Last night chatting with some locals I heard about Lido. It’s a beach on one of the islands around the city of Venice. I decide to just get up and go when I wake up. No alarm for me. Only woken by the whispers of my room mates who were being very polite to not wake me. I hope that I’d not woken them last night when I came in late either. I haven’t met my other room mate as yet. She was sleeping when I got in and had left by the time I got up.

I sit at the front of the ferry which gives me the best view possible of my journey. The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day. I’m sure I’m getting a tan. I’m not 100% certain where to go but I’d looked into a bike rental shop on my way over and figured I’d head there first. This island is very different from Venice. There are proper streets and cars. As I locate the bike shop it’s perfectly located right near the beach so I decide to come back to the bike and have a late lunch.
My first glimpse of the beach makes me feel a little bit like I’m in Bali. Lounge chairs litter the beach front. Bars and cafes line the beach. There are very European swimsuits being worn by both men and women. I know I look like a tourist amongst these beautiful women but I’m soaking up the atmosphere.

There’s walkways part way down the beach and paddle boats with water slides for hire too. The beach is flat, no waves at all. But it’s nice to be in the sunshine near the water.
The view from my table at the restaurant is perfection!!

I make the mistake of ordering a Calzone. I didn’t realize it was a mistake till it arrived. It was massive. I can’t possibly eat it all. It’s bigger than my head! I’ll have a bit of it but also enjoy my Aperol Spritz!!
A couple of British women finish up there lunch beside me and make a comment about taking another holiday together where there are nice beaches. As they turn to me I told them they should come to Australia. They smile and strike up a conversation with me about my trip as I do with them. They wish me well on my travels as they wander off.

Quite content now I decide it’s time to get on my bike. Literally! I head now to the bike rentals and without a second thought I head off. I have no idea where I’m going or what to see but I’m not worried. It’s so freeing to be on a bike. The weather continues to be gorgeous and the sights on the streets of Lido make it very easy just to keep riding. There’s coffee shops, bars, restaurants and stalls. Along with beautiful buildings and homes to look at. There’s a quickly bar built into a double decker bus just on the side of the road in the middle of a suburban area. But strangely doesn’t seem out of place at all in this melting pot.

I have gone a fair way from where I started but needed to stop for a coffee. So I find a great little spot for a cappuccino.

I really love having no timeline and no commitments other than to soak up every experience. I have a quick pit stop while I’m there to as I have the bike for a couple of hours and thought it’d be a good idea.
I know that I had turned around and headed back the way I came, but after a while I’m riding through streets that aren’t familiar from earlier. I’m not worried cause I can also pull out my phone, but just as I was about to I realize I’ve just done a full circle and know exactly where I am.

The time is quickly up and it’s probably time for me to start heading back to the hostel. It’s 6.30pm by now and I walk the gelato laden streets back to the wharf. One gelato shop has a love band playing too. It has a bar feel to it. I guess they really like their gelato culture.
I head home on the ferry and soak in the canals of Venice for one last time. I can’t help but smile as I soak in the enormity of what I’m doing. I spot some more beautiful and interesting things such as a casino, an Australian flag hanging from a building and countless museums and homes with many people out on their balconies.

My trip home is smooth and eventless. I wander past another supermarket and grab a little snack for a late dinner. Now all I need to do is do some washing have a night cap and get ready for tomorrow. I leave for Matera but not till the evening so I have to find something else to fill my day. I have some ideas so I hope I can pull them off.