Alas! The Prop has been less than assiduous in keeping his readers informed of progress. A case of too much to do, too little time and not really giving a tinker's cuss one way or the other.
But to recapitulate.
Arrived in Venice last Sunday at the height of the Regatta Storica which has been running since 1300 and something - so they have pretty well worked out how to run the show by now. This involves closing the Grand Canal to all traffic. If you thought that this would probably cause a bit of chaos navigation-wise then you'd be right on the money.
The Prop had to pay 80 Euros for a water taxi from Marco Polo Airport because the public transport system was more or less out of action due to the closure of the Grand Canal.
We were dropped off by the taxi driver/captain/pilot at Santa Maria Formosa - which is four bridges and several hundred metres from the Prop's lodgings. It was 31 degrees and about 98% humidity and the man who was supposed to meet us was 40 minutes late. Still, eventually we were conducted to our apartment which was, as promised, modest yet stylish and about 170 m from St Mark's Square and so, very convenient.
The Prop was immediately accosted by street vendors who, presumably having heard of the Prop's great powers of negotiation, were keen to pit their meagre skills against him!
The Prop purchased a solar-powered rocking gondola (to go with the much-admired Elvis Clock) and a strange elastic ball which when thrown to the ground sticks like s/#t to a blanket before gradually regaining its original form. In truth the Prop paid about 3 times what each of these articles was truly worth. On the positive side, the Prop did manage to resist purchasing a strange illuminated slingshot/ helicopter device (which device would have amused "Fudgy" no end) and a handbag which was offered as a once in a lifetime bargain at 50 Euros before being progressively reduced in price to the point where the Prop (who has no use for a handbag) was able triumphantly, to reject the hawker's final offer of 15 Euros!
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