11 July 2011

The answer, my friend,..........

Well, did you guess correctly? Well done to Flowerpot, Doglover and Nota Bene for solving the clues. The clues were a bit obscure. The first three referred to Daphne du Maurier's book Don't Look Now from which a film was made in 1973 starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland about a little girl in a red mac who drowns in her garden pond. The father restores old churches and the plot is set in Venice for the most part, where the grief-stricken parents keep seeing little red macs all over the place. I won't spoil the plot for those who have never seen the film. The other clue was the Four Seasons written by Vivaldi who was born in Venice. So Venice was the anwer and that is where I have been!


I have always wanted to go there, but never managed it up until now. Other people all seemed to go, but it was never my turn. My parents went in the 1970s, calling in there on one of their cruises; my friends all went with respective spouses; even Kay went on a GCSE art trip there with her school about six years ago. (Boy, was I jealous!) Quite why I was so drawn to it, I'll never know. Some people told me it was dirty and smelly, but that seemed to attract me all the more. I don't want to see another version of my local high street all pristine and modern, when I go on holiday. I go to see something completely different. I'm also increasingly getting fed up with beach holidays - done that, got the T-shirt and the sunburn! Venice seemed to tick all the boxes.

And then, of course Greg died and I despaired of ever going on holiday ever again, let alone to Venice. However, for my 60th birthday, Kay gave me a small envelope with a very big twinkle in her eye and when I opened it, I nearly fainted with shock. Inside were British Airways tickets and a reservation for a week here in a fourteenth century hotel........ all paid for by money given to her by Greg. " It's from me AND Dad", she said. "He would have wanted you to go". It took quite a while for my vision to adjust with all the spent tears that evening, I can tell you!


Venice was not only great, it surpassed all I had expected. Kay and I made good use of our time there and explored every nook and cranny of the city, even going to the non-tourist parts, when we could. I'll write more later but meanwhile here are but a few of the 194 photos I took.... You can click on each picture to enlarge it.




Santa Maria della Salute Church on the Grand Canal from the Accademia Bridge

St Mark's Square, Basilica and Campanile


Florian Cafe on St Mark's Square where two coffees cost £30 (ouch!)

Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge



View from our hotel

10 comments:

DogLover said...

Marvellous photographs! I have never much wanted to go to Venice, but they make me want to now!

What a great present from your clever Kay!

Anonymous said...

How incredible. You must have been so touched my Kay's gesture, what a wonderful gift to give you.

It's somewhere I've never been either. The hotel looks beautiful; very sumptious rooms!!

CJ xx

Spencer Park said...

I know that I've been a little emotional lately but that story brought a tear to my eye.

I am sooooooo glad that you enjoyed it.

(PS I knew it was Venice all the time - honest).

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

How wonderful and such a lovely surprise for you Addie. So pleased to know that you had such a good time. I have never been either and it is on my wish list also. A x

Furtheron said...

How lovely on so many levels

Nota Bene said...

That Kay...what a brilliant, fabulous daughter you have. Pictures look lovely.

Anonymous said...

Hi Addy,

Red mac done it for me too. Great photos- looks really stunning. The hotel is beautiful. I think I am feeling some of that jealousy you felt for all those years. Its a place I'd love to see too. Would love to go to the carnival there.

Like yourself I find beach holidays unappealling and like to see the character of a place. Maybe one day.

Glad you had a great time.

All the best

Nechtan

AGuidingLife said...

I spent a lovely hour reading all about Daphne du Maurier and worked out it was Venice. How incredibly thoughtful of your daughter. It looks beautiful too. Good to have good weather to bring a dream to life. About time you had the dream. happy xx

hyperCRYPTICal said...

What a wonderful suprise for you Addy and I am glad you have realised your dream.

Venice looks wonderful - completely off the mark with Cornwall, wasn't I?

Beautiful photographs and lots of happy memories.

Anna :o]

Flowerpot said...

I'm hoping to go later this year - what a lovely present from Kay.