You get used to these bridges very quickly; every journey of more than a minute requires walking up and down one of the many pedestrian bridges in Venice.
While there are lots of bridges, everything is so close that the walk is never too far.
This is the view that I saw from our hotel bedroom. Typically Venetian. From time to time, I would hear a Gondolier punting past, singing Italian love songs to his passengers.
It poured with rain for our first day in Venice, but we were determined to get out and about and explore the city. This shot is of St Mark’s Square, just in front of St Mark’s Basilica. If you look across the square, you will notice a line of people walking on trestle tables. This is because with a high tide and torrential rain, the square was flooded.
But that was not a problem for the resourceful Venetian’s. Almost every road (well pedestrian walkway), had piles of these tables which were simply spread out whenever a region was flooded. As soon as the water subsides, the tables are re-stacked and life goes back to normal.
The Grand Canal in Venice is the easiest way to get around Venice. It basically divides the city down the middle, with most taxi and bus services running on it.
There are only four bridges that you can use to cross the canal, however it is a small city; so you never really find yourself stuck on the wrong side of the canal. Venice is remarkably compact, you can easily cross it on foot in less than an hour, and by using the water-bus (Vaporetti) in about 1/2 hour.
Although it is difficult to get an original shot of the canal that has not been taken 100 times before, it is truly a beautiful location for some great shots.
The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. It was build by Antonio da Ponte, in 1591, after almost 100 years of thinking, discussion, proposals and planning. So if you think that city planning today seems to take forever, don’t complain!
During the planning process, several plans for the Rialto Bridge were submitted, including a plan by Michelangelo, which was not used. While I have seen many pictures of the bridge over the years, I was a little surprised at how small it really is, having said that the whole of Venice is really small. You could easy walk end to end in 45 minutes (including the obligatory getting lost; which will happen at some stage).
The Rialto Bridge is right next to the Rialto Market, selling fresh produce and sea food to the locals and tourists. Never the less, it is a beautiful and spectacular bridge in the heart of Venice, and a wonderful location to wonder around for a couple of hours.
ps: A pity about the Graffiti on the right :-(
The famous Trevi Fountain in Rome. Although the fountain is really beautiful, this is the part of Rome that made me feel most uncomfortable. There were hordes of people in a rather confined area, and far to many shady vendors walking around. It just felt like a ripe place for some pick-pocketing.
Having said all that, we didn’t have any problems. The fountain is very beautiful, made up of water gushing over wonderfully carved marble statues and figures, creating both a soothing and cooling effect.
The popular story has it that if you throw a coin into the fountain, your return to Rome is assured. Although I did not throw a coin into the fountain, I certainly plan to be go back to Rome.
Yes, it is true. Brighton does not have a real beach. The beach consists purely of round pebbles. Ok so yes the beach is real, just not to a South African.
They have been word down for such a long time, that they are almost soft to walk on. But it is really different to walking on the beaches in Cape Town.
The upside of course is that when then wind blows, you don’t get the Cape Town sandblasting.
Here is a small pier with fishermen on the end (of course not to be confused with Brighton Pier)
Brighton beach is a great place to sit and contemplate the world; these two people were shot in Hove, sitting and watching the sea
There is a rather quaint fishing museum in Brighton, on the beach just below the pier.
This pic is of one of the old fishing boats. You can see the pier in the distance, and notice the jet trail cutting the sky across the middle.
Here is another boat, parked just outside the entrance to the museum.
Just look at that beach, you really cannot compare with it.
A couple of six second exposure of one of the streams inside Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town. Kirstenbosch,
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is truly one of the most beauthful gardens in the world. It covers approximately 46 hecatares, and contains a staggering 7000 different plant species. The Cape Floristic Region, which includes Kirstenbosch, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site –the first botanic garden in the world to be included.
We were there for a picnic to celebrate a friend’s birthday, you are welcome to take your own picnics, but they also have two wonderful restaurants.
You can find more details on their website.
There is a tiny lagoon on the beach, just opposite the landfill on Baden Powell drive which I often drive past. In the morning it is covered in Seagulls and small birds enjoying the shallow waters.
Today I stopped to take a pic of them, and I gaught this show of the two birds fighting (or possibly mating). I really don’t know Seagulls too well, but they constantly literally flying into each other and almost chasing each other away.
It was an interesting site, and I think it makes quite a nice photo.
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