Apology

Sorry for the gap in posts. My computer is playing up. Everything takes forever. Every click is followed by a space of about a minute where nothing happens. It's like swimming in treacle. It's better than it was a couple of days ago, when I couldn't even get it to start. Pierre is back from America, so he could be posting soon. If I get this lump of silicon working again, I'll let you know.

Standing on the corner

We are back in Venice. There are several statues like this one dotted around Venice. I'm afraid I know very little about them. This example is to be found in Dorsoduro.

Nearly 45 years have gone by

I can hardly believe it. I was only 18 when this happened, but it made a great impression on me. Florence was also inundated at the same time. Perhaps I should have waited till November to post this, but who knows ...? Since we've been on the island of Pellestrina for the past few days, and this memorial is there, near San Pietro in Volta, I thought I would post it today. In case you cannot read the inscription, here it is:
Nel ricordo del grave pericolo superato con serena fermezza. La popolazione di San Pietro in Volta e Portosecco. Grata alla divina providenza. A perenne ammonimento dedica 4·11·1967

Those were the days

Those were the days my friend,
We thought they'd never end
- English lyrics by Gene Raskin

We still say that we dial a number, don't we? And you hang up at the end of a call. That goes back even further. Any other suggestions for terms we still use, but which are no longer appropriate?
You won't find this sign in Venice - it's in Pellestrina.

San Pietro in Volta

Again, as evening’s shadow falls,
We gather in these hallowed walls;
And vesper hymn and vesper prayer
Rise mingling on the holy air.
- Samuel Longfellow, Vespers

This is the church of San Pietro in Volta. According to tradition, on June 29, 900, Doge Pietro Tribuno (888-912) defeated the Hungarians near this spot, then known as Albiola, as they attempted to attack Venice. In memory of the victory, a church was built about fifty years later and dedicated to St Peter, since June 29 is St Peter's Day. The village later became known as San Pietro in Volta, from 'in volata', which means 'in flight', referring to the Hungarian forces. Another theory derives the name from the curvature of the coast, 'volta' meaning a turn.

There is conflicting information on the internet, which comes as no surprise. Some sites give the year of the battle as 965, with no mention of Pietro Tribuno.

The church was rebuilt in 1777 on the site of an earlier church from the 1600s and was finished in 1844 with a neoclassical facade.

Time for a break

This photo was taken in October, last year, quite late in the afternoon. This isn't a panorama, just a normal shot that I've cropped. The church in the distance is San Stefano, the 'other' church in San Pietro in Volta.

Across the border (2)

Here is the more familiar view of the bridge as shown in yesterday's image. I hope the people who live in the palazzo do not suffer from acrophobia or vertigo.

Across the border

Some of you may recognise the bridge in this photo, but very few of you will have seen it from this side. I rang a door-bell and was allowed into a palazzo to take the photo. There is a clue to the location in the title.

That must have hurt!

When I first saw this work of art I thought it represented David and Goliath, but then I noticed the wings at the ankle, which indicated a mythological connection. You can see the name of the sculptor on the base - Iacobus Sansovinus. You can take a close look as you queue to go to the top of the campanile of San Marco.

In the sestiere di Santa Croce

I took this photo in July 2009. I was in Campo Santa Maria Mater Domini. I don't have anything else to tell you except that the name of the building on the other side of the Rio de le Due Torri may be the Palazzo Manzoni (Santa Croce 2267) or the Palazzo Gozzi (Santa Croce 2268-2269).

Your wish is my command

Anyone any good at Latin?
In the last two lines it says: Restauravit Anno D MCCCCLXXXXII KL Augusti, which means it was restored on the Kalends of August 1492.
If you know where Peter's Tea House is, you can see this plaque there.

Scuola dei Luganegheri

I love a city that can put on the front of a building "Restored 1684"! I have another photo of a plaque on a building that was restored in 1492! A gold star if you know where it is.
The chap in the centre is St Anthony, patron saint of butchers and pig-rearers, among other things. A luganegher is or was a pork butcher or sausage-maker, though there is some room for negotiation about the precise details. There is a creature, said to be a pig, sculpted behind the legs of the saint, but it does not look very pig-like to me. Perhaps pigs have changed since the figure was carved. I would love to know what the object is near to the saint's left hand - can you help?
I haven't said where this is, but you probably know and you can easily find it. It is now the Riviera Restaurant.
Sorry about the shocking barrel distortion. This photo was taken in 2008 with a Fuji Finepix camera.

All dressed up and nowhere to go

Here is a shop that sells unusual items. You will find it in Campo San Stefano.
Sunday's photo was where Rio di Noale and Rio di San Felice join together. The building is the Palazzo Papafava (also known as the Palazzo Pesaro-Papafava).

A cross to find in Cannaregio

Sorry about the rubbish bins! I could have framed it so those on this side were not in the photo, but that would have eliminated so much of the background. The bins on the other side of the canal would still be included.
Nobody was willing to say where yesterday's photo was taken; I hope today will be be different.

I have never seen the Cross with the spear and the sponge on the reed like this. Perhaps one of you will know where there is another.
There is a Cross outside a village in Spain on the Camino de Santiago where the Instruments of the Passion are carved on the stone base - pincers, nails, hammer, ladder etc.