Dreaming of Venice

by Dreaming of Venice (retail) (epub)

  ‘Yes, to the first one, but definitely not the other two. You’ll see for yourself. The waters of the Grand Canal are some of the busiest in the world and there’s plenty of noise in Venice proper, you’ll see. The boats chugging up and down the canals make quite a racket, but the worst offenders are the people. Millions and millions of tourists flock to Venice every year and sometimes it’s like the tower of Babel. And as for congestion, in the really busy months, you can hardly walk anywhere without risking asphyxiation in the crowds. Mind you, they do say that this is just about the quietest period of the year for Venice.’ She turned to the skipper. ‘Is that so? Is this a quiet time?’ He gave her a broad smile.

  ‘The only time Venice is quiet is in the very early morning, just before dawn, when the night people have finally gone to bed and before the deliveries start and the road sweepers get to work. But, as far as numbers of tourists are concerned, yes, this is a quiet time. You should be able to see Venice at your ease, without being squeezed by the crowds.’ He gave a lazy wave of the hand to another water taxi as it came past them, presumably on its way to return other visitors to the airport in a never-ending cycle. ‘If you’re here next week, Christmas week, you’ll see the difference. For now, it’s the calm before the storm. Next weekend it’ll all go crazy once more.’

  Penny had almost forgotten that Christmas was nearly upon them. She made a mental note to buy presents, not least as, for the first time in years, she now had some spare cash to use. As they approached the city of Venice itself, they passed close by the island of Murano, and Penny remembered what Olivia had told her. ‘Olivia says I have to visit the islands if there’s time.’

  ‘Well, there’s nothing scheduled for us for tonight. We could take a boat back here to Murano, have a walk around and then have dinner here. How does that sound?’

  ‘That sounds perfect.’

  The water taxi dropped them on the quay directly in front of their hotel, squeezing in alongside a line of glossy black gondolas, their intricate fretwork bow ornaments, like massive-toothed steel combs, glittering in the late afternoon sunshine. Seconds after they made landfall, a very elegantly-dressed porter came out of the hotel to collect their bags. The hotel itself was a magnificent Venetian palace that Penny recognised from a number of paintings she had seen over the years. She felt a tingle of excitement at the thought that she was going to stay in such an iconic place, where heads of state, princes, even kings and queens, had stayed over the centuries, not to mention Hollywood stars in more recent years. She paused outside the surprisingly small main door and looked up at the warm, earthy orange ochre colour of the walls, the ornate white tracery of gothic pillars and arches around the windows, and breathed out in admiration.

  ‘Wow, Caroline, what a place!’

  ‘If you think the outside’s good, just wait until you check out the inside.’ Caroline was smiling. Penny followed her through the rickety revolving wooden door that looked as if it was as old as the palace itself and into the amazing interior that was more like the inside of a sultan’s harem than one of the greatest hotels in the world. A magnificent marble staircase at the far end led up to a mezzanine flanked with Byzantine arches, every horizontal surface tastefully adorned with Christmas decorations in gold and silver.

  ‘Signorine, buona sera.’ They were greeted by a tall man at the Concierge’s desk. He was wearing an impeccable deep grey suit and he looked every bit as elegant as his surroundings. On his lapel was a glittering gold badge.

  ‘Good evening, Filippo.’ Caroline turned to Penny. ‘You remember Filippo from last year, don’t you, Olivia?’

  By now, Penny was getting pretty good at reacting to this sort of hint. She walked across and held out her hand to the porter. ‘How very good to see you again, Filippo.’

  ‘And your father, signorina? I trust he is well.’

  ‘I’m afraid my father died at Easter.’ Penny saw his eyes drop. ‘It was very sudden.’

  ‘My condolences, signorina, he was a fine man. I remember him with affection.’ Penny found herself feeling unexpectedly emotional and she felt her eyes stinging as she managed a reply.

  ‘Thank you, Filippo, that’s so very good to hear.’

  They walked across to the small reception desk and Caroline did the checking in while Penny just stood and stared in silent awe at the spectacular surroundings. She knew that the main building, where she was now standing, dated back over six hundred years and had been the home of a noble Venetian family. It was sobering to think that this place had been standing long before Canaletto or Titian had even been born. A shiver went down her spine.

  ‘We’re on the second floor. Do you want to take the lift or shall we walk? The porter’ll bring our bags.’ Caroline had completed their registration and a friendly-looking girl in a stylish grey suit was waiting to accompany them to their rooms.

  ‘The stairs, definitely.’

  ‘You’ve got a room with a balcony overlooking the canal, and I’m in the room next door.’

  Penny was under no illusions as to how much a room with a balcony in a place like this was likely to cost. She did her best to dismiss the thought from her mind and act as if spending thousands on a hotel was a matter of no concern. She spared a thought for what Jimmy would say if he saw her now. She suppressed a grin as it occurred to her that this would just be further proof that she had indeed gone over to the Dark Side.

  As they climbed the ornate marble staircase, Penny found herself looking back down on the entrance hallway in all its magnificence, marvelling at the sheer beauty of the place. It was only when she was ushered into her room that she realised that the beauty inside the building was more than matched by the view from the window. High glazed doors opened onto a narrow balcony. She went over and opened the windows, stepping out into the cold. From there, she found herself staring in wonder at the view across the water towards other islands, the roofs a series of cupolas and towers, all now tinted pink by the dying rays of the winter sun. She turned back into the room to reach for a tip for the girl, but she had already left. Caroline was still standing by the door, watching her reaction and smiling.

  ‘What do you think of it so far?’

  ‘Unbelievable, just unbelievable. To think that I’m inside one of the most stunning buildings in probably the most amazing city in the world! I’ve seen this very same window, this same balcony, in countless pictures and now here I am.’ Penny turned back and caught Caroline’s eye. ‘Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to realise my dreams. I feel humbled.’

  ‘Not too humble, remember you’re a Brookes-Webster.’ She gave Penny a wink and pointed to the left. ‘My room’s right next door. Just shout if you need anything.’

  * * *

  That evening, they took a water taxi to Murano. At Caroline’s request, the driver travelled up the Grand Canal after leaving their hotel, taking them under the Rialto bridge, and then through the maze of side canals, some little wider than their boat, before emerging once more into the open waters of the lagoon. Although it was dark by now, there was more than enough light as they passed through the main part of the city for them to make out a never-ending succession of palazzi on either side of the waterway, each more magnificent than the other. Inside some of the high-ceilinged rooms, they could clearly see massive, stunningly beautiful old chandeliers hanging from sculpted and painted wooden ceilings. Once back in open water, it only took another fifteen minutes to get across to the island of Murano. The boat dropped them by an elegant hump-backed bridge that crossed the main canal bisecting the island. Penny climbed out in a daze, totally overwhelmed by the succession of amazing sights she had seen on the way there.

  ‘The taxi man says there’s a little restaurant in a square somewhere over to our right where the food’s good and it’s not too touristy.’ Caroline was grinning at Penny. ‘I’ll believe that when I see it. Venice has always had a reputation for fleecing tourists.’

  Penny smiled back. ‘And the reputation
goes back a long, long way. I seem to remember Venice got very rich indeed from ferrying crusaders to the Holy Land, way back in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Still, let’s go and look for it.’

  As the water taxi manoeuvred out into the canal again, heading back to Venice, they set off along the stone-flagged road that ran parallel to the water, past houses, shops and factories where the glass for which the island of Murano had been famous over the centuries was still produced and sold. When they reached the next bridge, they turned away from the water into a narrow side street as instructed. It was darker down here and eerily quiet, the only sound the echoing of their footsteps. From time to time they passed one or two other people, looming out of the shadows; a couple walking their dogs, a mother and two little children hand in hand, but it was remarkably empty and just a tiny bit spooky. Nevertheless, after all the warnings she had received about how crowded Venice could be, Penny was pleasantly surprised. At the end of the street, they found the boatman’s square. It was surprisingly large and even boasted a massive tree in the middle of it as well as street lights. As they stood there, searching the darkness for anything that might resemble a restaurant, Caroline’s phone rang. It was Nick.

  Penny left her and wandered away towards the far end of the square to give her some privacy, and it was only when she reached the other side that she spotted the restaurant. It was small and looked very unprepossessing from the outside. She went across and checked for a menu, but there was nothing visible. Peering through the steamy windows, she saw that it was already quite full, so she gave Caroline a wave, indicating where the restaurant was, and then went in to bag a table. Inside it was warm, noisy and crowded, with a bare wooden floor and plastic tablecloths, the total antithesis of their luxury hotel. An elderly gentleman behind the counter gave her a welcoming nod and raised one finger. Penny shook her head and raised two. He pointed to a little table for two, set against the wall, and she went across to take possession of it.

  All around her were people speaking Italian. The local accent was noticeably different from the way people talked in Tuscany and she had trouble understanding. From the way some of the men were dressed, in overalls and work clothes, it was clear that this was a place frequented by Venetians. She settled back and did her best to make out some of what the people around her were saying, but without any great degree of success. A rather good-looking waiter with a stubbly chin came along and deposited two laminated menus on the table, along with a basket of bread and a plate of what looked like butter beans in olive oil.

  ‘Due persone?’

  Penny hesitated. Although she had promised Caroline she wouldn’t use her Italian, she deemed this sort of place sufficiently far removed from Olivia’s usual surroundings for her to decide to reply in kind.

  ‘Si, siamo in due.’

  ‘Da bere?’

  Penny did a bit of quick thinking and then made a decision. ‘Due bicchieri di prosecco, per favore.’ The waiter nodded and went off.

  The prosecco and Caroline arrived at the same time.

  ‘So, what’s Nick’s news? Where was he phoning from?’

  ‘Gatwick. He’s just about to get on the plane. He won’t be here in Venice until very late.’ Caroline’s voice was wistful. ‘So I won’t see him till tomorrow.’

  Penny had been thinking about the two of them. She lifted her glass and clinked it against Caroline’s. ‘How about the three of us go out for dinner together tomorrow night?’ She gave Caroline a big smile. ‘Although somehow I have a feeling I’m going to find myself developing a headache partway through and having to leave you two lovebirds to it. What do you think? Sound like a good plan?’

  ‘I’ve already told you what a wonderful schemer you are, haven’t I? Sounds like an excellent plan.’

  The meal was superb. The food was fresh, hot and tasty, served with no frills, but it didn’t need any. Both of them were hungry and the fish they chose was perfect. They discovered that the restaurant served a gently sparkling form of prosecco by the carafe and by the time they reached the almond tart at the end of the meal, they were both feeling full, warm and very cheerful. Going back outside again was a shock to the system and they wrapped their jackets tighter round themselves as their breath formed clouds in the sub zero air.

  They walked back towards the main canal, gradually acclimatising to the cold. They passed a number of glass factories, some still lit up, even though it was late at night. They also walked past several restaurants, all of which looked far more touristy than theirs. Some even had hardy touts outside, doing their best to lure passing strangers in for a meal. The two girls shook their heads and carried on down to where they could pick up a taxi. As they stood waiting, Penny phoned Olivia as promised.

  ‘Hi, Penny, good to hear from you. How’s Venice?’ Olivia sounded very buoyant and Penny was pleased for her.

  ‘Olivia, it’s amazing. It’s everything I’d been expecting and more. We’ve been chugging around in a water taxi and the views just get better and better.’ She remembered her manners. ‘Caroline gave me the envelope with all that money. That was so very kind of you, but you shouldn’t have. I’m already being paid lots for this. For the chance to come to Venice, I should be paying you.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Penny. By the way, your amazing abstract painting’s now hanging in the lounge directly opposite the Hieronymus Bosch and it fits in beautifully.’

  ‘Oh, good Lord, really?’ The thought of one of her paintings even being in the same room as such a priceless work of art took Penny’s breath away.

  ‘Yes, it really looks great. And, another thing, Penny, my stepmother’s looking and sounding a whole lot happier as well. Somehow, it feels as though we’ve both turned a corner.’

  ‘That’s the best possible news.’ Penny went on to tell Olivia all about their day, up to and including their evening meal. Olivia took note.

  ‘That sounds amazing. Next time I come to Venice, I’m going to have to go to that little restaurant on Murano. It sounds lovely. So, are you all ready for the conference out on the island? It’s a delightful place.’ She sounded quite nostalgic and Penny couldn’t miss her upbeat tone.

  ‘Yes, all ready, and remember, Olivia, next time it’ll be you.’

  ‘You’re right, Penny. I know it will.’ She hesitated. ‘And I’ve definitely made my mind up. I’m going to the National Gallery tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Excellent. I look forward to hearing all about it tomorrow night.’

  After finishing the call, Penny put her phone away and looked across at the lighthouse just along the coast from them, its light flashing regularly to warn boats of the proximity of the island. It created a mesmerising, almost hypnotic effect. Thoughts of Owen and her mystery man filled her head. It would have been nice to have one of them with her in such a romantic place as this, but she knew that wasn’t to be. She had to shake her head to clear it before returning her attention to Caroline. ‘So, what’s the plan for tomorrow morning?’

  ‘The conference starts at ten. We’ll ask the hotel to book us a water taxi for quarter to. Shall we meet up for breakfast at eight thirty? Or would you prefer to have breakfast in your room?’

  ‘No, let’s go to the restaurant. I’ve been reading about it. It’s up on the top floor and the view’s supposed to be amazing.’

  That night, strangely, she didn’t dream about Venice. But, of course, at long last, she was already there.

  Chapter 17

  The view from the hotel restaurant on the top floor was indeed amazing, as was the breakfast. They sat by the window and admired the view out over the lagoon, Penny doing her best to restrict herself to just some coffee and toast while watching a series of plates passing by heaped with exotic fruit salad, cakes, biscuits, croissants and buns. Others came past bearing hot bacon, sausage and eggs that bore no resemblance to the countless plates of bacon and eggs she had served to customers at the Apocalypse. She took a deep breath and stiffened her resolve to try not to eat too
much. It was unfortunate that she chose the very moment that two hefty plates of aromatic hot food were carried past their table and the wonderful smells filled her nostrils. Her resolve wavered, but just held. Her new wardrobe of clothes contained some pretty tight items. If she gave in to temptation, the results could be catastrophic.

  ‘If you squint far over to the left you can just see the island of San Servolo where the conference is taking place.’ Caroline’s voice shook her out of her food-induced reverie.

  Penny did as instructed and made out the shape of a low island in the distance, the white buildings flushed pink by the early morning sunlight. The sky was once more clear and it looked set to be a stunning, if freezing cold, day.

  ‘And what’s the plan when we get there?’

  ‘We go straight into a plenary session where there’ll be speeches from a whole host of big name environmentalists from all over the world. Then there’s the inevitable coffee break where we stand around and chat to all and sundry before breaking off into a whole heap of different lectures that’ll be taking place throughout the rest of the day.’ She grinned at Penny. ‘Just like being back at university.’

  The trip across to the island in the water taxi only took ten minutes and the views were as magnificent as Penny had been expecting. Penny was all for taking the water-bus, the vaporetto, but Caroline cautioned her that this might look out of character for a Brookes-Webster. The island itself, home to Venice International University, was situated part way between Venice and the Lido, and the conference took place in the complex of lovely old white buildings, relics of the days when the place had been a hospital. They stepped off the taxi and were immediately swallowed up by a mass of people, among them quite a few faces Penny recognised from the other conferences she had already attended. Waiting for them by the entrance was Nick, his face breaking into a broad smile when he spotted Caroline.