A few days in Venice – city of canals, guest post by Cathy R

 

I visited Venice for the first time in March, on a photography group holiday, and absolutely loved it!

Several hundred photos later, here are just a very few that I thought blog readers might like to see. This post is mainly water and canal based – appropriately enough, for a first post about Venice!

 

The Grand Canal – a truly magical waterway. And a very busy one.

 

This guy seems pretty nonchalant about it all.

 

Narrow, enticing side canals, often too narrow for powerboats.

 

Dozing in the late afternoon sun …

 

Most of the gondoliers were in these traditional stripey tops and hats.

 

Gondola detail.

 

The Rialto Bridge, with a bustling fruit and fish market on the right bank – more photos of which later.

 

Canalside buildings dating back to the 1300s. Often shabby, peeling and decaying, but utterly picturesque and romantic.

 

In a city of water, what better way to see it than from water level? We had a fantastic day kayaking. Paddling along the Grand Canal was utterly magical.

 

My little camera met its maker, unfortunately, shortly afterwards. I dropped it into the puddle of salty water on my spray deck (whilst trying to quickly get out of the way of an oncoming gondola and panicking in a most unbecoming manner!).

 

Fortunately our guide, Rene, had a waterproof camera and took loads of great shots of us both, this one included. Kayaks go where other boats can’t!

 

What a superb day.

 

Wow wow wow wow wow.  –Ed.