Bad hair & frustrating town

Venice in the snow

I know it's not as much as you've had in the UK but I wannt you to see we have some here

Venice is more than having a bad hair day - it's a bad hair town. I have worn a woolly hat most of the day as it was very cold and then it snowed. When I went inside & took the hat off - what a sight!

There is a wonderful little book that comes out monthly & gives all concerts, events, museums & all general information. I had been recommended the tour of the Jewish Cemetery. I had been calling the number listed for three days to book but not got through. I went to the web site & sent an email. No reply. Alarm bells were sounding but I thought I would just go over & try to get a tour. The cemetery is at the end of the lido. I got off the bus three stops too late, walked back, asked four people & when I got there it is only open March to October. So lunch, a walk, got wet, waited & at 3pm went to visit the newly restored Palazzo Grimani. I had telephoned to book, but that has to be 24 hours in advance. The tour times I was given were totally different from those listed in the book. You have to remember that when I called there were two options, for Italian press 1 for English press 2 & I spoke to an English speaking operative. When I got there, waited outside in the snow 20 minutes the tour is in Italian only unless the majority are English speakers. We were 1 French & me so the guide was speaking Italian. The Palazzo was beautiful but the commentary was too much for me to concentrate for over an hour. I said it would have bben good if they had a leaflet in other languages to take around with you. The guide agreed, but they had NOTHING! Not even a postcard.

Last night I went to the Circolo & the speakers' subject was Alfred Nicholson 1st baron Charnock (he was the father of Harold Nicholson). Alfred was a thick lad of impoverished parents who became Ambassador to Spain after various postings, mainly around the Balkan area. He wasn't the best speaker & went on a bit too long but the subject was interesting.

Anyway back to Venice being a frustrating city.... I also found out last night that all museums are free on Wednesdays to holders of Imob cards (vaporetto pass). You really have to work hard to find out information, double check as it may not be correct and ferret around to find out what benefits you can get.