Jumping In at the Deep End.

Jumping in at the deep end...

Other than reading a blog this is a new adventure for me... so any tips appreciated ... and having considered it for weeks I've now gone all speechless at the thought of it... well my fingers have become paralysed it seems! (or my brain??) Deep breath. Jump in at the deep end in Venice. With all that water there are plenty of bridges and canal banks to leap from.

Venice has been hosting the amazing biennale international art exhibition at present so it's oozing people and amazing art.

We spent Saturday in Faenza after driving through mountains that were a kaleidoscope of autumn colours. Over some delicious pasatelle I enjoyed reuniting with friends made last visit. These included Mirta, the ceramic master I learned a great deal from and had incredible adventures with. Mirta introduced me to Giorgio 2 years ago, so in a roundabout way she is responsible for me falling in love and returning to Italy.

Sunday morning after a leisurely breakfast and, to my surprise, without taking advantage of the change back from summer time, 6 of us piled into 2 cars and headed for Venice... along with hundreds of other cars which created a massive parking dilemma on the edge of the city. Of course cars can't go into Venice proper, all transport is via water or on foot. We joined the long cue and cued and cued and cued, and eventually achieved a parking spot.

We raced across Venice over bridges, under arches, up narrow alleys and through the beautiful St Marks Square. Our destination was 'Arsenale', one of the Biennale's main venues.

Art oozed everywhere... sometimes literally! Just the logistics of getting all of it there by water astonished me. Some of the installations were huge. (My next goal is to learn to post photos so you will be able to see some of it.) Some of the exhibits really challenged my thoughts about what is art as opposed to crap, others made a thought provoking statement about the state of this world. In the few short hours spent there I saw so little and will endeavour to set aside more time here another year.

"GET OUT! GET OUT!"

Our final venue for the day was Giardini and the venue was closing as we left. After being ushered out the door our friend Mirta joined the long cue at the outdoor toilet and the rest of us sat on a wall to wait, enjoying the setting sun. The man who was herding us out upon noticing the toilet cue shouted loudly  " Get out. Get out. Go and piss at your own house." My friends chuckled their way out the gate saying this was how you would expect a Venetian to behave. The part of Italy a person originates from is often used as an explanation or excuse for their behaviour or personality.