Backstreet Venice

Spent a magical day wandering with a map through the Castello area of Venice, crossing canals where the gondolas don’t seem to penetrate, and diving down the narrowest of alleys in the certainty that some quietly beautiful square lay at the other end.

It was quite a shock mid-afternoon to end our exploration at the Rialto - intentionally, it has to be said - and to remind ourselves of the touristic hell that constitutes the better-known parts of the fabulous (in the proper sense) city. I couldn’t take much of that.

And as sudden thunder rolled round the roofs and fat drops of rain began to fall, we headed for our hotel. And now it’s sunny again, and almost time to think of dinner ...