Day 226, 15 February 2013, Venezia, Italia. Every time we walk the narrow laneways, cross the bridges and explore the shops and markets, it feels like we see something new in Venice. We were fascinated to learn that Peggy Guggenheim (daughter of the magnate who went down with the Titanic) was once resident in Venice. She adored the place in fact and her body is buried along with 20 or so of her dogs in the grounds of her palazzo on the Grand Canal. The palazzo is now the Museo Guggenheim and contains her incredible collection of modern art - Jackson Pollock, Kandinsky, several Picassos, a Dali and quite a few Max Ernsts - which we understood a bit better when we found out he was her second husband. There was even a Chagall "La Pluie". We both quite like Chagall, particularly after seeing his massive effort on the ceiling of the Opera Garnier in Paris. We thoroughly enjoyed the art and sculptures and afterwards wandered the back streets until we came to a waterbus stop. Now we'd been considering taking a ride to the island of Lido, but hadn't thought too much about it until we reached a pier with a sign for Lido! Fortuitous indeed, so off we went to see where the Venetians go to the beach in summer. Nice and all, but we can see why Europeans generally go bananas about Australian beaches. Fun for a trip, but quite diabolical to have to contend with actual vehicular traffic - they have cars and even buses on Lido. Brrrrrrr. So we headed back to Venice proper and repaired to the hotel for a siesta (all that fresh sea air...) Quiet evening at our favourite local restaurant (Brek - just next door to the Hotel Belle Epoque. No cover charge, no service charge, excellent food and free wifi - what's not to love). Planning another day trip to Murano tomorrow - the Museum of Glass was shutting it's doors as we arrived the other day and we're keen to see it - loving our unlimited transport passes!
Today's picture is from outside the Hard Rock cafe, just behind Piazza San Marco - looks like a Gondola Parking Lot!