Il Giorno dell'Unità nazionale e Giornata delle Forze Armate

November 4 is Armed Forces day and National Unity day -the day that Italians remember the armed forces who have died in all wars and celebrate victory in WW1.
We didn't see many celebrations in Rome except for jets flying overhead with red white and green smoke  -I was too slow to take a photo. Apparently dignitaries traditionally lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II

Later in the evening a military band playing in Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina. Their uniforms were very stylish and it was amazing how they could play lively music and stay very still. Our favourite piece was from Nabucco.

Refreshing our Roman memories

Rob went for a run early in the morning and took some photos at the end when it was light. Rome is particularly beautiful at dawn when it is very quiet.

The Spanish Steps

View from road up to the Pincio

Another from the road to the Pincio

Piazza del Poppolo from the Pincio

 Later on we just walked around looking at favourite places

The first glimpse of the Pantheon is always special

Before the tourist hordes descend -the souvenir sellers are already there

The Roman Forum from behind the Campidoglio

Another tourist took this for us -at leat we stopped to look at the Forum -there were heaps of people who had a photo taken and rushed off to the next place

Ciao Roma

It was raining when we left Venezia and there was the first real acqua alta of the season. We arrived in Rome by train and it was really hot -we were dressed for the cold and were glad to quickly change clothes once we had checked in to our hotel.  We are staying in Spagna very near to where we stayed last year.

The "statue busking" this year - it's not too hard to work out how it's done

A caffe at Tazza D'Oro :)

Arrivederci Venezia

We were a bit slack with taking photos on our last full day in Venice.
Rob went for a run early in the morning and took some more photos from  the Ponte della Libertà.  The fishing nets are quite interesting and are set in really shallow water.

Rob ran along the path on the bridge in the dark -there's no way that I would do it.

We went for a stroll in the morning had our last caffe and bigne con gianduia at PasticceriaTonolo and afterwards came across a market in Campo S Tomà -I browsed through the stalls and found some glass that I liked. Rob is not at all fussed with markets and was glad when I was finished :)

We had lunch with Rosaria and Livio, once again Rosaria cooked some great things -Baccala veneziana and tagliatelli con funghi porcini, both were fantastic.


We wandered around Venice for a bit and then reluctantly went back to the apartment and did the boring packing stuff. Our suitcases are at bursting point. It looks like we'll have to visit Poste Italiane before we go to Torino :(

The cruise ships are huge and there is quite a strong movement against them for so many reasons by the people of Venice.  Small traders don't make much money from them as the cruise passengers don't spend much money -many even bring picnic lunches from the boats. The waves created by the boats can't be doing Venice any good.

Riva degli Shiavone, Castello and the Biennale

It was a beautiful day so we walked a long Riva degli Schiavone, did a bit of a wander around Castello and then went to the Biennale.  Castello is looking even more tired and there are many many closed shops and places to rent and buy.  It was sad to see so many closed shops and run down places in Via Garibaldi. While there were people around it doesn't have the same vibrancy as other places. 

Palazzo Ducale

Palazzo Ducale

Palazzo Ducale

Ponte dei sospiri

The last time that Rob went up this bridge he was running in the marathon -it was a little easier today :)

A canal in Castello

This palazzo is in a fantastic position with views across the Laguna and a pretty canal

The Australian pavillion is still awful, if money was needed for a sporting pavillion it would be found immediately.  Unfortunately we will be stuck with the shed in the Giardini for a while.  Unless a mining magnate donates funds to the Arts  -highly unlikely in Australia.

The arsenale clock is beautiful

The Venice lion at Arsenale

The entrance to the Arsenale

The Arsenale was the centre of the Venetian ship building industry from 1104.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_Arsenal
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenale_di_Venezia
http://www.arsenaledivenezia.it/main/Default.aspx?page=128

Part of the Biennale exhibition was held at the Arsenale - it is usually closed to the public and it was the first time that we have been able to wander around

The sea entrace to the Arsenale