SV ICE BEAR

The next few days we wandered around an art exhibit called Biennale Arte 2017. It covered two large areas and contained well over 100 different pavilions from all over the world there were interactive displays plus open discussions with the artists. I have no issues saying I didn't understand 99.9% of the things I saw. We stuck our head up through a floor and became part of the Japanese exhibit. note to self just because there is a line it doesn't mean you should get into it. Went through an exhibit where your phone read QR codes and changed the sculptures when viewed on the screen giving them a 4th dimension. There was a delivery truck parked on its nose and in the Canadian exhibit a Gastownesque steam clock with what looked like a potato inside the clock face shared a space with a with a fairly enjoyable water fountain and a really big praying mantis reading a book. One bonus to the art exhibit was one of the two venues was the Arsenale the huge complex where the mighty Venetian navy was created. At first we were a little disappointed that the building was full of stuff but then we learned that the building and grounds were only open to the public if it was hosting an event. We would have missed the biggest steam crane I have ever seen it was installed in 1885 and could lift 160 tons. We also checked out the Doge's Palace wow it was amazing so much bling and to think the Doge was an elected official not royalty. The walls and ceilings were covered in paintings many gilded in gold, statues were everywhere I guess if you want project the image of power and wealth the place that power was controlled had better look the part.
We walked across the bridge of Sighs and went down into the dungeons of Venice to check out where Casanova spent time. Even though the days were still in the mid 20 c the cells felt cold and damp. We checked out the royal palace partly built by Napoleon. Well not by Napoleon but for him. This museum housed a fair sized collection of large detailed globes it was interesting to see
how the detail was filled in as the world was explored. One afternoon we parked ourselves at a restaurant at the base of the Realto bridge set up the go pro and did a time lapse of the Grand canal. We managed to stretch lunch into a two hour meal had the most wonderful thick hot chocolate and if the raw footage is anything to go by captured a really kewl video. One day we came across the guys that had been setting the gondoliers pilings this time one of them was standing in a box suspended by the Hiab crane he was notching the tall pilings with a chainsaw so he could tie them together. The box was swinging with the waves as he cut the pilings but the motion didn't seem to bother him it was kinda like watching a high wire act. We saw a second white bell tower and for a few seconds thought it was the same one as the other day but then realized it wasn't. We wondered if maybe the same builder made them both and offered a discount if the tower didn't need to be straight. The last night in Venice was Halloween I put on my little horns and went out to enjoy the city one last time. As night approached the little goblins started to emerge. There were witches and vampires everywhere I'm going to guess they were yelling trick or treat at the shop keepers and restauranteurs even some of the parents dressed up. For a place that has just recently
began trick or treating they had figured it out really well. Neither of us wanted to leave Venice but the long range weather fore casts were starting to become a little unsettled and we had a long way to travel to get back to Greece. November 1st is a national holiday we called ahead to the next marina to make sure they were open they assured us they would be so we cast off early in the morning to begin the trip down the east side of the boot.