9 May 2022
Turned out to be a big day….sunny and hot all day!!
So we started the day with Martin feeding my water with Electrolyte. Actually I think it have been aspartanyte. (And I still maintain that beerolyte is better!!). And…fyi Dirk…I did actually run out of water today…and we had to make a special stop for more!!
Lovely start to the day…with more riding on carless stopbanks….almost all the way to Chioggia.
I did say that we were cycling to Venice today…but cycles are not allowed in the city at all….so one needs to a do an interesting diversion along the Venice lido. Actually made up of two islands.
So first to Chioggia…which is a sort of mini Venice…but more chaotic, with cars…and more a fishing town than a tourist town.
The ferry then took us to Pellestrina…..a largely dilapidated version of Lido. Pretty in bits…but derelict mostly! A 10km ride along what is a very narrow strip of land with sea wall on one side.
Then another ferry (full of cycling schoolkids) across to Lido itself…wherever one gets the first glimpse of Venice itself.
Much more upmarket…but we had secured very cheap rooms (for Venice…40 euros, including breakfast!!). But when we arrived we started understanding why!! We had to fold ourselves into a classic tiny lift to get our bikes up to our rooms. This was the sight which greeted us in one of our rooms.
The (enormously obese) manager…managed to squeeze himself (& Martin!!) into the lift (wish I’d seen that!)…and agreed that things were not quite as they should be…and a replacement room was found.
(Actually it turned to be quite comfortable with a surprisingly good breakfast!!).
So…a quick shower…and we headed straight into town (20 mins by ferry). We had purchased a two day ferry pass…so can travel at will!!
Venice is surely one of the most photogenic cities in the world. And today it was surprisingly quiet. Just lovely.
We did sit down for a cold one in St Marks square…just for the experience….but after looking at the menu (15 Euros for a small one)…we moved on! I have never seen so few tables round the square! But the orchestral trios are still there…sadly playing to largely empty cafes!
We opted for dinner back at Lido…to be entertained by a big team of Poles…who were all completely wasted! Actually very funny!!
…..sorry…a lot of photos…but was an interesting trip to places on maps I have long been fascinated about! And…it is Venice…so two nights here…to explore!!
