AT PLAY

For the home enhancers, the foodies, the wanderers

Cruising Venezian canals…

The sun sparkles brilliantly on the bay as our boat pilot deftly navigates the water streets through traffic moving people, food, crates of stuff, cars, cement mixers and such, on to the Murano factory where we observe glass blowers in action before succumbing to hard sell…Ducky gives in, his booty to be made to order and shipped.

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20110521-083627.jpg20110521-083729.jpgFinally escape back to our cruiser and on to a waterside restaurant overlooking the Gondolas at the San Marco Vallaresso and the Campo Abbazia…a rather impressive Church just like the rather overpriced menu…but absolutely worth every Euro.

The lighting is soft, the water clean and a beautiful shade of aqua, the buildings proudly displaying worn and faded yet regal and quite majestic facades in soft patinas made even more intriguing by the moss growing on their skirting…the bridges don’t disappoint either…a simply stunning photographic moment captured on the Pont Rialto.

A wander through Chanel, Hermes, Sergio Rossi, Pucci, Balenciaga lined streets and home,20110521-083711.jpg later to take an evening ride through the canals. It’s rather cramped for five in our Gondola, a deft balancing act managed well by our punter Stefano who uses elbows and feet to buffer our passage through the narrow canals, at the same time serenading us with some zesty ‘O Sole Mia’ Italian opera that would do Pavarotti proud.

Its a refreshing change as we’ve been singing ‘When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie’ over and over to the point where Ducky feels obliged to buy Dean Martin’s best so that we can learn the next lines. Almost down pat however we’ll need to dust off our best Edith Piaf again soon…or maybe Air or Phoenix for Paris is drawing ever closer. Sigh!

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Romancing in Venice…

Ahhh Venice. Founded on water, slowly sinking, a myriad of bridges, Gondolas, narrow watery canals and a whole lot of robust hustle.

Finding our way from the exterior carports dragging luggage onto crowded water buses then off at the appropriate stop is a feat worthy of G&T fortification. Equivalent20110521-083341.jpg to a gin martini with ‘drive by’ tonic we are giggling within minutes in the majestic Hotel Palazzo Giovanni. In celebration of our Fifi’s milestone birthday, Ducky surprises her with a pre planned upgrade to an exclusive suite where Murano Chandeliers delight and luxury abounds. A further Gin Martini over restaurant choices before Ducky finally exercises authority and insists on a Chinese nosh. The guru of this gastronomic pleasure and one must bow to the professional.

The picture doesn’t fit for obvious reasons but the restaurant surprises with the best we’ve
ever tasted…the crispy beef a particular pleasure (Bellsies you would have been in raptures) and all washed down with a lovely little Pinot Grigio.

20110521-083321.jpgOn every corner couples earnestly argue over maps in an effort to find their way home through narrow winding alleys and over the many bridges.

We readily find ours digs thanks to the girls’ visual recollections of Murano glassware, chocolate, nougat, Venetian mask and Italian leather stores…much to the chagrin of Dicky and Ducky for navigating is ‘man work’. So much to see, taste, sensate, the senses in overload we retire to rest, tomorrow will be a big day requiring fortitude and strong leather soles…oh! Italian shoes! Want. Need. Have to have!

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Dreaming of Ghosts in the tower…

Whoa! A genuine medieval castle! While Dicky and Fifi, who’ve left their Passports in the safe at our last digs, La Minervetta, return to collect, (thankfully informed just an hour out), Ducky, Bella and Pixie continue on, eventually finding themselves bumping down a narrow gravel road. Ducky swears profusely at the Garman in fine Italian only to find the instrument yet again delivers us to our exact destination…the Castle di Petroia .

Pixie’s sleeping qu20110520-095414.jpgarters reside in the tower! One suite, an urgent need to grow Rapunzel hair should the need for a quick escape arise, and a rising trepidation for the tower is reported to be haunted! Pix occupies her reticence by climbing the narrow, winding stairs to the very top of the turret where the view is absolutely breathtaking. Undulating hills of multiple hues ranging from pastel golds to deep lush greens striated with pencil pines between which narrow roads meander. Picture postcard perfect.

Our lovely host Virginia introduces us to the Castle’s ancestry before we settle in the soft cadence of twilight amidst interesting statues, clusters of lavender and the company of a chubby marmalade cat with a complacent ‘fuck off’ attitude to sup wine, nibble Chef’s treats and marvel at the views, for we are perched on the peak of a hill overlooking a spectacular Umbrian vista. An excellent selection yet again Fifi!

20110520-095813.jpgDicky and Fifi finally arrive just in time to indulge in a sumptuous candle lit dinner of tender lamb supplemented with an indulgent Tiramisu and lively banter from Massimo our Chef, later to retire to our respective Castle elements. Pixi finds her turret a four level butt firming engineering feat, sans ghost; all of us sleeping peacefully after a long day’s travel. Must admit, there’s nothing like being interrupted from one’s slumber by a Cuckoo gently tapping on our respective windows.

Breakfast consisting of freshly baked cake..yup!’ cake!! Then on the road to Venice…

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