Life in Venice

Although we're only here for five days, our apartment is well out of the tourist area on a small canal and it's great watching life in Venice. There's a small dock - read two mooring poles - outside our landing and each night three 'tradies' tie up their boat and head off home. Each morning they arrive about 8am, load up the boat with their tools and supplies and head off.

Across the canal, mums with their children running ahead, head off to school on the quayside path.

We have to make sure our 'humid' garbage is put outside every day between 6-8am to be collected. Glass is collected three days a week and paper and plastic the other three days.

The seagulls here are a menace, which is why you have to put out the garbage between those hours. Apparently many years ago they introduced hawks to get rid of the pigeons but then they mated with the seagulls to produce a much larger seagull like bird. They're so big they carry off small children .... 

They also love garbage!

The grocery boat has just pulled up across the canal and the guys are unloading the days supplies to the restaurant just over the bridge. Our hosts have suggested we have dinner there as they serve the best Ciccetti in Venice. (A series of fresh seafood dishes). We'll let you know.

There are very few gondolas in our canal - as I said, it's not a tourist area. Just lots of working boats going about their deliveries and getting to work.