We moped about Venice for the last few days, changing our minds hourly as the tides rose and fell.

Twice more we have been forced out by the flooding in our apartment, the first was on Friday so we bolted early and took the train to Padua.

It was a grey and miserable day by lightened by Giotto’s incredible frescos in the chapel and by some art instillation of a giant Cavallo upstairs in the Merchants Guild Hall over the Padua market.

Even google didn’t know what a Cavallo was it is a renascence era breed of war horse hence the name Cavalier and Cavalry.

The second was a slightly lower flood but we bolted off to Burano and the lace museum via a display of working models of Leonardo’s inventions.

We then trooped home in damp misery.

Then Venice does this to you.

But it wasn’t to last and with another inundation threatening we spent out last night upstairs with the Contessa and decided to pull the plug (ha ha) and left for Ravenna a day early.

Our new accommodation is on the first floor and has a two person life boat in the bathroom. llze thinks it’s a marble bath but if you are familiar with Italian plumbing you will know that is absurd as it would take a week to fill.

Of course it’s a life boat.

Pete.

PS Probably never, but by heavens she is pushing the love affair.