Mestre and Venice

Commuting to Venice from Mestre can be ok, but not  if the bus is full, thanks.

I should have looked up on the net for the ten must do's for Venice, or tips for seeing Venice. I have since and now realise the error of my ways, but to be fair, we were in a position where planning was not easy.  One of the tips was to stay in Venice.  I would agree with this, but having stayed in Mestre was an experience we both enjoyed, because this is a real, working Italian city, albeit a small one.

Our hotel was right on the edge of a main square, and in the evenings we went out and everyone else was too.  It seemed to have a good atmosphere, with old and young all cruising around, some looking at the shops, others just standing about, or promenading.
This is the main piazza in Mestre:

Getting the right bus was eventually mastered, along with the ticket system. You buy a ticket at the hotel desk, which seems made of card, but maybe not, as you can refill them.  It has a barcode on it, which you swipe as you get on the bus.

Annoying in some ways, as you cannot tell how many rides you have left.

We are about to get a taxi (ouch!) to Venice now, then a vaporetto, or water bus. I had thought these were expensive at 25 Euros a pop, but that is for a day ticket. It costs just 7 Euros to go one way, which is almost the only way to get suitcases to our hotel, way up the right hand end of Venice.
Venice:

 

One of the top tips was to get lost in Venice, which we managed easily on the first day in.  Yesterday, we managed to it again, but not quite so badly. The previous day we did not get lost, but made it our mission to get to San Marco square, and then locate the hotel, which we did but it was almost too much, and we got back to the bus stop with rubber legs.  According to Mapometer, it was 8 km. Anywhere near the Rialto bridge or the square was clogged with tourists,  not much fun.  Get away from there and it seems deserted.

The best experience is to come out of a narrow alley and see a calm canal with those  water ripples reflecting the colours of the buildings.