Back from Venice now, with a much heavier belly and much lighter wallet. Now that I’ve had a few days to successfully retrospectively distort the trip, can say that a lovely time was had by all. Venice is truly a unique and beguiling place. There’s no question about it.

However, the cost of doing anything there other than walking or breathing, really does apply the brakes to a totally relaxed and fun experience. Where else in the world can you expect to pay 1 ½ euros to take a leak, or 10 euros for a tiny bowl of pasta? There’s no way of avoiding the tourist traps – unless you fancy eating your meals in ‘nearby’ Milan of Bologna.

‘Carnivale’ was in full swing while we where there. Some amazing costumes were seen, and thousands of people walking around the narrow and winding streets wearing masks was a sight to behold.

A completely flooded St Marks square on our last day looked like a building site. How long can this gravity/water/common-sense defying place exist for?? It’ll be a great loss to humanity if it does finally capitulate to the sea.

Parallels with Dubai were mentioned on the trip. Both places a product of immense wealth, power, grandstanding and a ‘because-we-can-and-not-because-it-makes-sense’ mentality. Both places have altered the physical world (Think ‘Palm Island’ Dubai as a modern Venice) in such a convincing, megalomaniacal fashion as to make us humans think that we are truly capable of controlling the forces of nature.

Pompeii, Atlantis, Leptis Magna, Carthage, Angkor, Skara Brae, Machu Picchu, Chernoybl, New Orleans, Banda Aceh, Stoke ‘old-town’.

I’d put my money on Mother Nature anyday.

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