Train to Venice with Ali and Sandy

So this morning I went to the train station with Daniela to say goodbye to Salzburg. I had such an awesome time, but I also want to see Pompeii, so I decided to leave, among some other issues. The train trip was really cool. I think the coolest thing about traveling alone is that you have the opportunity to meet so many new people, and other travelers, and the conversations are so fun. So I was sitting in the compartment alone, and someone asked if that train went to Venice. I explained that it did, and that we must transfer trains at a city called Villach. So anyhow, he invited me to his and his friends compartment. There was Sandy, and woman from Michigan and him, Ali, traveling through Europe together. They were so nice and we had the best time just chatting about what was going on within our lives. It really makes a difference when you can chat for 6 hours, instead of looking out the window or whatever. Anyhow, the trip was really nice, the scenery again gorgeous with the mountains. On the way to Italy you cut through a large mountain chain. The trip wound down when Luke, a guy from Australia asked which station was the St. Lucia station, which was the end of the line. So, he joined our chat, and it turns out Luke has been traveling for a long time… since SEPTEMBER of last year! So, he is about to wind down his 9-month world vacation. He bought the Round-the-World ticket, and has been traveling to really nice places..

So, once we got off the train, Sandy and Ali departed for their hotel, and Luke and I waited in line to make reservations for a hostel. He phoned a hostel while I waited in a never-moving line to the Please, one at a time Tourist Information Office. So, needless to say, Luke reached a hostel faster than this line moved, and we headed off to catch a Gondola for our hostel. Our hostel is located on one of the bottom of the map islands that faces St. Marcs Piazza. So, we hopped on, and rode our way to the hostel.

Pizza!

After Luke and I checked into the hostel, we went for some PIZZA! Ok, so of course though, if you think of what Venice looks like, there are no cars. Its really a cool place. Canals everywhere, boats toting people every which way. So, my point though, is that from a Logistics standpoint, products such as food and drink are moved into the city only by boat, thus raising the prices of the dinners and such. So we wander our way through the tiny alleys and such of the city, and happen upon a restaurant in a little square. We figured it was out of the way and pretty non-touristy, so we decided to try it. The pizza was great, and was ¬ 7.50, so we thought it was a good price. It was big, so fine, ¬ 7.50 plus a coke would be expected. However, when the bill came, there was a gratuity included, plus a seating fee of ¬ 1.29 EACH. How stupid is that? So, our bill ended up to be ¬ 15 each, so we decided that will be our one dinner for the time we are here. You can find good sandwiches and such for ¬ 3.10 everywhere, so that will suffice while we are in Venice.
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AUTHOR: globetrotter
TITLE: Hostel
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1
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PRIMARY CATEGORY: italy_2002
CATEGORY: italy_2002

DATE: 06/04/2002 02:44:12 PM
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Ok, now Venice you think would be hopping at night. We found out when we checked into the Hostel that we have a 11:30 curfew, so we were pretty disappointed at that. So we walked around the pathways throughout the city taking pictures and stuff and just hanging out. Luke is really cool to talk to so it was good we met. So, anyhow, my point is Venice is NOT a hip and happening place past 8:00. Everything practically shuts down for the night around this time, and everything’s dark except for the street lights. So, we headed back to the hostel, and everyone is just sitting out in front waiting for the lock in. That is another place to meet some cool people.

Venice Day!

This morning started out with rain so I was hoping and hoping for a nice day. By 10:00 it seemed to have pretty much cleared up. So Luke and I headed out for touring the town. Actually Venice does not have that many places to visit other than the Cathedral and St. Marcs Piazza. We wandered the streets, got some lunch, and looked around taking pictures. One thing Venice is famous for is for masks. They have some really nice ones, so I ended up buying a nice one for my new apartment. It should be a good souvenir, just a pain to carry around. Luckily it is light and has a bag, and I have learned again, just because of a sandwich incident (we could not find the place we wanted to eat at the beginning) that if I pass up something I want, I probably will not see it again here. It is very true because I have not seen a mask like mine since! Good thing I bought it! CIAO!

Maze of Venice, and FLOOD!

Poor Venice. It really is a city that I don’t think will last much longer. It’s only industry is really tourism, and the prices are so outrageous, I don’t know how much longer it can manage charging tourists so much. So I decided definitely that I will be leaving for Florence in the morning. Venice though is really a maze of roads and alleyways and DEAD ENDS. We hit so many it became funny. It was nice though just to look at all the places. Fortunately, Venice is really just that–the canals and everything are what draws the tourists. We went to the main Square of St. Marco’s to have a look inside. It was nice, and the square had tons of pigeons. Luke insisted in buying a packet of corn, and he had a blast having nasty pigeons crawl all over his arms and head. Cheap thrills I guess. Anyhow, it was hilarious in the evening, because after all day tromping around Venice, we decided to go get some dinner and head back to the square to catch a boat back to the hostel. On our way though, we found ourselves trapped. Just by water though. Venice as you know is just built on reclaimed land, and is sinking all the time. Tonight however, the water trapped us in the middle of the square with no where to go. I felt like I was going down with the Titanic because there was a violin playing at a restaurant nearby, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. So we had to take off our shoes and socks, and go around to the other side to get some dinner. Of course the other side had no flooding, and I was walking around barefoot. The people coming that way of course stared at how skanky I looked with my bare feet and shopping bag. Even some Japanese tourist said in Japanese, ‘oh my goodness, they’re barefoot…’ so of COURSE I replied in Japanese back to them and I said, Yes, because it’s flooded on the other side! So, they were shocked and I guess thought it was funny that some random white boy spoke their language. So, we got dinner, and headed for ANOTHER ICE CREAM, and back to the hostel.

Train to Firenze (Florence), Italy

This morning, we woke up and got breakfast and got on the boat to take us to the station. We found our train quickly and I bought lunch for the ride. We had a good train ride and changed in Bologna. However, during the ride, I was asked for my ticket, and I showed my Eurail pass, and asked the conductor to tell me the date so I could write it on the pass for him to stamp. He got flustered for some reason–I guess he didn’t understand my question, and just left without stamping my ticket. So at that point, I was like hmm, I wonder should I just leave it blank, save that trip, and then just pay for the rest of the way to Florence since it would be just $7. So, when we got off the train though, the one to Florence was already waiting, so we went ahead and boarded. This time, yes I know shame on me, when the lady came by to check the tickets, I headed for the restaurant car, and bought an apple juice, and waited until she left. So, free trip to Florence for me* So now, I have another trip on my pass that I can take…

Nice Hostel!

I headed from the station, said goodbye to Luke, because he was going to see a friend here. I found a hostel near the station, and went to check in. He said it was full, but then said go next door and there’s a room. It’s in this building run by an oooold lady, and I got put in a room with 2 guys from Cali. So, this place look out over the awesome red tiled roofs of Florence, and it is in a perfect location. Only 23 Euro, so good deal. The showers are nice, and the room is nice and big.

Downpour on the streets of Florence, and the Paint Shoppe Man

I decided to head out and orient myself with the city and walk around. Unfortunately just after an hour of walking, I found myself in a terrible storm, well mainly just rain, and having to run from overhang to overhang. I found myself also in a paintshop for cover, and I asked the man how to get to the center of town. I had to ask first if he spoke English, then I offered Spanish, or German, and he said nothing, so I opted for asking in Spanish since the two languages are quite similar. I did add the Italian accent, you know the I a wanta go to the traina station… And he understood, and showed me the direction. The rain got worse however, so I waited a bit, and he tapped me on the back and had an umbrella in his hand. He offered me to take the umbrella for my walk, and I insisted that it was ok, but he wouldn’t take it back, so now I have an umbrella JUST IN CASE of another torrential downpour in Florence =)

Dinner with an Irish Kiwi

Tonight I went around to find a nice restaurant to eat. I was surprised to find such a nice place so close to the hostel, which was good because it looked like the rain wouldn’t let up. So, in I go, and order Butterfly Pasta with Four Cheeses, and a mixed salad. I had a nice evening, just watching the people and listening to the live music of the typical Italian melodies. After I was ready to pay, the waiter sat down a woman at my table.. I was getting the idea that I was not wanted anymore there, so I said, sorry, I guess I am being made to go. She said, oh you can stay if you want. So, I said well sure, I have a few questions then. So I asked what were the “must-dos” of Florence, and I got some good insight on to what to skip and what to see. Angela, was from New Zealand, but was working in Ireland and comes down to a different country every month for a week. She was fun to talk to, but if you can imagine what this accent sounded like, it was definitely a challenge to tone my ear to the words. Anyhow, I sat while she had dinner and we had a nice conversation. I then headed for a Gelato (Italian Ice Cream) and for those of you who know me, you know ice cream is not the most important thing in my life–doesn’t even hit the scale that Milka* is on. Anyhow, since I have been in Europe, I have fallen in love with the ice cream. It is SOOO GOOD. I have never had anything like it in the states, so I am making a point to get as much as possible while I can…

David

This morning I got up and headed for the statue of David. It was quite impressive, and I can’t believe how someone actually made it look like a real human out of a piece of marble. I mean he even had veins in his hands! The statue is huge too, a lot larger than I would have thought it to be. Anyhow, after the museum I wandered around to find the tomb of Michelangelo. Not much to see other than a building.. or you can go in for a hefty entrance fee.

Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition

The Irish Kiwi Angela last night told me about an exhibition going on in a little town on the outskirts of Florence on the mountain. So I decided to head over there for the afternoon not only to get a better view of the city, but to play with the interactive exhibition of Leonardo’s engineering. You know, he had plans for at helicopter, bicycle, and all sorts of things that could be touched. It was nice, plus the view from the mountain was amazing. Really cool.