Day 2, Venice

Another excellent breakfast followed by a stroll, through the now, more familiar Rio terrae to the Peggy Gugenheim collection.

Early, we tried to recreate the photograph of a 23-year old interrailing me (just after qualifying but before starting as a Houseman), kindly once already recreated by Bella in March 2023.

Stunned by the visual placing of the Salvador Dali in between the two windows overlooking the Grand Canal. Alongside Dali we loved Magrite’s Empire of Light

and our second favourite was Max Ernst’s The Antipope.

The temporary exhibition led us through the extraordinary polymathic life of Jean Cocteau, we especially enjoyed the clips of his most famous films. The homoerotic drawings described themselves.

Walked along the edge of the Grand Canal to the Santa Maria del la Salute.

Caught a vaparetto to travel the length of the Grand Canal (thank you Simon for your generously compiled list of recommendations).

Then a longer trip to the Lido, stopping on the return at Giardini where the side streets had washing strung across and there were shrines.

Visited two public sculpture parks with an emotive modern Piata.

Ate a snack of cichetti for lunch.

On our stroll back we stumbled across the philosophical poser of whether we’re actually aliens? Couldn’t resist discovering…

In contrast, next the silence of a Franciscan monastery and its cloisters.

Next I was lucky enough to visit the Pharmacy and history of medicine museum including the world’s only known example of human taxidermy!

We traversed the modern working hospital in a medieval monastery, such a contrast to University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) and I suspect the CQC would have a rating!

Exiting from within the hospital we were extraordinarily fortunate to enter the Chapel, the Chiesi Di San Lorenzo del Mendicanti with what we agreed was the most impressive wall carved frieze epitomising the two ancient Venices – land and seafare.

I enjoyed seeing an ambulance boat in action and a couple of parked ambulance (empty, not waiting for beds).

We took the Canal side route further north and then turned inward to the Jesuit church (another of Simon’s tasteful recommendations).

On our way back we stopped at a charming wine bar, Vecia Cavana in Ria Tera, SS Apostole, near the Holy Apostles canal – worth seeking out. The house red was a Valpolicella Ripasso.

Supper was a simple thin crust pizza by a romantic canalside

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187870-d260782-Reviews-Albergo_Marin-Venice_Veneto.html