April 26
Life expands
Getting around is less of an issue after 8 days and you do better here with good sense of direction and a good map reader – neither is my forte. Remembering The Forum and my Creativity seminar I sometimes say - This is it and I am satisfied – regardless of the cirumstances
Yesterday was Feast St Mark patron saint of Venezia and I was going to P San Marco for tour of Clock Tower. And came upon the formal celebration with marching and flags and I think veterans of wars very official and they set free 3 flags – Venice orange with Lion – Europe and Italy.
Clock tower that was fascinating – you climb up and up very small winding metal staircase not for anyone with claustrophobia or walking problems – it was originated by Doge (ruler) in about 1500 and a clockmaker designed this complex system cause it’s the clock and the two Moors at top that strike a bell at 5 to and 5 after. Twice a year these figures of magi and Virgin are set upon a mechanism that brings them out – once is Ascension Day coming next month. They are wood and I think very old tho not the originals. Various clockmakers perfected the clock. The originals lived there and every 12 hours they set off the ring of the clock. Also the clock now has zodiac and signs of the moon. Someone at some time I think in 17th ca made the first digital clock form. A clock maker would be just enthralled. You go here by appointment and we were group of 6 and our guide.
During the day I had to deal with my train tickets to Pisa and Florence and that was quite a tale. I was told not to buy tickets from US and he was right – I was very fortunate to talk to people there with excellent English and came to learn the main train is eurostar and I was sold one eurostar tik with reservation to return from Florence – the other 3 were intercity or regional or normale tickets and that means many trains for one destination – just to go from Venice to Pisa I had like 2 tickets maybe 3 cause I have to go from V to Florence to Pisa. Finally I learned I could pay for another tik on eurostar that’s from Venice to Florence then use the normale ticket to Pisa and another of my normale tik from Pisa back to Florence. Of course Rail Europe did not explain anything to me just sold me tickets and sent them.
Then later went to this church that was in Venice Observed by mary McCarthy – excellent book thanks to Bob! Here I was in church with almost all Tintoretto and one Titian – that’s not so unusual – Tintoretto is buried here with two children and I think it said his wife is also buried in another place in that church – Madonna del Orto.
I walked a lot yesterday and oh almost forgot I came upon this Flea market as I was looking for bread store – I found the shop and this fascinating flea market. Most things are too heavy to get home – quite a display – someone has this mini toy treadmill and elliptical machine I almost got. There were old postcards, books, jewelry and glass pieces – I saw someone buy old abacus. No clothing – its what we call chachkes.
Now its Thursday and I am here a week. Im going out to another area near church Santa Maria de Formosa to see this church San Giorgio in Schiavoni with Carpaccios – and later Im going to gym. Just for fun. I will go to poste and mail a birthday gift to my friend Barbara – very smart that I sent ahead various things we use in US cant find here like larger mailing envelopes, dark thick pen, tape, postit,
I went few times to internet stops and took this mac there.What I miss the most is the ease of using technology at home.
Anyway I began today to photograph
If you want to look here it is
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v374/judgo/
My blog designer Alan Stonebraker –without whom I would not have a Blog at all – is adding one of these photos with some editing
Carpaccio paintings in San Giorgio in Schiavoni is so marvelous – very different from Titians or Tintoretto or Veronese or Bassini or Palma – more detailed and complex.
That’s all for now due to the expense of using these internet points and time to move back to my peregrinations…Today I lost a wonderful map
I sent a friend some gifts for her birthday airmail using the post office - and some people from France asked me how to mail card to France - I knew the blue box is for international!
Judy in Venice
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