BARBERA-Biennale

Very smooth reception--I was met at the Arsenale vaporetto dock and taken to the apartment. The weather was very hot, but wide-open windows meant an invasion of mosquitoes, so I was surprised to be told firmly that I must not use the air-conditioning before the last two days of my eight-day stay, due to the expense! That led to some quite uncomfortable nights. The heat meant that this was two-shower-a-day weather with a change of clothes, so the presence of a washing machine was very welcome, and a clothes horse allowed drying outside on the terrace. The apartment is a 5-minute walk from the Coop supermarket on the Via Garibaldi, and the superb Nevodi restaurant. The Giardini water-bus dock is only a couple of minutes further (note that the Alilaguna boat direct from the airport does not stop there, but a little further away at Arsenale). There were some maintenance issues that were not resolved. The shower head was broken and partly detached, so that water shot mainly at the wall in the corner of the shower, rather than on the person showering (I note that there was a complaint about this several months ago in February). There were six light bulbs missing or broken in various rooms, including the main bathroom light. I was told that both problems would be fixed, yet nothing was done. I received a text on the day before my departure, saying that the repairs would be done next day. Freezer door in fridge also broken-I was told it would take a month to re-order one.