He woke me up in the middle of the night around 12:30am barking and then I had an early ride, not that I slept well at all last night with it being so hot, I took a cold damp towel to bed with me that worked a slightly for a while. Then when I was coming out of my room at 05:30 obviously I knew the dog would stir and start barking - it's what they do. Whoooops I've probably just woke the whole floor up with him barking at me. Just keep the damn door open for him so he can go outside and stay in the cool.

Bus was on time and the breakfast pack was made for me downstairs, loved my stay here but time to move on I'm afraid. No traffic on the road which was lovely, only meant I was at the terminal almost an hour before my train so I grabbed a cappuccino had a €1 pee and by the time I knew it was boarding time.

Business class for me today, not messing about on a s***ty train class for 6 hours when it's cheaper than about 2 return trips to Cardiff and back. Bloody lovely too, I was the only one I'm my carriage. Reclining seat, views for days and service for food and drink if wanted. Not bad at all. Don't ever put me back on an arriva trains Wales carriage with sticker floors and pissy smelling corridors again - I am the definition of a snob, becoming.

The WiFi didn't work and I was out of international data which I wasn't going to buy more of for two days. I can live without! So I watched a film on the iPad and caught up on these blog entries as I've been a slacker over the last few days (weeks) good job I kept notes! I was the only one on the carriage until Rome and then a few more come along. The scenery was lovely, mostly green and full of farming land, trying to take in all the green I can now until the next time I see it in December! :( the novelty of sand is wearing off a little now.

Got into Venice around 13:40PM so already a long morning travelling but one last hurdle before I get to the hotel… a water taxi!

Oh my days… the train goes over the sea into Venice, you literally get off the train station and the doors open up into the grand canal! Wonderful! Now to get a water taxi to my stop Rialto! All pretty straight forward to be honest, bloody starving though, 2PM now and I've only had a banana and pear juice today.

Checked in the nice Rialto hotel, smells a little funny.

Went out for a goosey gander, got very lost in the streets. It was cool though amongst the buildings sheltered from the sun and heat.

The shops are very different to Almalfi, the weird creepy jester clowns amongst brand names and famous labels, nice to see something different though, lots of lovely glass ornaments too where the famous glass blowing is from murano island.

I managed to somehow navigate myself to the st . Peter square and seen the church, lovely area but extremely expensive! So I went up the side street and found a little restaurant that I was optimistic about but their gnocchi with shrimp was delightful! Then I went on my mission: find Ellie's bra… yup you got it right Ellie stripped in a bar in Venice in 2017 and pinned her bra to the ceiling. Haha! (Okay I'll tell the truth she didn't strip, she just took it off and pinned it to the ceiling) from what I see everyone done it, although there weren't many up there so me thinking of finding it was slim considering this was 2017 dated back. Unfortunately after my searching (much to the amuse of the bar lady she thought I was obsessed with women's bras….) I couldn't find it. She had been demoted and not made the cut for 2021 sadly… The wine was decent though haha!

Wandered over to the other side of Rialto bridge after that, it was well peaceful and completely different vibe on the other side people sat having drink from a cafe stood in the square not sat eating meals and sat alongside the grand canal watching the world go by, so I joined in.

I wasn't ready for the day to be over because it was only 6:30pm so most people were just getting started or hadn't even finished their day let alone start their evening.

Do I go back to the room put a film on an snuggle down with some actual air con tonight so I may not actually overheat in my sleep.

Or do I wander the streets again….?

Also wondering whether or not I get on a gondola or not. They seem very romantic and I think I'd feel a bit of a narnar sat on one. But then again maybe I'll never get the opportunity to do it again?