I left our apartment today for the first time since last Wednesday, the fever that had flattened me since that time finally gone. How nice it was to be able to walk to my favorite fruttivendilo on Via Garibaldi in the late afternoon to buy oranges from Sicily (their stems and a few leaves still attached), to be out amid all the activity. There was a thick layer of rather menacing rain clouds above, a humid breeze, but the only truly dark cloud in the scene was (as you can see above) one of the massive man-made sort that will pass alongside the city numerous times per day, on even the sunniest of days, from now until late fall.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI have been reading your blog with great pleasure. MY wife and I are planning a try to Venice in a couple of years and this is a great introduction.
I had to say I loved this photo of the beautiful street with the cruise ship and small dog.
All the best.
Guy
Thanks very much, Guy, for your kind remarks. If this blog can help to get you excited about visiting the city then I'm happy to think I'm doing something like those Venice blogs I used to visit before we moved here, and which still encourage me to learn more about the city and what's going on.
DeleteSeeing that looming monstrosity instead of the beautiful view toward the Bacino feels like a hard slap in the face.
ReplyDeleteI am very happy you are feeling better.
Well, it certainly throws the scale of life out of whack, Susie, that's for sure. Though I should be used to it by now, it still comes as a surprise when they loom into sight.
DeleteI wish that the cruise ships had to anchor much farther away and to bring the tourist from those ships in by the smaller boats. I'm amazed that when we visited Venice that not once did we see a cruise ship block our view or even see one pass by. Must have been luck for the four glorious days while there.
ReplyDeleteGroups have suggested exactly that reasonable solution to the problem, Ellen, but the response is that cruise ship passengers specifically DEMAND that they be allowed to enjoy the passing view of the city from their deck chairs. Of course, it's not how Galileo or Dante or Petrarch or Goethe or Mozart or any other brilliant world-historical geniuses experienced the city, but, well, the self-importance and entitlement of contemporary consumers dwarf such insignificant old guys as those.
DeleteSteven,
ReplyDeletetonight arriving in Venice and staying a few days. If you have fully recovered from the fever, happy if you join on boat tour for a simple meal at the small osteria of S. Erasmo.
Francesco,
DeleteOur internet has not functioned for the last few days so I'm only just catching up on these comments and everything I missed, so I think it's too late now, as it's Sunday. Probably just as well, as I'm still a bit sick-- but next time... Sorry to miss you.
We'll catch up this summer, if it ever arrives..
DeleteIt comes and goes here, but sometime it will probably decide to stay. Until then...
DeleteGlad you are feeling better. even in Venice it is bad to feel ill
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anonymous, you're definitely right about that...
DeleteLove your blog (I usually haunt, rather than comment). Sorry about that cruise ship sighting, esp. just after you felt well enough to go outside. Because of your blog, we went and saw the Negroponte--do agree with you that it is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog on Bloglovin', if that helps you to know you have another regular reader.
Elizabeth
opquilt.com
I'm glad, and relieved, you liked the Negroponte, Elizabeth; I never know if I'm just completely wrong about something for everyone except myself. Thanks for letting me know. And I don't even know what Bloglovin' is, so I'll have to check that out
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