We have made it it Italy! Our overnight train wasn’t the most comfortable, rather than having a couchette we had seats and needless to say a full train with people drinking the ride the whole ride I didn’t get the best of sleep. At least it was our last overnight train for this trip!
The train drove from the mainland over to the island and for about five minutes we were driving on water. The bridge was at a much lower level so that it seemed as if you were gliding along in boat. Once we we got off the train station just a few short meters away there was a canal and boats all in the water. It hit that I was actually in Venice! Even though it was water all within it, like Amsterdam did it was so different. We checked our bags in the train station grabbed a map and wandered the maze of the city. We only grabbed a map so that we could find our way back to the station. The street of Venice are literally a maze! We unanimously decided that we would not try to navigate our way around and instead let the streets take us around. The brick wall walls are no more taller than four stories and have balconies where baskets of flowers hang and laundry is hung across to the other side of the streets. We weaved our way through ending up at dead ends of brick walls, houses and docks leading to the sea. What is so strange is that on one street there would be no one but Andrea and myself walking. along but as you turned the corner there was every tourist in Venice! We were able to make our way to San Marco Square. St. Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge was sadly under construction but even then it did not disappoint. Restaurants were along the edge of either side and people were sat along the edges enjoying passing the time and watching the vendors and people walk by. We partook in this and I enjoyed a super cheesy calzone! We walked to this exhibition where all there was was life sized boars with red paint smeared across their face, defiantly contemporary arts that might give me nightmares! Making our way to the train station we went inside Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute just a few of the many churches on the island.
We were able to find our way back and grabbed our bags and went off to our hotel. Yes hotel not like hostel, thanks to Andreas parents! Thank you Chuck and Bridget :) It was right along the high end shopping street less than a five minute walk to San Marco Square. No doubt that the reception was wondering why in the world two backpackers were checking in. After settling in we went to search for dinner, we ended up at a pizza place and grabbed a huge pizza for less than six months euros! We walked to where the food market was earlier in the day and sat along the pier. After dinner we went for a walk to park. It was so huge and reminded me of Stanley Park the walk was right along the water with plenty of benches looking about to the water with people running by. We sat on a bench with a view of San Marco Square and waited for the sunset. It was stunning, as we walked our way back to the square we set a new conquest to find a Bellini. An absolute obligation since Bellini’s originated here. Afterwards we headed back to our hotel and passed out tired from a long day with not that much sleep.