It's All About the Story

You can't get lost in Venice

15/03/2011

I got a very early start today. I finished off the fruit I bought in Slovenia and I was out the door. I really didn't have a game-plan for the day, I just figured I'd wonder the streets for the day. Honestly, I don't much about Venice and the only place that was recommended to me were a couple of areas of the city and Piazza San Marrco. Thankfully, it wasn't raining today!!! Now, I was bound and determined NOT to get lost. Here is my philosophy of Venice: It's impossible to get lost because you are on an island you always know where you are....Venice! Also, you can't lost when you are not trying to get anywhere specific. So, out the door I flew to explore Venice. Can I tell you something? I love Venice!!! The city is so unique compared to other places in the world. Firstly, there are no cars in Venice. In fact, I think Venice only has one parking lot right on the entrance to the city. Instead, the canals become the transportation system.....apart from walking. Secondly, you'll be walking down a street and you'll come across a window where a carpenter is carving a new item for his or her shop. I also saw a man designing an intricate mask, which are popular around here as well. Thirdly, there really isn't any posted street names. On the sides of buddings you'll find directions to the nearest landmark such as a church or a square. Lastly, there is so much to explore in Venice. There are so many tiny alleys and bridges that you could never walk through them all. Last night while the group of us were walking to the bar we were talking about how locals love to watch the tourists with the lost looks on their faces as they are trying to figure out their map. I said, "they should have a reality show where they let a bunch of tourists loose on the streets of Venice and they have to get from one place to another. Then all the locals can sit up on the balconies and watch the fun unfold." During my exploring of Venice I saw an accordion and guitar player walking down the street. I followed them thinking that they would led me to a touristic area. We'll along the way they split up and I had to pick one. I continued following the guitar player and he actually led me to large square that had a couple of nearby bell towers. I looked around and then wondered in a new direction.
Venice

Venice

Me in Venice

You can tell where the main foot-paths are because you'll come across a wider walkway and you'll see a flow of people seamlessly navigating the streets from one place to another. It was fun just to jump in and follow the "traffic" to where ever looked interesting. When you found something of interest you just pop out of the main flow of people and go down a new street. The best way I can explain it is like the East Australian Current (EAC) in the movie, "Finding Nemo". You just ride it. It's a mass of people and they are walking fast. You just jump in and when you see something you like you make your exit. It was fun!

At one point I ended up in front of the train station which was convenient because I needed to reserve a seat for my train trip to Florence. So, I popped in and got my reservation. On the way out I got a 24-hour vaporetto ticket so I could cruise the canals some more and so I didn't have to worry about getting a ticket in the morning on my way back to the train station. I decided that it was a good time to cruise the Grand Canal. I got on a boat and took it around. I think riding on the boats looking at the views from the canal has been my favorite part of Venice. It's the best way to see it I think. All the buildings sit on the water and they are all unique. Some are simple, while others are very fancy. Most places have a dock that you pull up to and you can enter the building from the water. My favorite example of this was a nice hotel I saw. You could see the hotel from the water and it had a dock that could could pull up to. It also had a red carpet that went from the door the hotel straight onto the dock. It looked fancy!

I decided to get off at Piazza San Marrco and look around. It was nice, but there wasn't anything overly exciting for me. I thought I'd climb the tower, but it would cost me 8 Euros! Crazy! Well, it included a tour and I just wanted to see the view. It's perfectly okay! The view from the canal was fantastic enough for me! While I was in Piazza San Marrco I decided to try something I had read about before I left. I found the square, put out my arm with the palms facing up, and walked slowly though the square. In less than 30-seconds a pigeon comes flying over to me and lands on my arm. It just hung out there for a good 15-seconds before I shewed it off. It was cool! Thankfully, it didn't leave me a souvenir.

I continued along the water and slowly strolled just enjoying the day. It started to get a little more foggy, but still the view wherever you looked was fantastic. I then found a vaporetto and made my way over to Isola della Giudecca which is the southern most island. It was nice! I walked around for a while and then grabbed the boat back over to the main part of Venice.

All the walking and moving around had made me hungry so I found a nice little spot for lunch. I found a place serving these wraps made from pizza bread. It was pretty good! I just stood by the Grand Canal and enjoyed my lunch. After, I walked around some more and found a small place selling gelato. I walked around the streets of Venice with gelato in hand just enjoying my day. Now, all the walking and food had made me tired so I headed back in the direction of the hostel. Turns out I wasn't too far. I recognized a square we had walked through last night and was able to navigate back without any trouble. I love this city!

Once I got to the hostel I was super tired! I had seen plenty of Venice so I took the late afternoon off and just chilled out. It was great because I sat in the common area and enjoyed the view from the large windows. Plus, the interior of the old museum provides such a cool ambiance to just chill-out and relax.

One thing I do need to mention is that when I arrived back at the hostel I noticed that all of the eight bunks in my room (except for mine) had been completely moved to the side like they were organizing the place to move out. As it turns out they decided to close that wing of the hostel since it was so slow. I was booked for one more night so they just let me stay in the room by myself. The funny thing: I am the only guest in the hostel tonight. Again! Crazy! In Zagreb I had my own room, my second night in Ljubjlana I had my own room, in Bled I was the only person in the hostel, and now for my second night in Venice I am by myself again. Crazy! Now, while I was in the common room they had a walk-in guest. It was a girl from London. She walks in, goes to her assigned room, and then decided to go to Fish (the sister hostel) because there is not enough people. I'm all excited to have company and then she leaves. It was funny. Now, Fish had a bunch of people staying there so Jonna, Sam, and I took the vaporetto over there for their nightly dinner. They had a new group of people which the exception of three guys: one from England, one from Northern Ireland, and the other from the US. All the others were new. We had dinner and I met a guy from Illinois, two girls from Germany, a girl from South Korea, a guy from Brazil, and two girls from London. I turned to the one who came to my hostel earlier and said, "I have a bone to pick with you! You walk in, take one look at me, and then say, Oh I'm not staying at this hostel if he's here". We had a good laugh! We all got the opportunity to talk to one another and it was a really awesome group. After dinner we played some drinking games: Kings Cup and variation of High-Low. It was a blast because there was about a dozen of us all playing! No arrogant dudes and no "woo girls" either. It was a perfect group! I kept joking with two of the guys from the night before (The one from the US and the one from Northern Ireland). They did (what I believe) what few people are able to do: They caught on to my sense of humor. From then on we had even more fun talking and joking.

It was approaching midnight and we decided to go out to a local bar because it was going to be the birthday of the guy from Northern Ireland. We were walking down the street when the clock stroke midnight and we all sang Happy Birthday to him. We finally found a bar we liked and stayed there until it closed....which wasn't long. We made our way to another bar to hangout. I got the chance to mingle with everyone and chat it up. I love meeting new people! The two girls from Germany where trying to teach me new German phrases like, "I am a handsome man" and "I think you are sexy". Ha Ha! I struggled a bit. They said I sound like I come from Berlin when try to use a German accent. Ha! The girl from South Korea and I talk about two of our favorite shows: "30 Rock" and "The Office".

We decided to head back and I had to go a separate way from the rest of the group. Sam and Jonna (who work at my hostel) would join me. Two of the guys kept trying to get me to move into their hostel and the birthday boy even suggested that I say another day in Venice to hangout with them and the German girls. I declined. I had already booked my hostel for the following day and I would be out the money, also, I was able to see A LOT of Venice one solid day was enough. A second day with them would have been grand, but I feel like my work here is done. I need to move on. The birthday boy even offered to contribute 5 Euros to my cause. It was a nice gesture, but I think there was a little "drunk" talking when he offered. This was a good group and it was hard to say "goodbye". I hate saying goodbye, but in the hostel world you need to get use to it. Sadly.
This was the first time in my trip that so many people were able to go out, have a good-time, and mingle so well. It was great night and we had fun sharing our "stories" with each other.

Here is the funny thing, I spent that whole night and I never learned one person's name from the other hostel. Some times you get so wrapped up in other people and what they have to share that you forget. For instance, last night Jonna and I talked for a long time before I even thought to ask and introduce myself. The thing you really take away from people are their stories and experiences and not so much what they call themselves. It's funny.
Venice at Night