We arrived mid morning on Sunday and were met at Fondamente Nuove water stop by Paolo and Riccardo after being given directions well in advance on how to get there from Marco Polo airport. They were very sweet and carried our cases to their apartment which was only around 5 minutes walk away, tucked in a quiet alley next to a canal and opposite the hospital. The area is peaceful and authentic, we were told that around one third of Venetians live this side of the Grand Canal.

The flat was spacious, clean, homely, nicely furnished and had a well equipped kitchen. There were guidebooks and maps for reference together with restaurant recommendations. They had kindly provided fresh fruit/yogurt/milk/bottled water and other breakfast items. I made use of the washing machine tucked in a cupboard in the 2nd bedroom but did not dare hang my washing on the outside line in case I dropped it in the canal!

There is a bakery a couple of streets away where we bought water and bread also some supermarkets not too far away for other necessities. Lots of restaurants and cafes within 10 minutes walk of the apartment. Walk to San Marco piazza took around 20 minutes. Water bus from airport cost E15 each. We bought firstly a 3 day pass with Allilaguna line which we found quite restrictive as to where the boat stopped and then a 2 day pass with ACTV public water-bus line which suited us better. Venice is a lovely city.