The AliLaguna is a ferry that takes you around the city on the lagoon rather than through it on the Grand Canal and it was a FULL boat. Arriving on Lido, southernmost of the 118 islands that make up Venice, a half hour later, we were ready for a cab (yes, cars) the "800 meters down the street and left..." sounded formidable (remember the bridges!). The taxi left us at a lovely Bed & Breakfast called " Villa Casanova".
On our short drive we had seen a lot of people on bicycles. Our room wasn't to be available for a couple of hours so we asked if there was a bike rental near. Lo and behold! She had bikes out back for us. Interesting bikes...we chose the two that seemed to fit our respective heights. What wasn't broken on one was rusted on another, but we took off to rattle our way around the island, no gears, no helmets, one brake.
It turned into great, interesting fun. Lucky for me that I had gone with Mike on one of their Cruisers a few weeks back, so I felt a LITTLE more comfortable on a big bike with no gears...we did NO downhills though as I did entertain a few thoughts of how embarrassing it would be to pitch into a canal...I knew I would live through the dip, just not through the telling of the story.
First to the beach. The season is over so the beach houses look like a weird ghost town of big brown closets We found one beach with umbrellas and people. The sand was thick with shells ( probably not a barefoot place) and the water was cool and refreshing...not that I got in, just finger tested.
NO ONE was here an this was ONLY one row...there were MANY
Notice the panel at the head of the lounges to cover the sun lover's face.
Found an old neighborhood that had died somewhere back in time,
vines dripping and tentacled to shutters. Stucco missing in huge splotches, signs in occasional rooms that someone had "tried" recently. Trees dead, grass dry or overrun. Then we came to a perfectly alive, if hidden, hospital, not well marked ( we identify ambulances pretty well in any country). The fountain out front has seen more glorious days, but it had a busy family of turtles to admire
Hospital far Back...abandoned buildings at right
These were only two of about 8 sunning turtles
There were lovely manicured streets,some beautiful old villas, a busy downtown, not clotted with tourists, but busy with lunch for the locals and just a bunch of tourists (usually have maps). We lunched in the beautiful weather at an outdoor cafe not far from some picturesque neighborhood canals.
Back at Villa Casanova, we checked in ... And took a nap.
After which we retrieved bikes to see the REST of the island, which went through a bunch of real roads, schools, horse arena, archery grounds ( not sure what they might be called), soccer fields, canals thick with parked boats ( we are still in Venice) on to a narrowing road along the beach where we saw cement factories, a couple of small town-like enclaves, vegetables growing...the working end of the place. All this while we were on a narrow road with WIDE busses zipping by, all manner of Vespas and motorcycles at any speed and MANY on bicycles. We may have seen 10 real bikers: colorful shirts, Lycra and helmets...the other hundred of us, mostly women, mostly wearing dresses, were NOT wearing helmets
A bicycling lady, near my age, in her dress, riding opposite direction across one street...nodded amiably to me as if in acknowledgement that we are comrades on bikes. Tom thought I looked quite Italian...riding around with no helmut.
Naturally we needed to go to the end of the island...and then sprint back so we could watch the Norwegian Jade escorted through the narrow strait on it's way back to the Greek Islands.
Tom was pretty content to know that he, who will be 70 in two weeks, was not as tired as I after this 30 k circumnavigation of the island.
The most perfect sunset we have seen in years settled over Venice as we shared another great meal on the waterfront.
The Sunday trip from Lido to Milan/Malpensa took all day...nice trains..but all day.
We went for a final walk in the "hood" around our hotel...again, some well kept Villas and houses...some completely devastated and abandoned, within blocks of each other.
This morning, as we had made a reservation for the LAST van to the airport, it became obvious that we had more people and luggage than could reasonably be expected to fit into one vehicle ( we had no school bus). We made the cut for the first van, but arrived at the airport...without Tom's red suitcase...Another day, another story...
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Location:Lido-Venice-Italy
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