August 1: last day in Venice

Today was a scorcher. We got a 24-hour ticket for the 'vaporetto' (which would be useful for getting us home tomorrow, too) and set off to cruise the waterways. We could hop off whenever we wanted, so our first stop was at the gardens... a pretty ordinary park, really, but greenery is scarce here. Here are the kiddies there. You will notice that they all have sunglasses now... trust us to buy them at the wrong end of the holiday!

We next got on a boat that went right around the island. This was not actually the most picturesque route (the Grand Canal wins there), but the water sparkled, and we got rare seats at the back of the boat. Actually, it was a bit close to the engine for complete comfort, but never mind!

Some boat-y pictures:

(I think Wayne might add some notes about this huge ocean-going sail-boat, for the benefit of his sea-faring rel's in Queensland.)

After a long morning, we went back to our digs with bread rolls, to make sandwiches with whatever was left in the fridge.

After a rest, we went back to the boats. It was VERY hot, but there was a bit of a breeze on the water. We went straight out to Lido, which is apparently the posh bit of Venice. It had roads, though cars were scarce. I was amused at the bike hire spot with the lable 'noleggio' . I guess you could save your leggy-ohs a bit of effort with a bike. We strolled down to the bathing beach there, which was labelled 'free'. "How generous," we nearly sneered, in our lucky-to-have-marvellous-beaches-everywhere Australian manner. There was nasty brown sand and shells (same attitude, tut tut). Thousands of people were packed on it, like nesting birds, all sunbathing. Bikinis and budgie smugglers were the go for all- it didn't matter how old or fat you were. EVERYTHING was about a tan. We, fully clothed with hats and sunscreen, stood out like Edwardian bathers in neck-to-knees and cotton hankies on heads. We had a bit of a wade (very warm water, no waves), but quite quickly left in search of a gelato. (Lemon and tropical fruit for me.) Eleanor dropped most of her scoop on the ground... Wayne allayed the tears by quickly picking it up and shoving it in back in the cone. (I didn't know whether to admire him or be horrified. Eleanor didn't get sick, so I guess it was all right.)

Back home we went. It was a prettier ride back. More boat photos:

I felt so hot and gritty from sand in the shoes that I had a shower straight away, and so did the girls. Annie put on her new Venice striped t-shirt. (Here are Jack and Annie now indistinguishable from gondoliers, looking for some passengers.)

Much refreshed, we went out for dinner for the first time in Venice. Pizza for all except Eleanor, who decided to compare the local carbonara with the Roman sort. Check out the size of the pizzas!

If we'd known how big they would be, maybe we wouldn't have eaten the free bread-sticks...

We waddled back home and packed everything ready for an early start in the morning.