Day 13 – Arrival in Venice –

Venice hasn’t changed a lot since we were there… except to have become more “touristy”, if that was possible.  4 years ago we were docked with a cruise ship with quick vaporetto service to The Piazza di San Marco… this year we’re near the train station. Some might feel awkward traipsing through town hauling their luggage, but it’s an extremely common sight and we blend in well.  The Principal and I recognize our hotel from 15 years ago (B.C.) but the new one is another block down. 

The looming staircase is somewhat intimidating, so we send the Principal and Doodlebug up the stairs, only to find out that our rooms aren’t even in this building making our decision NOT to heave our luggage up those stairs a good one.  The little walkway (officially an alley) nearby is our actual lead to the other building… and has equally as many stairs, and like everything else, is made of marble.  Decisions on sleeping arrangements are made again and we unload.  This something in between a hostel and a hotel. There are rooms that sleep 4, sinks in every room… but only 2 toilets/shower rooms for what appear to be 17-20 people on a floor.  Oh my… this will be different.

Some of the group decide to get something to eat in a little ristorante across the street, but the rest of us decide to ‘get lost in Venice’.  It’s fun to do, and not hard to “un-lost-ify” yourself as there are signs EVERYWHERE on how to get to San Marco, the Canal, and a few other well-known landmarks.  Still, the pounding “music?” is coming down the street, but isn’t getting closer, so we head off to satisfy our curiousity.

Most are disappointed to find out that it’s a Communist Protest against the EU “austerity agreement”… and the Italians that are there (other than those on the microphone) appear to have shown up out of curiosity and then grown bored at the event and are all just talking amongst themselves… and the 100 street vendors all trying to sell you some of the same “stuff” that was in Rome.  Of course, much of their stuff is Venetian (ish) glass, or Venetian masks (we’re about a month too late for Mardi Gras)… but at least it’s interesting.

Wandering around (gelato in hand) we discover another unfortunate happening in Venice.  Everything is MUCH more expensive.  Instead of 1,50 Euro, or even a 2 Euro ticket on the vaparetto (their version of a water bus)… the passes are 7 Euros for each direction (outside 90 minutes)… or a 24 hr ticket for 20 Euros… or 25 Euros for a 36 hr pass.  To make matters more frustrating, while most cities have children free, or at least at a reduced price… Venice makes no exceptions.  Planning for when we leave will dictate when we buy our “bus” passes… and we continue walking down the narrow streets… over the lovely bridges.  Doodlebug notices that there are a LOT more dogs on leashes here, which is interesting since there are essentially no backyards, and few single family homes/town houses.

San Marco is very busy when we get there, but we’ve journeyed in and already seen a spot or two we hadn’t seen before, so we decide venturing inside will have to wait a day.

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner turns out to be another expensive venture (that part hasn’t changed), but it’s Sweetie’s birthday and we make it into a bit of an event.  She receives a Venetian mask from The Principal and I as a memento of her birthday in Venice… and we all settle in for a well-deserved good night’s sleep.

 

 

 

 

A pleasant addition to the now/then comparison. The maintenance around the Bridge of Sighs is complete (though other areas are still being worked on)