DATE: Wednesday 19 July, 1995
PLACE: Venice
WEATHER: Hot
REMARKS: A good sleep and we wake a little refreshed -fruit
and buns for breakfast then stroll to the Deutsche Bank. Again
only my card has been sent so separate arrangements are needed
for Desiree's.
This achieved by way of international conference calls to
put in place delivery of the card to Bryce at work in London.
Lunch/brunch in San Marco Piazza -a vast sea of stinking
sweating tour groups striving to be awed by the decidedly
seedy grandeur (or am I just getting cynical?) catered to
by Italians who seem bored by the whole sordid performance.
Individual Italians, such as the staff at the Hotel Alimandi
and Patrizia, seem to enjoy being helpful and offering advice
and discussing their country. Others strike one as greedy
and grasping. Others still, such as the woman advising on
the Murano boat trip (see below) seem to glow with enthusiasm
- but these are few and far between.
Many shops are an oddity. Most are long and narrow (like
the buildings) or crammed with stock. They often appear over-staffed,
and non-Italian customers are treated as though they are interrupting
the endless conversations which engage the staff:
Anyway, today: we repair to the apartment to lunch on fruit
and decide tactics. A cruise to the islands and departure
tomorrow is agreed. We've spoken to Dave Dalton and confirmed
the meet at Branges by 1400.
The cruise is well-timed, peaceful, guided, commentaried
(Sarah is very impressed by the fluency in 4 languages of
the guide).
The tour is primarily a chance to visit showrooms and help
tourists spend their money. The glass and lace making demonstrations
are pathetic. The glass-making especially is brief: although
understandable in view of the furnace heat. Most of the Murano
glass is overly decorated and ornate for my liking, but beautifully
and skillfully made. The lace of Burano by contrast is impressive
by its very complexity.
Torcello is hot, and a long walk, although Desiree and the
girls are entranced by the church with it's Turkish matyr's
relics.
Everyone is impressed by my remembered ability to use a
fan - as am I! - and lessons are in demand from the kids to
help with their souvenirs. After all these years!
Takeaway pizzas for dinner, followed by a stroll and phone-call
to Visa and an early night.
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