They say even the locals get lost in Venice. This was not a good thought for us as we rode the train past Milan on our way to a city of multiple mini islands with a total population of 60 thousand. Venice is of course the city of cannals and the story (according to wikipedia) goes that in the summer when Venice is crowded with tourists, many of the little alley ways and side streets become flooded because of all the extra weight on the "islands". Wikipedia also said not to talk to the locals about Venice eventually sinking, bit of a soft spot for them.
Speaking of getting lost, the first time we got lost we weren't really lost. More like got off the train one stop too early. We exited the train to a beautiful view of a old Italian city but it was clearly not Venice. No gondolas, glassware, theatre masks, or WATER for that matter. Our Aussie friend made that last point quite clear to the rest of us. Back on the train. This time we knew we were in Venice because all of the above clichés where right out the front entrance of the train station.
The second time we got lost was about 10mins after leaving the train station. Well, thats not entirely true as at the time (and for about another 45mins) we thought we knew where we were going. The directions to the hostel seemed simple enough: "take the water bus to _____ stop". Pffft the water bus would have cost us €6.50 each so we choose to walk to the specified bus stop instead. Lovely walk, beautiful stores, and tastey looking food... Well we walked and walked amnd walked then asked 5 different shop owners for directions, each one telling us to head in a different direction. They also all said they weren't entirely sure where the address for the hostel was.
We were getting hangry so stopped for pizza ("when in Italy...."). The plan was to borrow the restaurant's phone to call the hostel but the waiter wasn't allowed to lend the phone, but he came back with his cell phone! What a guy! We tipped well.
Turns out the hostel was around the corner from where we ate dinner! Of course. Gelato time! Amazing!
The next day we left the map at the hostel and decided to wander the "streets" without one. Turns out it wasnt very difficult to find our way around in the day time, as long as you knew where the Grande Canal was most of the time, you were fine. The streets are only as wide as 2 people walking side by side, 3 people down some streets. I can't imagine what its like in the crowded summer months!
We came across an interesting flea market selling neat old stuff. It literally was just "stuff" but unlike our garage sales, all of it was neat stuff: old glass perfume bottles with the little 'poof' handle, old skeleton keys, black and white family photos from the 1920s, gaudy jewlery... sorry if I cant spell (not like I can normally), seems my brain is stuck in 'French mode' from a week of learning. It actually took me a few tries to spell perfume correctly in english.
Anyways, back to Venice... We ate more pizza and pasta that day as well as sampled some cannoli (singular- cannolo) although we were not entirely satisfied with the ones we had. It may have had something to do with the fact that we were attacked by pigeons while trying to enjoy the cannoli. Oh, fun fact about cannoli, they originated in Sicily and are more popular in the USA than they are in Italy... ie TLC's Cake Boss, which is where I first heard of them.
The following day, two of us headed for the train station while the others stayed behind in Venice for another day. Florence time! I wasn't extremely excited for Florence, more excited to be done with Venice. It was boring, great for people over 50 or couples looking for a 'romantique' holiday (French coming out again...). Dont get me wrong, I am glad I went but probably wont go back (well maybe for my 55th birthday if the city hasnt sunk yet!).
Oh the pictures of Venice are amazing! I cant wait to post them!
Is it sad that I screamed (inside my head) when I saw a Starbucks while on my way home from class yesterday? Maybe. Today is Friday to I treated myself to the most expensive coffee I have ever bought. Picture the menus at your local Canadian Starbucks now replace the dollar sign with the euro sign. Yup, I paid the equivalent of $6.25 Canadian dollars for a Tall Mocha Blanc (so €4.50). Yicks. Unlikely that will happen again.
Kylie
Speaking of getting lost, the first time we got lost we weren't really lost. More like got off the train one stop too early. We exited the train to a beautiful view of a old Italian city but it was clearly not Venice. No gondolas, glassware, theatre masks, or WATER for that matter. Our Aussie friend made that last point quite clear to the rest of us. Back on the train. This time we knew we were in Venice because all of the above clichés where right out the front entrance of the train station.
The second time we got lost was about 10mins after leaving the train station. Well, thats not entirely true as at the time (and for about another 45mins) we thought we knew where we were going. The directions to the hostel seemed simple enough: "take the water bus to _____ stop". Pffft the water bus would have cost us €6.50 each so we choose to walk to the specified bus stop instead. Lovely walk, beautiful stores, and tastey looking food... Well we walked and walked amnd walked then asked 5 different shop owners for directions, each one telling us to head in a different direction. They also all said they weren't entirely sure where the address for the hostel was.
We were getting hangry so stopped for pizza ("when in Italy...."). The plan was to borrow the restaurant's phone to call the hostel but the waiter wasn't allowed to lend the phone, but he came back with his cell phone! What a guy! We tipped well.
Turns out the hostel was around the corner from where we ate dinner! Of course. Gelato time! Amazing!
The next day we left the map at the hostel and decided to wander the "streets" without one. Turns out it wasnt very difficult to find our way around in the day time, as long as you knew where the Grande Canal was most of the time, you were fine. The streets are only as wide as 2 people walking side by side, 3 people down some streets. I can't imagine what its like in the crowded summer months!
We came across an interesting flea market selling neat old stuff. It literally was just "stuff" but unlike our garage sales, all of it was neat stuff: old glass perfume bottles with the little 'poof' handle, old skeleton keys, black and white family photos from the 1920s, gaudy jewlery... sorry if I cant spell (not like I can normally), seems my brain is stuck in 'French mode' from a week of learning. It actually took me a few tries to spell perfume correctly in english.
Anyways, back to Venice... We ate more pizza and pasta that day as well as sampled some cannoli (singular- cannolo) although we were not entirely satisfied with the ones we had. It may have had something to do with the fact that we were attacked by pigeons while trying to enjoy the cannoli. Oh, fun fact about cannoli, they originated in Sicily and are more popular in the USA than they are in Italy... ie TLC's Cake Boss, which is where I first heard of them.
The following day, two of us headed for the train station while the others stayed behind in Venice for another day. Florence time! I wasn't extremely excited for Florence, more excited to be done with Venice. It was boring, great for people over 50 or couples looking for a 'romantique' holiday (French coming out again...). Dont get me wrong, I am glad I went but probably wont go back (well maybe for my 55th birthday if the city hasnt sunk yet!).
Oh the pictures of Venice are amazing! I cant wait to post them!
Is it sad that I screamed (inside my head) when I saw a Starbucks while on my way home from class yesterday? Maybe. Today is Friday to I treated myself to the most expensive coffee I have ever bought. Picture the menus at your local Canadian Starbucks now replace the dollar sign with the euro sign. Yup, I paid the equivalent of $6.25 Canadian dollars for a Tall Mocha Blanc (so €4.50). Yicks. Unlikely that will happen again.
Kylie
You found a Starbucks!! Yay!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading about your experience in Venice. You must post about Florence -- we nearly went there.