Body Shots with Da Fabio

I got up, packed my stuff, and headed out the door. I was lucky because my alarm battery died during the night and I woke up at 5:40am, a good 20-minutes early to notice. When I stepped outside it was rainy. I had to walk half way around the lake in the rain to catch my train. While it was wet....it was sure beautiful! The ducks and swans were out, the water was still, and there was a light fog over the lake. A really good rainy hike! I got to the train station, a steep hike up the hill, and still had some time to spare. I popped into the train station's cafe for some coffee. When I opened the doors, what was silent on the outside, was now very loud and active on the inside. From the outside you would have never know that this small place was full of people drinking coffee, socializing, and playing the handful of slot machines. I got my 1 Euro cappuccino and savored my last cheap cup of coffee. When the train came, I boarded.

Lake Bled

So, let me explain. I want to get to Venice, but there is not a direct train. See, the trains in Slovenia are not linked with those in Italy. There is a gap. So, I was able to get as far as Nova Gorizia, but once I got there I needed to find a way to the train station on the Italian side called, "Gorizia Centrale"....and I only had an hour. I arrive in Nova Gorizia to find no taxis, no attendants, and posted information on getting to the next station. I finally step into this bar at the train station (most train stations have bars and restaurants in them) and talk with the bartender. She said, "Oh, you don't need a taxi. Take the #1 bus that picks-up across the square. She walked me out the door and pointed across this square. "See over there? There is a bus there now. I think it's the #1". I look across and see the bus. On the back of it says, "#1". I realize that I need to hurry. She looks at me with a serious face and says, "Run". I felt like I was on one of those islands where the crazy Brit hunter tracks and hunts people for sport. Her saying, "Run" was like that crazy Brit giving me a head-start before he comes after me. I RUN LIKE GUMP!

I make it just in time. The bus driver says, "Do you have a ticket?" I said, "I can buy one from you, right?" He then explains that I need to buy one from a liquor store. He says, "Okay, I'll drive you". He then takes the bus to a couple of stops and then points me in the direction of the store. He then says, "I wait for you". So nice! I run to the shop, buy my ticket, and then rush back. I'm sure the people on the bus thought I was crazy. He was so nice! I noticed that most everyone in Gorizia had a smile on their face or was laughing. Funny for a rainy day....you don't find that everywhere. Now, Daporkandbill had told me that Slovenians were very reserved and not polite. Funny, I found just the opposite. Well, reserved in the sense that they won't really approach you, but if you engage them they are more than friendly. I found Croatians more reserved and impolite, but I was in a bigger city so I can't generalize. In fact, all of the Slovenians I encountered where wonderful. Only, the people who worked at the castle in Bled seemed unfriendly to me. Even the Castle Wine Monk....but only when I left without falling for his sales pitch. You know, I'd come back to Slovenia in a heart-beat. I love it! Even the train ride from Bled to Nova Gorizia was great!

Train from Bled to Nova Gorizia

I arrive in Venice just before noon. It's such a beautiful city! I'll explore more tomorrow, but I got a good taste of it when I jumped on a vaporetto (kind of like a water bus) and cruised the Grand Canal. The vaporetto took me around the canal, under the Rialto Bridge, and I got to see a lot from the water. I got to my stop (San Toma) and tried to find my hostel which is right near Campo San Toma Square. When I arrived I rang the bell. An Italian man named, "Jed" (Yes, I know, an Italian man named Jed) yelled form the balcony above my head, "Ciao!" He let me in and I'm in a huge lobby. I walk up stairs to a beautiful and huge place. I meet Jed and Sam who work here. Turns out this hostel used to be an old museum and home of a minister. Very cool! I got settled in a rested a bit before dinner.

Venice!

View from Hostel Balcony

Every evening the hostel (teamed with another hostel) host an Italian dinner. A group of about ten of us headed into the dark, narrow, alleys of Venice to go to another hostel across the city for dinner. The streets where gorgeous as the lamps from the homes reflected on the canal water. So beautiful! We walked through quiet alleys then into a main area filled with restaurants that sit on edge of the Grand Canal. Venice became lively! We walked over the Rialto Bridge and into another part of the city. We arrived at the other hostel which was called, "Fish". I thought it was an odd name until I realized that Venice is shaped like a fish.....hence the name. We joined 10-15 our travelers for an Italian dinner where I met people from Canada, Argentina, Hong Kong, Japan, England, France, Brazil, and Lithuania. We had a fun time talking and sharing our travel stories. After dinner, most of us did these shots called, ?????? where the alcohol is lit on fire before you do the shot. The entire process is a bit complicated to explain so I'll have to leave it at that. It tasted like black liquorish. It was different.

After dinner and shots we headed out to a drinking establishment called, "Madigans's Pub". Most of the night I talked with the girl from Lithuania named, "Johnna" who worked temporary for the hostel and who is soon starting her Master's in Tourism.

Now, I'll need to side track for a long moment. So, remember my second night in Dingle when I met the couple from Boston and Montana? Of course you do! Thanks for reading! Well, before I met them and got situated at the far table I was up at the bar ordering my beer. While I was waiting an Irish guy, about 25-years old comes up to me and says, "You're an American aren't you?" and I said, "What makes you say American? Why not Canadian, African, or Chinese?" He gives me a look and then laughs as he says, "Don't you know, only Americans wear NorthFace". I replied, "NorthFace is all over the globe and you can by it anywhere. You can even by it online, the world is getting smaller my Irish friend." He laughs, looks at me, and then says, "Just tell me I'm right". I replied, "Well, you're not wrong". So that's what started the whole concept of "Only Americans wear NorthFace". From then on, most of the people I have met on this trip, who wear NorthFace, have been American. Now of course not ALL people wearing NorthFace are American, that is just silly. However, it's a fun little game. Several days later when I moved on to Edinburgh and I was out at the pub crawl there was girl there with her boyfriend. He was from England and she born in Germany and lived in England.....but her mom was Asian. Anyway, this girl asked me, "Has anyone been able to point you out as an American?" I explained, "Well, it's not like I'm trying to hide the fact that I'm American. I've seen Americans sport the Canadian flag on their bags to avoid drawing attention. I think that is silly. On the other hand I'm not trying to gloat it either by wearing my suit that made out of the American flag. I'm sure people, if they wanted too could easily point me out, but only this one guy in Ireland has approached me about it.....other than boarder officials." I then shared with them my experience and ended with the phrase, "Only Americans wear NorthFace". We laugh about it for a moment and then we moved on to another bar. As we are walking out of the door there is a young kid about 18 who is walking out in front of us (with our group) who is sporting a NorthFace jacket. The girl looks and me an points at the kid. I say, "You're and American aren't you!" and he looks at my with a smirk on his face, yet completely puzzled, and says, "Yeah, Mountain View, California! How did you know?" I turn the girl and say, "See, only Americans wear NorthFace". It was fun! Moreover, when I was in Prague with Jeff I told him the stories and we joked about it. When we were on a tram going to dinner for our last night in Prague a bunch of young guys get on at one of the stops. One or two of them were wearing NorthFace jackets. Jeff turns to me an says, "They're American" and I say, "Only Americans wear NorthFace." The guys then begin talking in perfect English. Again funny!

So present day, Johnna and I are walking into this Venice bar. Upon entering there is a whole slew of people wearing NorthFace accessories. I begin to laugh and I turn to Johnna and say, "I can pick-out every American in this place!" She says, "Who" and then I begin pointing to all of the people in NorthFace clothing as I say, "He's American, he's American, she's American, behind that girl....he's American, she's American, and she's American". Johnna looks at me and says, "You are full of shit!" I said, "Then ask them!" She then goes up to each person and asks, one by one, if they are American. All six of them were American!!!! I swear, my Irish friend was right; Only Americans wear NorthFace.

Well, we had a great time at the bar. I tried an Italian beer which made me decide to lower my beer drinking in Italy.....5 Euros for a pint......it looked like half a pint. So expensive!!! Wine on the other hand, that's our friend. I did get talking with a guy from England named James. James was a great guy to talk with, really down to earth and normal. Our sense of humor really molded well together well. James was one of these guys who is not a "one-upper" or all into the whole male testosterone thing; A guy who I can get along with well.

Then there is Fabio. Now, Fabio is the bartender at Madigan's Pub. He is your stereotypical handsome, buff, Italian, dream man.....for the ladies. Also, with the thick accent which drives the girls crazy. He played it well too.....all pretending he barely knows English and speaks all sensual-like. I'm on to him.....I know his game. No, I'm not jealous! Ethem, anyway! All these American girls walk in and they are young, loud, and annoying! One asks Fabio if he would do a body shot off of her. Well, Fabio all muscular-like picks up the girl and lays her on the bar right in front of me and 5-Euro half pint. He then proceeds to put whip cream on her belly button followed by a shot of whatever. (Heather, when you read my blogs to the girls and night......you can skip this part). So, you can only imagine what played out. After, the girls got louder and much more annoying. It was time to leave, but not before I suggested to Fabio that he do a body shot off me. Ha Ha! Having to watch the girl was degrading enough for me.....let alone me getting up there so the tourists could take photos of me. The night at the bar was an experience to say the least. Anyway, this whole deal signaled to our group that it was time to leave. I picked up Fabio's business card on the way out. I swear it says, "Da Fabio". Really? Can you get anymore cheesy?!!!!!