We left Dubai 20 min late due to congestion on the runway. Emirates service was excellent again but our A330 was a little tired and old compared to our previous leg and probably reflected the Venice route and airport. Venice international was a surprise. No arrival cards, no customs declaration, just pick up luggage stamp passports and that was it. Rob and Rena were there to meet us, having arrived on an earlier flight from London. They were used to the temperature change, having come from snow flurries in London, but we felt the change from Dubai's 30 deg.

A short minibus taxi and we were dropped off only 50m walk to our hotel, which is pretty good for Venice accommodation. We checked in around 3.30pm. Best Western Hotel Olimpia was warm and cosy - read small after the five star in Dubai - with all of the family in the same room, about the size of our Dubai apartment lounge. We got used to it and hardly spent any time in the rooms anyway. We enjoyed our stay; it is very accessible and has great breakfasts.

Having checked in and armed with a hotel map we headed out on foot to explore Venice. We made it out to St Mark's Square on a southern route, crossing the Grand Canal at Ponte del Accademia on the outward journey and Ponte di Rialto on the return, using the map when we strayed from well trodden 'vias'. Even on a cold afternoon I was amazed at how many people were in a flooded St Mark's square.

On the return journey we bought local SIM cards and stopped at a Trattoria for a meal, only a few hundred meters from our hotel; then back to our rooms and bed.