We, the pupils.

Pointed arches, republicanism and off-the-shoulder-asymetry; Miss January has it all.

Emergency vehicles of The Venetian Lagoon.

01. Emergency ward and Ambulance:

02. Still life with Fire Engine and Palladian Church of the Redemption:

The Spritz.

Designed as an apperetif but drunk in the quantities that we drink beer in Australia, as well as for breakfast and lunch, it is the national beverage of the Serene Venetian Republic.

It is made of the following:
Prosecco - A local sparkling white wine
Campari
A dash of soda
A green olive
A slice of citrus

It comes in two flavours: bitter {regular} and con aperol {where Campari is replaced with Aperol, generally drunk by losers}

This is the machine used to dredge the canals.

They drive it down a canal digging the muck from the bottom while the cabin remains above the water level.

How many masterpieces can you fit into a weekend?

The Contiki tour, Simple Italy, stops in Florence for a day while another of their tours, European Contrasts stays a little longer - one night, same as Matt and I - and covers:

“the Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo and Santa Croce. Shop for leather, gold and silver before taking the opportunity to visit one of the many museums or galleries. This evening, an opportunity to enjoy the colourful Florentine nightlife.”

This is childs play. Matt and I achieved the following in one day in Florence:

Masterpieces:

• The Basilica di Santa Maria Novella - Divine proportions, Romanesque/Gothic transition
• The Duomo - Divine proportions, excess marble
• Brunelleschi’s Dome
• The Battistero - Octagonally sublime
• Brunelleschi’s Orphanage - Covered arcade and divine proportions
• The Statue of David - Original and replica, divine and contempory manufactured.
• Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine - Fresco/turning-point-in-art/mannerism
• Chiasa di Santo Spirito - Divine proportion
• Basilica di San Lorenzo - File under: Harmonious Renaissance Architecure, Most

Sundry Activities:

• Markets - leather
• Markets - food, including but not limited to: The Tripe Lady and the Ham Man.
• Armani - regular and emporio
• Chianti
• Prada - regular and Miu Miu

Take that Contiki. You guys are pussies.

Houses and apartments do not have numbers in Venice. Buildings have numbers, street addresses; but individual apartments have names.

Imagine if you will a ball. About the size of a tennis ball, perhaps a little larger. Now suppose the skin of this ball was made of the finest of pastries and instead of empty space filling its interior we find chocolate ganache. That would be quite a fantastic ball would it not? But the magic does not stop there for this ball is then coated with icing sugar then dusted with chocolate to make the deliciousness complete.

It is safe to say that the kind of sport played with this ball would be quite special indeed. In Venice they call such a ball a Fritelle Cioccolato and it is a part of the sport known here as dolce.

For me it was lunch.

Bearing in mind that breakfast consisted of a chocolate filled croissant you ought not feel too sorry for me…

Disregarding Nepal, Venice has to be one of the most wheelchair unfriendly places in the world.

However this is not to say that measures are not in place to make it more hospitable to those bound to the wheels of steel. Many traditionally stepped bridges are being fitted out with almost ramps. Ramps with spepped nosings every 90cms or so.

It is nice to see that although Venice is making an effort to be wheelchair friendly, accessible even, it is still going to make the cripples work for the priveledge. Sure we’ll make put a ramp over part of the bridge…but the ramp is still going to be stepped. And a 1:14 gradient with landings every 9m? Ha!

One of the saddest sites to be seen in Venice is a site of equitable access compliance and a prime example can be found in the gardens of the Venice Biennale at the Japanese Pavilion. Only a short stroll from Matt and my apartment, Designed by Takamasa Yoshizaka and built in 1952 the pavilion makes an ill-advised attempt at bringing compliant ramps and ballustrades to the Veneto.

Facing off with the precipitous stairs of the Nordic Pavilion it comes across as some kind of embarrassing joke. Of course once again, in order to make it up to the compliant ramp, highy non-compliant terrain must be navigated and overcome. This is only natural and proper.

The Venetian Lagoon at its lowest level in recorded history.

Can you not taste the serene stink?