Euro Day 16 & 17 - Part 2 - Venice

Our journey from Florence to Venice didn't start out that well. First we had a failed attempt at a hike that I'd researched the night before.  It looked like it started outside of Bologna but we couldn't really find the start, or at least when we did, it just looked like streets rather than forest (despite the photos of the hike looking foresty). We didn't have extra time to stuff around so we abandoned that plan and went to a Bologna supermarket instead to buy supplies for lunch and our coming time in Venice.  Note - We didn't buy bolognaise but we did buy this massive jellyfish shaped loaf of bread that I was really looking foward to eating.  They weigh the bread here - I think the lady behind the bread counter wasn't expecting me to buy the whole thing.

After shopping we had another 90 minutes of driving so we could only stop for a quick lunch at a roadside stop (A Servizia).  It was the least pleasant place imaginable - and that was before we realised that we'd somehow failed to purchase the delicious looking bread we'd chosen in the supermarket! Disaster!

Luckily we had breadsticks, so we wrapped them with our roll fillings and made the most of it. Then it was onwards to Venice where we arrived at our parking place with about 10 minutes to spare before the ferry. Perfect timing in the end! 

The view from the stairwell of our 4th story apartment. Sometimes there are om-pah-pah musicians on board as well (my worst nightmare)

After unpacking and enjoying the A/C of the apartment for a little while (and stroking the fridge lovingly - don't judge us, we've had a hot few days and nights), we headed out for a walk around our local neighbourhood. We're staying just a few minutes from St Marks Square so we went out in that direction and just kept walking.  

marzipan things seem to be a big thing here 

The next morning, Jon and I went for a run (as previously blogged), then Zali decided it would be cool to visit Murano, one of the outer islands - so we walked to the waterbus stop and took the 30 minute trip around our part of Venice, then over to Murano. 

Today Murano still has lots of glass places, and a glass museum which we visited. It's much quieter than Venice so was nice to walk around as well.  

We had lunch on the island in a little park and then took the ferry back to a different part of Venice and walked the 2ish k home via a completely different route. It was great.

This is outside the hospital - these are the ambulances and ambulance drivers.  A different type of 'ramping' goes on here! 

After a bit of siesta and snack time we headed out again for a Gondola ride and dinner. Although the gondola was cool it probably would have been better to do it when we first arrived, as it felt like we'd sort of already had the wow factor from running and walking around all the canals. Still it was good fun.