals past Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Marco Polo's house.
After the ride we headed back slowly, saying we mustn't get distracted along the way. But when we got close to the bus station at Piazzale Roma, we allowed ourselves to stop for a ham and mushroom omelette and then a final impulsive visit to a handbag shop.
Lanterns were the theme of the holiday for me and I took lots of pictures of them. These are the ones which hung outside that last restaurant on the Fondamenta San Simeon Piccolo.
All that remained was to retrace our steps to Marco Polo airport via the hotel in Mestre and hope that the sun would be shining at home too.
1 comment:
Fabulous, fabulous masks, beautiful bridges and a Richard Gere lookalike - what more could a girl want?
Lesley Xx
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