Homer 2022 : Venice

       

Friday 1 July to Monday 11 July 2022

Venice may just be my favourite city in Europe, possibly the world.

It's pretty touristy but it's also a lot more than Piazza St. Marco, which is by far my least favourite part. Piazza St. Marco is packed with tourists!

Go once if you have to but the rest of Venice is SO much better.

If you want to go into the Cathedral or Palazzo Ducale book skip-the-line tickets ahead of time.

This year we did go to Palazzo Ducale but only to see the Anshelm Keifer exhibition. 

We camped at Serenissima for 6 nights with Stephen and Vivienne before they left to head home and then we had 5 nights with Larry, Jean and Rina in an apartment in Cannareggio.

One year I'm going to stay here for a few months. Popping out for a morning cappuccino, strolling half lost through the narrow streets and alongside the canals.

Visiting all the outlying islands and maybe we'll even get a little boat.

Although I do like riding the vaporettos. (water busses) Buy the weekly vaporetto ticket when you arrive.  Saves time and hassle and if you accidentally get on the wrong boat, it's no problem.

Vaporettos get crowded so for a great ride down the Grand Canal catch the line 1 from Piazzale Roma to St. Marco early (8.30am) and you'll have the boat to yourself.

We spent 2 Saturdays and half a Sunday in The Irish Pub watching the Rugby Championship and Wimbeldon tennis. This little corner was like our private living room. 

2022 is an art Biennale year so the city is filled with art. We spent 2 days at the Biennale.

We also went to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and enjoyed the special Surrealism exhibition on there.

We did 2 day trips to Murano and Burano.

La Perla Ai Bestei on Murano is my hidden gem. Book early, arrive by noon and you'll be eating with locals and workers.

The place may fill up with tourists later but you'll be on your way by then.

Get to Burano later in the afternoon when the lighting is great for photos.

You have to work hard to avoid touristy restaurants in Venice. We have our favourites.

You won't go wrong spending all your nights in Cannareggio, especially around Fondamenta Misacordia.

See if you can find the only bridge in Venice without a railing.

Paradiso Perduto is my favourite restaurant in Venice but they don't suffer stupid tourists lightly. Don't be late or complain if your table isn't ready on time and the menu is only in Italian.

Osteria Antico Dolo is a third generation family run place. 

If you do go to Osteria Contemporanea da Riccardo, make sure you eat from the menu and ask for wine prices or your bill will be a shock. A big shock.

Cicchetti Bars dotted all over the city serve beer, wine or spritz with little tapas style snacks, mostly toppings on pieces of bread.

Some are quite historic, some have views, some are a great mix of tourists and locals.

A few favourites this time..

Bacaro Risorto

Cantina Arnaldi

Corner Pub

Cantina Do Spade

Cantine del Schiavi

Naranzaria

Osteria Al Squero

Put away your Google map and just wander. Around every corner, across every bridge and down every alley, you'll find something amazing.

Phuket 2019 : The Parties

Moody's Cafe

Off Bangla Rd so if you want a slightly more relaxed evening this is it. Moody and his band are the best in Patong. 

Lion Music Bar

This very loud band draws a crowd every night and is my favourite on Bangla Rd.

Soi Freedom and Tao Bangla

Down a soi off Bangla so it's a bit quieter. The closest bar to the band has changed owner, name and staff since last year. Added bonus of some ladyboy caberet in-between sets.

Hippie Road

The bike parking off San Sabai now has a cluster of bars, most of which are pretty quiet. Hippie Rd has a pretty good rock band playing from midnight onwards. The Harley crowd like it because they can park right outside.

Jammin' Bar

Reggae Bar on Beach Rd; very chilled, outdoor space open very late.

Tums

A tiny old place in Soi Seadragon, Bangla Rd with a live band from 11pm. Neil likes it.

2 Chefs

Off Bangla. Decent food and a quieter 2 piece band.

Rocking Angels

Tiny Blues bar in Phuket Town to go to after dinner.

Ka Jok See

In Phuket town. A fantasy, great food and still the best party in the world. Not always easy to get a booking.

Black Horse Bar

Old favourite on Bangla to sit and people watch. DJ plays our kind of music.

Heroes Bar

Our other Bangla Bar, louder than  Black Horse makes chatting harder.

RWC games were shown with commentary.

Lillie's Aussie Bar 

All the tiki shacks at OTOP have moved down to one end but still a great place to meet when some of your group give up on the shopping before the others. Cocktails and choosing your own You Tube music videos often ends up in a bit of a party.

San Sabai Sport's Bar

Saw the Bokke beat England and become RWC Champions here amongst all the English expats.

Love that the bar girls crocheted special coasters for the event.