Dalmatian Coast cruising without a dog in sight

[craven morehead]

So many wonderful photo opportunities. Good thing one doesn't have to have film processed anymore.

 

[Pushka]

So many wonderful photo opportunities. Good thing one doesn't have to have film processed anymore.

Totally agree. I would get one nice picture in a batch of 24, having paid a few dollars to chuck the rest out.

 

[Pushka]

Venice last night was packed again. Tourists everywhere. We finally made through to a more ‘locals hang out area’ off the beaten track. Still busy but more Italian being spoken.

One of the nicer tourist places.



A busy local scene way off the main canal.





We found a bar that had plastic chairs and just a stall near houses. Had the best service and very cheap but wonderful spritz in a crystal glass and beer, served from a rusty old shed bar. Perfect.

Then off to get a meal. Found one with a resident cat. Who owned the place.

 

[Pushka]

After the meal which wasn’t particularly remarkable MrP had the idea to do a vaporetto grand canal tour at night. We had purchased 48 hour tickets so it was included.

Great idea it was. The darkness made the building features pop out and we could see inside to some of the beautiful crystal chandeliers.

We started at the Train Station as the hotel is just a few hundred feet away and down a lane. It’s the opposite direction to the first trip.









Moving quite fast here.

 

[Pushka]

Polizia



Towards the now completely clean fish market





Towards Rialto

 

[Pushka]

 

[Pushka]

Looking back to Rialto




Fast boats.

 

[TomVexille]

Now I want to go back to Venice again

 

[Pushka]

Entering the vaporetto. Very busy even at this time.









We should have exited at St Marks and caught a vaporetto going the other way. But we didn’t and ended up all the way to Lido. And wondered if we had just caught the last service and were basically stuck. Everyone but us got off. But then thankfully people started boarding and while it made for a late night we did at least get home. After 19 more stops. We did however sleep well.

 

[Pushka]

Now I want to go back to Venice again

Yeah. Our third visit and we will return. Our weather has been absolutely amazing. T shirts and cotton pants although a bit cooler on the vaporetto at night. Hot in Burano. Even warmer today but we are off to Milan by train. We must pack. Now. Yet we have been in July where it was cold and wet.

 

[ellen10]

Was that Vaporetto Number 1. I remember doing something similar.
Enjoying your photos. Nest year will be my 4th visit. I never get tired of visiting Venice, but the crowds are getting worse.

 

[Pushka]

Was that Vaporetto Number 1. I remember doing something similar.
Enjoying your photos. Nest year will be my 4th visit. I never get tired of visiting Venice, but the crowds are getting worse.

Yes. Number 1 it is.

 

[Pushka]

It’s Sunday afternoon and we’ve arrived into Milan via train.
Before we left we found out that the Dragon Race today was a marathon around all the lagoons. Sounded spectacular but it meant taking out all the vaporetto systems for a few hours. As a tourist wanting to get around that would have been very annoying and an older woman on the train said she’d had a lot of trouble getting to the train as a result.

We were hoping we would see them but all we saw was a few teams making their way to the start. This event allowed any water craft to enter.









Did I mention it was spectacular weather today? We could eat breakfast on the patio.

It did get a little windy though so this event would be exhausting. This is the 30 km route

 

[Pushka]

We walked over the new bridge that people fall on. I’d mentioned it to MrP a few days earlier but days had passed. Sure enough, his feet started sliding although he wasn’t in danger of falling.

I wonder why it causes issues? Doh.



Venice's new £4m Grand Canal bridge injures tourists

The bridge is the main connection for pedestrians from the bus terminal from the airport and mainland. It’s incredibly busy.

We saw several people sliding but no falls. This is the view where the buses, cars and trains access Venice.



We made our way to the train having already bought tickets weeks ago.
Station was busy.




We had super cheapies but allocated seats. Sitting across from each other with a table between. Would have been a bit squishy if the train was full but our seat of four was only occupied by us.

The trains are excellent reaching speeds up to 300 kms. Our fastest was a couple of k’s above this.





As we moved out of the station we could look across and see the Dragon Races.

 

[Pushka]

 

[Pushka]

The train ride was good. Quiet. Fast. Had a chuckle when one lady sitting quietly in a group of four seats was somewhat overwhelmed by pizzas when a younger couple sat down and chomped for around an hour on large chunky pizzas and coffees. Scenery was interesting. Many vineyards. And red poppies.





Serious mining here

 

[Pushka]

Staying in Milan at Best Western Hotel Galles. Right in the city. It’s rather wet so we stayed in for a meal at their restaurant. Weirdly for Hotel Restaurants it was excellent. And well priced.

Pre dinner drinks. I am getting rather fond of Spritz.


Amuse bouchée which was surprisingly tasty tuna.



Risotto. It was soooo good I, um, well......



Dark chocolate soufflé. Wonderful. Not sweet but a wonderful gooey ooze from inside. Bellissimo.



View from the room. Still raining.

 

[ellen10]

Those Italian fast trains are very good aren't they.
I wasn't a fan of Spritz but I do like the way in Italy they always give you some little nibbles with your drinks.
We did a great cooking class in Milan last year. Lots of fun.

 

[Pushka]

Off on a hoho today. Breakfast this morning busy. They don’t like cooking fried eggs though. Extra 6 euro. And scrambled egg reminds me of a stomach upset but without carrots.




Gotta be quick here.

 

[Pushka]

Views from the terrace.