Lido di Venezia

Not being one to lie pointlessly in the burning sun with the sole intention of catching a dose of skin cancer, followed by excessive boozing and the other questionable delights of a beach holiday, I tend to avoid beaches like the plague. Speaking of which, having recently watched Visconti's Death in Venice, I thought I might just have a look to see what all the fuss is about...the Lido I mean, not the plague. Compared with the atrocious dumps in the UK, Skegness, Colwyn Bay, Blackpool to name but a few, or the sun, sex, sangria resorts of the Costa Colapso, I have to admit that the Venice Lido is actually a rather pleasant place; maybe due to the staggering prices, but on this one I am with John Cleese..."no riff-raff"! Unfortunately the famous Grand Hotel des Bains was, as luck would have it, closed for renovation and surrounded by a 2 metre high fence. Still, a pleasant enough excursion from San Marco with a bit of space and fresh air.