Venice

Travel day today, and off the Venice. 516km, most on the autoroute, as the drive time was basically 5 hours, some of the rote was 130kph, much of it 110, so it went pretty quickly.

Left Tivoli at 10, and after one stop for the most expensive pizza so far on the trip (at an autostop) and a detour, as my navigator suggested I not follow the GPS, causing a 50km detour … we crossed the causeway to arrive in Venice. Impressive.

I’d spent some time thinking about parking and transport options in Venice, and elected to pay a premium (26 euro per day) to park right in the public garage on Piazzale Roma. We could have parked of the island much cheaper, but would have required a bus ride etc, and being late in the day, with kids … we took the easy option. 9 floors up we parked and then left the car there unlocked with the keys inside. Yes! That’s what we were told to do. The park is manned on every floor 24 hours and has extensive security, and that is apparently what they do here (read it online also), so we went with the flow. Hope it’s all there when we get back! Here’s a good parking guide.

Downstairs to the ticket off for the vaporetto (water bus) and we bought a 72 hour pass for 35 euro, as opposed to 7 euro per ride. We made it onto the bus with 3 minutes to spare, the 4.39, getting us to our stop at Giarnini just after 5, when we had arranged to meet the guy to show us to our apartment. Ferry was busy as in really busy! As are the waterways, just wow!
Arrived at our stop and called our accommodation guy, just brilliant to have a phone it’s an essential travel tool, and then a few minutes later Nicola showed us to our apartment, just 3 minutes from our stop.

Pretty impressed for the price, given we’re right in Venice and it’s a great location, not too busy or touristy, more of a local feel.

Having said that, only 58 000 people live in Venice, on the 117 islands, with 400 bridges and 150 canals. But there are nearly 24 million tourists per year … so on average there are more visitors every day of the year, than residents. Apparently a lot of locals are moving away as houses are very expensive, and they seek better jobs. Resort town problems … Oh yep, they also charge a bed tax of 1.5 euro per night, doesn’t put any visitors off it seems.

Anyway, after settling in, we connected with Andrew and Lorna who we’d been staying with last week and then came across for diner, at a local pizzeria Kids, pizza as usual! Given everything comes in by boat, it was still surprisingly affordable.

Home via the waterfront. Fab to be here.