The only information I got from him is that he has a small garden in Cannaregio. Now, I wish I had asked where he got the turf, and how he’ll keep it cut. I’ve never seen a lawn mower in Venice, although I have seen evidence of grass having been cut.

I hope he has success with his little patch of grass and with whatever else he’ll grow in his garden.

Another area where you will see methods of home security displayed is at the tops of fences that could be reached by someone with determination (and a ladder, in some cases). I guess it also deters pigeons, cats and anything else that climbs or perches.

So, here is how to use those empty wine and beer bottles.

Climb over, if you dare

Yes, and we’ll have a Saint to protect our children.

It’s just perfect, the two of us, and soon the rustle of tiny wings.

And a PS

Last evening, as I walked across the Accademia Bridge, I saw the Wind surf leaving Venice, with the sails being hoisted. It was tucked away out, beyong Sant’ Elena. I think I’m in love!

“So long, and thanks for all the fish”  Douglas Adams

This much smaller pleasure cruiser was docked at the Maritime Station, and looks like a possibly more acceptable manner of sailing. The Wind Surf  takes about 300 passengers, so is about 1/10th the size of the big guys. Today, the passengers were heading to Croatia.

She’s beautiful, I think. But, I’m prepared to hear your critical remarks.

[Oh, I have limited access to my photos, so I can post a little bit on my last couple of days, after all. Like is good!]

Spotted from a distance

The masts look so beautiful against the clear blue sky

She looks graceful and beautiful, a real lady

http://www.windstarcruises.com/windsurf-yacht.aspx

When I visited, there was also an offering from Artimesia Gentileschi: Artemesia come Susanna. If you haven’t heard of this brilliant painter, do read about her here:  http://www.mozzarellamamma.com/2013/artemisia-gentileschi-an-italian-heroine/ What a woman!

In the museum, there are  also many examples of frescoes that had been rescued from various venues.  I discovered that there are 2 types of fresco painting, one onto wet plaster, which makes a lasting painting, and one painted onto dry plaster, not so long-lasting.

All around the old part of Bassano del Grappa, you’ll find examples of frescoes just waiting for you to admire them.

Get out there and enjoy them!  

[ I've just had a major glitch with Windows and my pictures folder, so this may be the last post for this trip. Thank goodness it happened near the end of my stay.]

If you want to read more about frescoes in Italy, have a look at this wonderful website:  https://sites.google.com/site/italianfrescoes/

To reach my destination, I had to find Platform 23 quickly, I only had about 3 minutes to spare. (I didn’t even know Platform 23 existed.)

On the way to wherever it was I was going on the train, I passed many fields which were either sodden with puddles from recent rains, or sporting healthy crops of what looked like wheat. I guess those farmers got out early in the season to plant the seeds, while the ground was firm enough not to bog their tractors. Many of the fields were lively with drifts of red poppies, they look so bright and cheery.

I arrived, and walked a short distance from the railway station to the city walls, and entered the old part of this pretty town.

Hey, they’ve got a lion, too, but not the one we see so much in Venice.

I hadn’t even thought of getting my hair attended to, but then I went past the shop of Ilario Baggio, came to a stop and a snap decision and climbed the stairs to the salon. In quick time, my needs were stated and confirmed, and the clever hairdresser transformed my unruly hair into this:

The darn woman won’t leave her family to come to Australia.

When I left the shop, with my head held high, I chatted with this street artist for a while.

His name is Francesco Liparulo, and he offers classes in sculpture, design and painting.  His website is  www.webalice.it/arteliparulo

I’ll be posting more about this destination which is a little over an hour from Venice, by train. Oh, look what else they have there …

And, also …

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! I was in Bassano del Grappa again, and I want to go back again!

The path to the Castle leads through a doorway with a drawbridge.

Inside the doorway, you find some  artifacts from the past.

These are the original bronze statues of  Michez and Jachez,  who sounded the hours on the City hall clock in the Piazza dell’Unita. (Replicas are now in place on  the clock.)

Here is a close-up of the hinged mechanism that allowed the statues to beat the bell.

Look who shows up … the Lion of San Marco.

Other relics that appear:

Walking down the path from the Castle toward the Cathedral, you will notice these ruins.

The Cathedral has had a long history. On the site of a Roman monumental gateway, an early religious building was erected in the 6th century. What would become the Cathedral we see today was commenced in the 9th century.

Mosaics showing depicting Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Just, laid by master craftsmen from  the Veneto  in the 12th-13th centuries, still retain their beauty in the 21st century.

Look down to admire scraps of the mosaic floor.

Finally, plant your feet on the steep cobbled road that winds back to the lower levels of Trieste. (I took the easy way up, via a bus.)