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
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.
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
#mosaicmonday A photo I took at #Ercolano #Herculaneum 2 wks ago detailed Roman-Greek mosaic style - we know it’s older than 79 AD - that’s when Vesuvius erupted + buried Herculaneum in pyroclastic material. Subjects Neptune+wife Amphitrite. tesserae size v.small 10 mm sq. superb composition+colour
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 AM
#mosaicmonday A photo I took at #Ercolano #Herculaneum 2 wks ago detailed Roman-Greek mosaic style - we know it’s older than 79 AD - that’s when Vesuvius erupted + buried Herculaneum in pyroclastic material. Subjects Neptune+wife Amphitrite. tesserae size v.small 10 mm sq. superb composition+colour
#mosaicmonday A photo I took at #Ercolano #Herculaneum 2 wks ago detailed Roman-Greek mosaic style - we know it’s older than 79 AD - that’s when Vesuvius erupted + buried Herculaneum in pyroclastic material. Subjects Neptune+wife Amphitrite. tesserae size v.small 10 mm sq. superb composition+colour
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 AM
#mosaicmonday A photo I took at #Ercolano #Herculaneum 2 wks ago detailed Roman-Greek mosaic style - we know it’s older than 79 AD - that’s when Vesuvius erupted + buried Herculaneum in pyroclastic material. Subjects Neptune+wife Amphitrite. tesserae size v.small 10 mm sq. superb composition+colour
Reposted by Janet Simmonds
Some nice Halloween postbox toppers that will be going into the @folklorelibrary.bsky.social image archives
@folklorepod.bsky.social Postbox topper by Harlech Castle. Photo taken by me on 22/10/25. No details on the creator I’m afraid
October 24, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Some nice Halloween postbox toppers that will be going into the @folklorelibrary.bsky.social image archives