Venice, Grand Canal Buildings

The main traffic artery in historic Venice is the two mile long Grand Canal, lined with about two hundred marble palaces of outstanding architecture. Dozens of these old Venetian Palaces are moss covered, some are falling down, some have elaborate mosaic artwork, some are stately old mansions, former palaces, cathedral-like churches, and a dozen are first class hotels, many with canal-side restaurants.

We had a very enjoyable conversation with an English-speaking storekeeper, a retired music professor who at one time had played with a symphony orchestra. He pantomimed American tourists with the wife striding through Venice and her husband following, handing money to her on demand. And the Italian couple with the woman in the lead, but the husband in back is saying, “… not so fast, not so much money!”

A tall, handsome, retired “hall Porter” in 4-star hotels in Venice, Rome and Munich, told us that residents of Venice must do a lot of walking, but they also eat and drink a lot. After a party Venicians don’t worry about a ticket for drunk driving, but they may fall into a canal and quickly become sober. He said senior citizens in Venice are “three metal” people. Silver in their hair, gold in their teeth, and lead in their fanny.