Janet Simmonds
@janetmary.bsky.social
Traveller, tour guide, thinker, writer.
Passionate about the journey
Venice, Istanbul, Palermo, Trieste
History of travel - grand tourists
Blog: www.educated-traveller.com
Specialist travel: www.grand-tourist.com
Passionate about the journey
Venice, Istanbul, Palermo, Trieste
History of travel - grand tourists
Blog: www.educated-traveller.com
Specialist travel: www.grand-tourist.com
Pinned
Gabriele Bella at Querini Stampalia
Gabriele Bella at Querini Stampalia, Venice
wp.me
13th December a new exhibition opens at @QueriniVenezia Campo S Maria Formosa - artist Gabriele Bella 1730-1799 painted life & ceremonies in Venice from late 1740s - 1780s. A favourite of mine is the Women’s Regatta! Super record of 18th C - my thoughts: wp.me/p5eFNn-abj
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
I just learned yesterday that it's a big deal in Verona, which has a massive festive market.
St Lucia's body periodically goes on tour to Siracusa for the season.
St Lucia's body periodically goes on tour to Siracusa for the season.
December 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I just learned yesterday that it's a big deal in Verona, which has a massive festive market.
St Lucia's body periodically goes on tour to Siracusa for the season.
St Lucia's body periodically goes on tour to Siracusa for the season.
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Tomorrow - 13th December is the festa of Santa Lucia #onomastico of Lucy #Lucia Luce Lucinda - Santa Lucia continues to inspire especially in #Siracusa #Venezia and Sweden. Bringer of light on these dark NH mid-winter days. wp.me/p5eFNn-98c
Santa Lucia - bringer of light
Santa Lucia - bringer of light by the Educated Traveller
wp.me
December 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Tomorrow - 13th December is the festa of Santa Lucia #onomastico of Lucy #Lucia Luce Lucinda - Santa Lucia continues to inspire especially in #Siracusa #Venezia and Sweden. Bringer of light on these dark NH mid-winter days. wp.me/p5eFNn-98c
Tomorrow - 13th December is the festa of Santa Lucia #onomastico of Lucy #Lucia Luce Lucinda - Santa Lucia continues to inspire especially in #Siracusa #Venezia and Sweden. Bringer of light on these dark NH mid-winter days. wp.me/p5eFNn-98c
Santa Lucia - bringer of light
Santa Lucia - bringer of light by the Educated Traveller
wp.me
December 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Tomorrow - 13th December is the festa of Santa Lucia #onomastico of Lucy #Lucia Luce Lucinda - Santa Lucia continues to inspire especially in #Siracusa #Venezia and Sweden. Bringer of light on these dark NH mid-winter days. wp.me/p5eFNn-98c
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
13th December a new exhibition opens at @QueriniVenezia Campo S Maria Formosa - artist Gabriele Bella 1730-1799 painted life & ceremonies in Venice from late 1740s - 1780s. A favourite of mine is the Women’s Regatta! Super record of 18th C - my thoughts: wp.me/p5eFNn-abj
Gabriele Bella at Querini Stampalia
Gabriele Bella at Querini Stampalia, Venice
wp.me
December 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
13th December a new exhibition opens at @QueriniVenezia Campo S Maria Formosa - artist Gabriele Bella 1730-1799 painted life & ceremonies in Venice from late 1740s - 1780s. A favourite of mine is the Women’s Regatta! Super record of 18th C - my thoughts: wp.me/p5eFNn-abj
13th December a new exhibition opens at @QueriniVenezia Campo S Maria Formosa - artist Gabriele Bella 1730-1799 painted life & ceremonies in Venice from late 1740s - 1780s. A favourite of mine is the Women’s Regatta! Super record of 18th C - my thoughts: wp.me/p5eFNn-abj
Gabriele Bella at Querini Stampalia
Gabriele Bella at Querini Stampalia, Venice
wp.me
December 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
13th December a new exhibition opens at @QueriniVenezia Campo S Maria Formosa - artist Gabriele Bella 1730-1799 painted life & ceremonies in Venice from late 1740s - 1780s. A favourite of mine is the Women’s Regatta! Super record of 18th C - my thoughts: wp.me/p5eFNn-abj
Friends & colleagues CN Traveler in the US wants to use one of my photos in an article - what’s the protocol? How much do I charge? Help please! @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social @caroline-venezia.bsky.social @catbauer.bsky.social I suspect they’ll also be using the words I wrote … advice appreciated
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Friends & colleagues CN Traveler in the US wants to use one of my photos in an article - what’s the protocol? How much do I charge? Help please! @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social @caroline-venezia.bsky.social @catbauer.bsky.social I suspect they’ll also be using the words I wrote … advice appreciated
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
I’m sitting on a bench in SS Giovanni e Paolo. The conversation behind me is fascinating; it sounds like a tour guide who really knows his stuff. He’s so good, I decide to tell him so. I walk up to him & glance at his name tag. “I know you!” It was René Seindal of @historywalksvenice.com in action!
December 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I’m sitting on a bench in SS Giovanni e Paolo. The conversation behind me is fascinating; it sounds like a tour guide who really knows his stuff. He’s so good, I decide to tell him so. I walk up to him & glance at his name tag. “I know you!” It was René Seindal of @historywalksvenice.com in action!
In praise of Daphne du Maurier - I’ve just finished The Scapegoat, powerful and nuanced read about people, emotions and challenges to be overcome. Fine writing and brilliant character development. #DuMaurier #quality @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
In praise of Daphne du Maurier - I’ve just finished The Scapegoat, powerful and nuanced read about people, emotions and challenges to be overcome. Fine writing and brilliant character development. #DuMaurier #quality @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Mosaic Monday for me is all about Spilimbergo and the Mosaic School - which I’ve finally got around to writing about! Here’s the article: wp.me/p5eFNn-7ng #MosaicMonday #Spilimbergo
Mosaic school in Italy
Spilimbergo - Mosaic School in Italy
wp.me
December 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Mosaic Monday for me is all about Spilimbergo and the Mosaic School - which I’ve finally got around to writing about! Here’s the article: wp.me/p5eFNn-7ng #MosaicMonday #Spilimbergo
Mosaic Monday for me is all about Spilimbergo and the Mosaic School - which I’ve finally got around to writing about! Here’s the article: wp.me/p5eFNn-7ng #MosaicMonday #Spilimbergo
Mosaic school in Italy
Spilimbergo - Mosaic School in Italy
wp.me
December 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Mosaic Monday for me is all about Spilimbergo and the Mosaic School - which I’ve finally got around to writing about! Here’s the article: wp.me/p5eFNn-7ng #MosaicMonday #Spilimbergo
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
And then Milano, Venezia, isole…. And a trade show #lavoro #grandtourist sempre con amici 2 (of 2)
November 29, 2025 at 5:10 PM
And then Milano, Venezia, isole…. And a trade show #lavoro #grandtourist sempre con amici 2 (of 2)
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Magical Grand Tour from Palermo to Milan to Venezia to Torcello and Burano e finalmente bellissima Mestre.
Palaces, architecture, friends, food, wine, lagoon, magic - 1 (of 2)
Palaces, architecture, friends, food, wine, lagoon, magic - 1 (of 2)
November 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Magical Grand Tour from Palermo to Milan to Venezia to Torcello and Burano e finalmente bellissima Mestre.
Palaces, architecture, friends, food, wine, lagoon, magic - 1 (of 2)
Palaces, architecture, friends, food, wine, lagoon, magic - 1 (of 2)
And then Milano, Venezia, isole…. And a trade show #lavoro #grandtourist sempre con amici 2 (of 2)
November 29, 2025 at 5:10 PM
And then Milano, Venezia, isole…. And a trade show #lavoro #grandtourist sempre con amici 2 (of 2)
Magical Grand Tour from Palermo to Milan to Venezia to Torcello and Burano e finalmente bellissima Mestre.
Palaces, architecture, friends, food, wine, lagoon, magic - 1 (of 2)
Palaces, architecture, friends, food, wine, lagoon, magic - 1 (of 2)
November 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Magical Grand Tour from Palermo to Milan to Venezia to Torcello and Burano e finalmente bellissima Mestre.
Palaces, architecture, friends, food, wine, lagoon, magic - 1 (of 2)
Palaces, architecture, friends, food, wine, lagoon, magic - 1 (of 2)
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Dinner tonight. Fillets of *triglie* (red mullet) on buttered garlic spinach on mashed potato.
Bought too many mullets so the rest will be going into a sandwich for lunch tomorrow.
Bought too many mullets so the rest will be going into a sandwich for lunch tomorrow.
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Dinner tonight. Fillets of *triglie* (red mullet) on buttered garlic spinach on mashed potato.
Bought too many mullets so the rest will be going into a sandwich for lunch tomorrow.
Bought too many mullets so the rest will be going into a sandwich for lunch tomorrow.
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Loving La Salute w/end in Venezia - couldn’t quite make myself go to ‘confessione’ nope couldn’t do it!
November 23, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Loving La Salute w/end in Venezia - couldn’t quite make myself go to ‘confessione’ nope couldn’t do it!
Loving La Salute w/end in Venezia - couldn’t quite make myself go to ‘confessione’ nope couldn’t do it!
November 23, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Loving La Salute w/end in Venezia - couldn’t quite make myself go to ‘confessione’ nope couldn’t do it!
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Mosaic Monday - a little late - from Palermo, Sicily. Palazzo Normanni dates from 11th century. Byzantine style mosaics in Cappella Palatina - colourful & very gold. Monreale exceptional too #mosaicmonday #monreale #palermo wp.me/p5eFNn-5hg
November 18, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Mosaic Monday - a little late - from Palermo, Sicily. Palazzo Normanni dates from 11th century. Byzantine style mosaics in Cappella Palatina - colourful & very gold. Monreale exceptional too #mosaicmonday #monreale #palermo wp.me/p5eFNn-5hg
Couldn’t resist - more from Monreale
November 18, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Couldn’t resist - more from Monreale
Mosaic Monday - a little late - from Palermo, Sicily. Palazzo Normanni dates from 11th century. Byzantine style mosaics in Cappella Palatina - colourful & very gold. Monreale exceptional too #mosaicmonday #monreale #palermo wp.me/p5eFNn-5hg
November 18, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Mosaic Monday - a little late - from Palermo, Sicily. Palazzo Normanni dates from 11th century. Byzantine style mosaics in Cappella Palatina - colourful & very gold. Monreale exceptional too #mosaicmonday #monreale #palermo wp.me/p5eFNn-5hg
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Today I'll be at the DuemilaLibri Festival in Gallarate at 12.00, and at the Scrittorincittà Festival in Cuneo at 6:30. Hope to see some of you there!
a cartoon of a penguin flying a plane with the flag of italy in the background
ALT: a cartoon of a penguin flying a plane with the flag of italy in the background
media.tenor.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Today I'll be at the DuemilaLibri Festival in Gallarate at 12.00, and at the Scrittorincittà Festival in Cuneo at 6:30. Hope to see some of you there!
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Enjoyable panel on "Don't Look Now" at #VeniceNoir, with Sir Ian Rankin, Lisa Hilton, John Bleasdale and Philip Gwynne Jones (oh, and me).
Venice Noir panel for “Don’t Look Now” right now at the Ateneo Veneto: @gregorydowling.bsky.social, @ianrankin1.bsky.social, @www.johnbleasdale.com, Lisa Hilton, @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Enjoyable panel on "Don't Look Now" at #VeniceNoir, with Sir Ian Rankin, Lisa Hilton, John Bleasdale and Philip Gwynne Jones (oh, and me).
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
My favourite writing venue - just 20 minutes from Chester. It’s a cross between an Oxford college library and a historic country house. I’ve written about the building & how it inspires me several times. wp.me/p5eFNn-6R5
Gladstone’s Library – A library with rooms
Gladstone’s Library – A sanatorium for the Mind
wp.me
November 15, 2025 at 6:16 AM
My favourite writing venue - just 20 minutes from Chester. It’s a cross between an Oxford college library and a historic country house. I’ve written about the building & how it inspires me several times. wp.me/p5eFNn-6R5
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
A Room of One's Own: Sarah Todd Taylor crime.cymru/2025/11/14/a...
A Room of One’s Own: Sarah Todd Taylor
A Room of One’s Own (If only for a weekend): Sarah Todd Taylor It was Virginia Woolf who espoused the necessity of a room of one’s own if one is to write fiction. Some lucky writers may achieve thi…
crime.cymru
November 14, 2025 at 10:53 PM
A Room of One's Own: Sarah Todd Taylor crime.cymru/2025/11/14/a...
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Some great coverage of Venice Noir in the papers today.
November 4, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Some great coverage of Venice Noir in the papers today.