2nd honeymoon...

[Mousy]

We had a nice drive yesterday to the peninsula near Venice. We chose to stay at camping Cavallino, this ticked all our boxes, dog friendly and ACSI. It also turned out to be the best campsite we've ever stayed on. Large pitches next to a dog friendly beach with each pitch having drainage for grey and fresh water with EHU. Lovely amenities block which Martin assured me is spotless, restaurant and shop. Swimming pool is being refurbished and we can imagine in the summer it will be heaving.

The first chance millie has had this holiday for a really good off lead run...all the prints are hers..

We sat enjoying the sunshine outside our van thinking this is the life..millie meanwhile was digging to China! We've filled it in as best we can but the hole still offers a significant trip hazard

 

[Mousy]

I was really excited about visiting Venice so it was easy to get up early to catch the bus from outside the campsite that would take us to the ferry.
Alas the weather had turned and we'd finally lost the sunshine.

This is how I imagined Venice would be like...

This was the reality....

I'd also imagined that we would take a gondola ride together, I'd be wearing something soft and floaty, whilst licking an ice cream, Martin would be looking like Pierce Brosnan and the gondola driver would be serenading us softly in Italian...the language of love.

Mmmmmm I wonder if that's what these poor folks had in mind? Instead they found themselves huddled under umbrellas whilst Mr Gondola checked out his latest matches on tinder..it could be you for the bargain price of €80..guess how long you get for that..35 minutes...as Martin said "they having a larf!"

So dreams shattered we walked on..

The closest we got to a gondola

Our eyes always upwards (whilst avoiding having them taken out by Japs with umbrellas)
..

We found breathtaking beauty even in the rain.

Have I mentioned the lack of sunshine? Cloud we can do but horizontal rain makes wandering slowly sightseeing a miserable experience.

This cheered us up though..Millie's own wine shop.

Again with the padlocks!

Full marks to Jurgen and Claudia they have obviously thought ahead. Damien on the other hand is obviously a cheap skate.

We aim to go back tomorrow with a sharpie.

 

[JockandRita]

it could be you for the bargain price of €80..guess how long you get for that..35 minutes...as Martin said "they having a larf!"

I'm glad we aren't the only ones who thought it was a rip off.

As usual, thanks for the piccies, and posts.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

You need to get yourself a padlock and put one on. Got to!
Loving your trip.
We'd love to go there in Pug. I've always wanted to go to Pompeii too ever since doing about it at school !
It's the Isle of Mull for us this year September, for our camping holiday and back to where we got married Aghia Galini by aeroplane in June.
Ralph wants to do Iceland or Norway next year in Pug .
Not doing things by half , as we've only gone as far as the Outer Hebrides and Isle of White ( off the mainland ) in a motorhome before.

 

[dabhand]

Nice pics, enjoy your trip guys

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[Zepp]

Great blog and pictures have a great time

 

[cliffanger]

Glad you stayed in Cavallino - we loved it there. The wine from the little shop on the main road is quite nice - if I remember, the rose was better than the white! Did you go to Murano or are you doing that tomorrow?

Hope the ankle is OK, I found Venice too claustrophobic for me and definitely hard going on the feet! Millie is certainly getting around!

 

[Chris]

Great stuff.

I had heard about the rip offs in Venice so we have given it a miss.

Currently engraving a padlock

 

[Popeye]

Only just caught up Dawn, looks great. We took Brian (Hilldweller) advice and took the choo choo from Peschiera to Venice and of course it was brilliant sunshine and yes hard on the feet but we loved it. We spent rather a lot on food in Venice but managed to avoid the Gondoliers rip off but had a fascinating hour watching craftsmen making a Gondola.

Keep it coming Babe! xx Griff

 

[Popeye]

Oh and @Cleve you get blown a kiss for calling me a girl!

By the way 'Girl' do I get Blown now?

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[Mousy]

What I found surprising were the shops, I was obviously expecting the usual tourist tat but I loved all the little shops, we kept turning off the main alleys to avoid the tour groups who were rushing heads down with umbrellas and we would literally stumble onto a line of small shop fronts but each shop only selling one thing....

So I got swept rather swiftly by Martin past the handbags...

And by my latest obsession...cashmere wraps..

We both lingered by the gin..which was actually reasonably priced.

We found these masks really creepy..

Can't ever imagine hearing Martin say "I'm just popping down to the quill shop"..

Just gloves, this row was on a busy alley hence the umbrellas.

I loved these glass bowls, but with prices starting at €300 it was sadly a no..

Amazing colours in these ones, can't wait to get to Murano (the small island off Venice where the glass is made).

We are after some shot glasses for our lemoncello but €150 for 6 and as Martin says "they don't even match!".

Not our taste at all but the size of a 50p, very skillful.

What's amazing is that everything coming onto Venice is delivered by handcarts, we saw quite a few of these guys around. We even had to reverse ourselves down an alley for one

It was interesting that some goods were more expensive but some things were similar to the main land. Obviously you all know I didn't marry a shopper but even Martin found Venice and it's shopping experience fascinating.

 

[big map]

I love the two brown leather bags above the doorway. The cashmere wraps look to be a very good price as does the gin. I wouldn't have been able to resist the glass bowls. Note to self stay away from Venice. Loving your journey @Mousy as always.

 

[Mousy]

In our quest to escape the masses we kept diving down any get-away. Venice is a network of canals, bridges, squares and alleyways. Some alleys are as wide as a car, some narrow enough only for the local cat..

We didn't bother about getting lost, it was all part of the fun. We decided very early on that trying to "see the sights" in the rain and crowds was no joy so we took an alternative foot tour of Venice.

Some of Venice is more shabby than chic but still lovely.

The excitement of getting to the end of an alley not knowing if we'd find a dead end, canal or something beautiful was great.

Down here, left a bit, right a bit and you come out onto this...

The Grand Canal..note the lack of tourists..

Back down another alley...

Martin as you know doesn't fear going were he might not be wanted...in this case a beautiful secret garden..

We turned down a dead end looking alley and found this... Amazing!

We came across the gondola drivers parking up for lunch.

In our quest to get off the beaten track we went down here, I thought at one point I'd have to diet to get out

Luckily we came out onto here..and breathe!

No washing out..

Not my poor photography skills this time that tower is definitely on a wonk..

Apart from the weather and the crowds we absolutely loved Venice, we found it fascinating, we will be back...

 

[Spidey]

I am loving your photos of Venice we are off there in July but not in the motorhome. We would do exactly what you have done go off the beaton track to find a less touristy Venice. Did you come across restaurants and coffee shops that appear to be cheaper than the main areas?

 

[Taran_Las]

Has Mousy become Motorhomefun's equivalent of Andy Stothert?

Both travel with their long suffering partners, both have a wicked sense of humour and both travel to wonderful locations in their motorhomes.

Obviously it goes without saying which one is the more attractive (creep that I am)​

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[cliffanger]

Dawn, those photos make me sad that we didn't explore as far into the back streets as you obviously did. The shops look amazing - did one of those little orchestra people play a uke - i'de have paid good money for that!

Have a lovely time in Murano. Hope the sun is shining xx

 

[WSandME]

We turned down a dead end looking alley and found this... Amazing!

Like you, we tend to toss a coin at junctions - whether on foot or in the motorhome, and just see where it takes us. After a while you get to be quite expert in reversing back around twisty alleyways whilst being serenaded by tooting car horns!!

 

[Popeye]

We found the shipright building Gondolas by taking a dead end walk, fascinating place.

 

[Mousy]

So today we went island hopping. The plan was to visit Murano but something got lost in the translation and we got onto the boat to Burano...what an excellent accident that turned out to be.

Once again we turned left whilst the school trips and Koreans carried on so we had these beautiful canals and alleyways all to ourselves.

We were enchanted by Burano with its bright gaudy houses, it had a tough working, real people feel to it.

Although this blue one could do with a lick of paint..

Once again we wandered at will but sometimes it felt almost voyeuristic, as we were up close and personal with people's front doors and the alleys led to courtyards with washing out or benches waiting for Italian mammas to sit gossiping with their neighbours.

You can just see the awning of the little family restaurant where we enjoyed lunch.

No need to visit Pisa.

Whilst sat on a bench having a rest we got accosted by some school kids whose trip challenge was to have a photo of themselves with an animal. They asked to borrow Millie, but struggled with holding both her and their selfie sticks. I helped out, she's excitedly licking all their faces and they are desperately trying to get her to look at the camera. I call her name, then they all start shouting her name, so of course she's now beside herself with excitement. Luckily she doesn't pee herself but to see these 3 lads juggling Millie was hilarious.
They were surprisingly picky about their pictures too.
When it was all over and we rounded the corner of the square to see about 30 kids all trying to get selfies with pigeons we swiftly hid.

Even on a dull day Burano is cheerful, we can only imagine how wonderful it would be in sunshine.

Murano to follow...

 

[Mousy]

I am loving your photos of Venice we are off there in July but not in the motorhome. We would do exactly what you have done go off the beaton track to find a less touristy Venice. Did you come across restaurants and coffee shops that appear to be cheaper than the main areas?

Hi, I think you'd have to go a long way out until you noticed any drop in prices. Think you just have to accept it's expensive. We paid €14 for a coffee, hot chocolate and 2 croissants in a little cafe for breakfast.

Lunch was €54. 2 courses and 1 drink each.

Here's a recommendation for lunch, it was sadly shut for us.

Very envious of your trip, you'll have a great time I'm sure.

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[Mousy]

Has Mousy become Motorhomefun's equivalent of Andy Stothert?

Both travel with their long suffering partners, both have a wicked sense of humour and both travel to wonderful locations in their motorhomes.

Obviously it goes without saying which one is the more attractive (creep that I am)​

But Phil who's the long suffering partner? Martin or Me?

 

[Popeye]

But Phil who's the long suffering partner? Martin or Me?

Both of you in the most delightful way!

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.


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(Poor Martin when shopping though, I've witnessed it in Charity shops in Lyndhurst)

 

[cliffanger]

Burano looks beautiful - so much nicer than Venice - I almost don't want to see Murano .... did you buy any glassware? xx

 

[Mousy]

Burano looks beautiful - so much nicer than Venice - I almost don't want to see Murano .... did you buy any glassware? xx

You'll just have to wait and see...after our lasagne..

 

[cliffanger]

You'll just have to wait and see...after our lasagne..

oooooo - how Italian.... no stir fried veg this hollibobs then...

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[Mousy]

oooooo - how Italian.... no stir fried veg this hollibobs then...

Carb loading all the way babe...

 

[davidbaldam]

One thing we always tell those visiting Venice is to take the Secret tour of the Doge Palace which takes you behind the scenes and when the tour is over you can also use the same ticket to visit the Doge Palace proper.

 

[Mousy]

One thing we always tell those visiting Venice is to take the Secret tour of the Doge Palace which takes you behind the scenes and when the tour is over you can also use the same ticket to visit the Doge Palace proper.

Just couldn't face this que..

It wrapped around the corner too...

 

[davidbaldam]

Just couldn't face this que..
View attachment 159948
It wrapped around the corner too...

If you can book online then you get a timed ticket and bet the queue's

 

[Mousy]

If you can book online then you get a timed ticket and bet the queue's

Thanks we will do that next time. Wish we'd known that 2 days ago

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