Keeping cool in Venice

Seems like in just 2 days the thermostat has jumped 20 some degrees. We're now in the sweltering zone, with both high temps and equally high humidity. 

If you are a tourist in Venice now, I have an essential tip for you that will help you survive these dog days of summer. 

Here's the first part of my tip.....

1. Get yourself a fan. 

That's right. An old fashioned hand fan. Get two or three.  Here's my current fan collection and I usually have two of them with me at any given time. One for each hand. I'm not kidding. 

This one is just a cheap-y, something I picked up in a sidewalk stall somewhere for a couple of bucks. Nothing fancy, on the small side so it slips into any handbag I may be carrying easily. This plastic one, with flowers that look deceivingly like they could be hand painted, handles some not-so-gentle treatment.  Totally tacky, but well worth the 2 bucks.

 This one is my essential Pink accessory, used often, especially when I'm at a Pink Lioness event.  It's also small, like the one above, and only a couple more Euros, but it's paper instead of plastic and not holding up as well. Gets high marks for cuteness, not so much for durability. But hey, it's Pink!

And last but not least, the lace fan I picked up on Burano a few years ago, mostly out of dire necessity as that day was  also a scorcher.  It's larger than the other two, and was much more expensive. Doesn't pack so easily into my handbag due to its size, but it does provide a bit more wind to the face when in use.   I always have the strong feeling I should be wearing a flamenco dancer's dress when I use it.

So, my advice for the day is to purchase a fan at the first kiosk you get to. Pick up one that has scenes of Venice on it if you must, but JUST DO IT.  The other day I saw some with big polka dots on them when they opened up.  One of those just might be joining my fan collection soon.

                                                 Fans, fans, fans. Find one you like?

And the second part of my tip....

2. Use it. Liberally.

 Don't worry about how stupid you will look, everyone around you will be either a) using a fan and looking stupid also or b) flat out jealous that you have a fan and they don't.

After you get the hang of it, you'll be flipping out  that fan with the flick of your wrist, feeling very Scarlet O'Hara-ish. Or is that Mata-hari- ish?  You get the idea. (Yes, I know what you are thinking. Karen-hari- ish).

Keep cool, amici. Get out there and enjoy Venice.

Ciao, tutti!

Two old broads and a boat

Ciao, tutti!

We're officially into summer, and while everyone in Venice is making fast exit plans to head for either the mountains or the beaches for the next 2 months, I'm staying here. Besides my Italian lessons, writing courses, my English student and the usual "stuff" of life, I've picked up a new project. 

 Since even my rowing group The Lionesses will be away, I have been looking for some other opportunities to row for the next few months. My wishes were granted, with one  little, teensy tiny  caveat. The boat offered to me has to be finished being built before it can get in the water. 

So instead of heading off to the beach, I head to the old salt warehouses to go to work. (Think salt mines). Currently we are sanding.

 The salt warehouses are cavernous old storehouses where Venice kept its inventory of salt beginning as far back as the 1400's. Venice was a trading center in those days, and had built up a considerable spice trade selling salt.

 I'm working at the very back of warehouse #5, where it's nice and dark. We turn work lights on so we can see what we're up to back there. Walking into the warehouses is a bit of an eery feeling, but despite the spookiness, I love being in there. Makes me wonder about what went on in there all those years ago. Oh if only these walls could talk!!

I had hoped to try my hand at rowing a canottaggio, what in English we would refer to as crew or skull rowing  The boat we're working on, a whitehall ( caiccio in Italian), has seats for two rowers very similar to the skull boats but is bigger.  According to wikipedia, the whitehall is "considered one of the most refined rowboats of the 19th century". The whitehall, first built in New York City at the foot of Whitehall Street, was used to ferry goods and sailors on and off boats in the New York harbor.  

 For more info on the Whitehall, click here

 Our whitehall,  constructed mostly of mahogany, was built by Marco, an elderly member of the Bucintoro rowing club which is housed in several of the salt warehouses. Isn't she a beauty?

My partner in crime on this project  is Paula, originally a Canadian who spent 30 some years working in Rome and has now transplanted to Venice. She rows Voga Veneto style (standing up just like the gondoliers do) and sails. When she asked if I would like to row the whitehall with her, I didn't think twice. My hand was up in a second. Yes, even if there was some work involved.

I've sanded two afternoons this week. I also rowed one day. My shoulders are currently killing me.  We thought we'd be on to the varnishing by now, however, Sebastiano, the guy who maintains all of Bucintoro's boats, has declared that he wants more sanding done. Sebastiano can be very, hmm, what's the word....demanding?   And so we sand. By hand. With little bits of fine sandpaper. I now have some pretty nicked up knuckles!

In the meantime, Paula and I are making grand plans (in our heads) for early evening rows over to Lido and Malamocco. With some luck, and perhaps a few bribes to Sebastiano so we can speed up and get to the varnishing,  it won't be too long before I will be able to write "two old broads IN a boat".

Oh, to actually be in that boat on the water. Dreaming!!

Photos will be forthcoming as the work progresses. Stay tuned.

(P.S. It's not all work and no play this summer. I'm still sneaking off to the beach for a bit a few mornings each week. )