Greetings from Venice

My mother-in-law turned 80 last year, and seeing as we took my father-in-law to Amsterdam for his 80th a few years ago,  it was only right to go on a trip somewhere with her too. She suggested Venice, and we're all so grateful, as neither me or Mr Famapa have ever had any interest in going there. We're pretty allergic to tourists and touristy places, and in my mind there surely can't be a place more so than Venice. But in mid March it's actually relatively quiet, so off we went three weeks ago. And guess what... I frickin' loved it. I had total visual overload and felt a bit hyper, trying to take it all in. So, here's quite a few pictures from our first day there. This is our water taxi we'd just gotten off, reversing out of the canal we were staying by. So much more interesting than watching a regular taxi reversing, don't you think?

My mother-in-law, checking out the view from our Airb'n'b.

Yep, I'd say that qualifies as a pretty good view.

After we dropped off our bags we went out to explore. Even watching someone mop the floor was pretty.

We stayed in Cannaregio, away from the crowds, in a residential area. I can't recommend it enough if you go there - so nice and quiet.

We walked down Strada Nouva (a busy shopping street, not interesting enough to photograph) towards St Marks Square, but if you looked down the alleys veering off it you saw glimpses of what Venice must have been like before the crowds descended.

Can't quite imagine having a boat to get around with instead of a car, or commuting to work on a water bus (just seen at the end of this canal here), but of course that is what you'd do if you lived in Venice. By the way, are you noticing the colours everywhere?? Pretty amazing colour scheme if you ask me.

In one of the narrowest and busiest sections of our walk, I stopped and walked in to this little alleyway and was stunned by the silence. I called the others to come too, so we had a look round and took some pictures. Everyday life is always so much more interesting than souvenir shops.

Luckily none of us wanted to go on a gondola, but it didn't stop us taking pictures of others doing it though.

Some have a feather in their hat, others have whole sea gulls.

Resting our feet by the lagoon, just past St Marks Square. Serious lack of tourist heavy pictures in this post. See that tower in the distance? We went up it later in our trip to get a view of Venice, and it didn't disappoint. 

Anyway, more about that tower in another post. Meanwhile, here's the biggest tree I've ever seen in a pot. Impressive.

We kept walking. And I kept taking pictures.

The architecture is quite something. Those details! Those windows! Those arches! Mamma mia!

And then, just like that, whilst crossing the Rialto bridge, a perfect view of the Grand Canal. Never mind that all around me everyone was taking selfies looking just so. Aaaahh, the joy of being able to frame a picture any which way you like. Lots and lots more from Venezia to come.