It was nice to semi sleep in until the hotels rooster (now on the endangered species list) was successfully able to raise us out of our various comatose states !
To Henley's delight we were treated to a magic continental breakfast that included a bit of everything including enough tasteful fruit to even keep even the "fruit bat" satisfied.
Back to our roome we set about demolishing our boxes and assembling our bikes. To Kev's despair his box damage meant he'd lost 2 of his 4 front pannier fixing lugs, not a big issue he said as he didn't bring his front panniers only his front pannier rack - apparently he couldn't be bothered unpacking the rack after deciding not to bring the panniers !!!
Bikes looking the part we left our hotel near Mestre to journey into Venice itself to give Kev a taste of this amazingly beautiful and amazingly crowded city !
With a bit of prior knowledge we walked the quieter side of the Grand Canal marveling at the incredible architecture and former wealth of this lovely city of bridges and canals.
Walking down to the Piazza San Marco with the throngs in the heat was tiring and it wasn't long before we took our rightful place on a bench reserved for international geriatrics.
Refreshed and after being told to move over by a 90 year old, we ventured back by way of beautifully quiet canals seeking our lunch time abode after finally being able to withdraw money from an ATM the first one we'd seen for ages !
A major international incident was narrowly avoided with Henley pounding on the bank's doors threatening mayhem after believing the ATM had "dudded" him of 1,000 euros.
Thankfully because the Bank was closed a 2nd attempt had Kev realize that the amount he was trying to withdraw was over his daily limit !
After a pizza and pasta lunch and some Italian rain we journeyed back taking in the marvelous free afternoon entertainment as Ferries, Gondolas, Speed boats and large water taxis jockeyed on the Grand Canal in a chaotic display somehow avoid striking and sinking each other !
After a good spell in Venice it was time to head back to Tessara and our hotel with Kev relieved to be finally able to claim his video camera having left it on the hotel shuttle in the morning !!!
Tomorrow we have time for a quick Venice revisit before taking a late afternoon ferry to Porec in Croatia the starting point for our 2015 cycle epic !
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