Sempre uguale ma sempre diverso

Even though you walk often around the same streets there is always something new to see. The same things look different, the light is different, there are different people, always the same but always different.

I don't know how many photos we have from this spot. 

 The beautiful light at dusk

 The Basilica of San Marco is still being restored. It is a huge job to maintain it given the inundations of water and tourists

So many beautiful canals

Marathon Pics

Rob finished the marathon, which is the fourth time for Venice. I'm so proud, it is a huge achievement.
Sorry that it has taken so long to post Rob's marathon photos.  All sorts of excuses but here they are at long last:

 Running the last 100metres

 Rob managed to spot me in the crowd and we sorted out where to meet up -same place as usual :)

 Looking pretty tired after a long hard run. 

It was amazing that he finished with so little preparation

  The Venice Marathon medals are great. This year has Ca' Foscari which is at the 18km mark.

 In Piazza San Marco.

 It is quite a long walk back from the finish line to Dorsoduro with tired legs

A very tired Rob trying to smile :)

On my way to to meet Rob at the finish line someone stole 30euros from the pocket of my jacket.   I was in a very squashy crowd that was moving very slowly. I'm impressed with their skill - the money was in a pocket of my leather jacket which has a very stiff zip.  I was holding on tightly to my bag with one arm and carring a bag of stuff for Rob in the other.  The crowd was pushing and shoving and I didn't feel my pocket being picked.

Luckily it was only 30 euros.

Another day in Venezia

Rain was predicted so we went out prepared but apart from a ten minute downpour when we were at San Marco the weather was lovely.  The rain was great because it cleared the dust and the air was fresh.  Our cousins in Mestre didn't fare so well, they got absolutely soaked when they were walking home from a computer class and the rain lasted longer there as well.

 We just spent the day wandering around and loved it.

We'll have to stop taking photos here -I try to but the light always makes it look a bit different

We also haven't taken enough photos of gondolas from the Rialto :)

We reciprocated in taking photos for another couple of tourists

A gondoliere with his telefonino - Italians are as bad as Australians with mobile phones, though maybe not in restaurants.

The downpour cleared San Marco

Except for this guy who was enjoying being the centre of attention.  Not the right body shape for the wet Tshirt look

Gondolas in their raincoats

Hope the tourists managed to get out before the gondoliere covered the seats

From the Accademia bridge -di nuovo :)

e un altro :)

This guy was very brave paddling down the Grand Canal in a kayak.  The boats are all much slower now -except for the occasional taxi.  Some German tourists died in a gondola/vaporetto accident near Rialto in the summer and as a result the Commune has more tightly regulated traffic, speeds etc

Another lazy day in Venice

We went to the Accademia gallery  (Gallerie dell'Accademia) yesterday and enjoyed wandering around looking at the fabulous collection. In the afternoon we walked around the St Marco/ Rialto side of the canal and went to a few favourite shops and bars.
We ended up in San Marco around 4.00pm so sat in the warm sunshine at Gran Caffe Quadri and enjoyed the beautiful view.  The light from the setting sun was perfect and the light/shadow contrasts were amazing. A very pleasant break. The photos are a mixture taken with our fuji by Rob, Jules and me.

The antique market in Campo S Barnaba. I really wanted to buy some of the glass lamps hanging on the right but getting them home in one piece is a bit problematic.

Next to Accademia bridge

It was impossible to get this shot without a tourist in the way

From Accademia bridge

From Accademia bridge

This one as well - there is a reason there are always heaps of people on the Accademia bridge, the views are always fantastic

Another one of my favourite spots

Looking in a shop selling beautiful paper and pens

Gondola traffic- tutto era bloccato

Ammonite in Piazza San Marco

and another one

Blue skies and a prime spot at Gran Caffe Quadri

I was busily checking my phone - just for a short while, I did take in my surroundings :)
 Sarah enjoyed just being there -as  you should

The contrast between the light and shadows was stunning

San Marco

Heaps of tourists

It was good to relax in the sun

Sardine tourists all crammed into the one spot -it's good for us because other areas are easy to walk around.

The pink lights are great

Jules took this photo -with much direction, neither of us will ever make it in TV :)