Silvia has a fab apartment and she and her husband Manuel were very accommodating when we wanted to change sleeping arrangements at the last minute, turning a double bed into two singles. There was fruit, milk and all sorts of other bits and pieces to help us feel at home. In addition, Manuel was a great source of local knowledge for bars and restaurants - really helped us feel like venetians rather than tourists. And finally, Manuel took us for a fabulous boat trip around Venice, Grand canal and many of the backwaters - a truly great way to see venice. This was by no means cheap, but was certainly a reasonable price for a fantastic experience. Only downside was that as first time Venice visitors, we were unprepared for the spectre of nocturnal mosquitoes and the consequent bites! So do be warned if you're visiting Venice in warm weather!