Day Four - May 25, 2012
Night Train to Venice, Italy
Daily Didactic
Days seem to begin early in Europe. Today's began at 6:00, when the train fellow knocked on our door to wake us, give us back our Eurail pass, and let us know Venice was on the horizon. We rose, chatted with our nice German roommates, and disembarked at San Lucia Station. We had three and a half hours to get twenty five minutes by foot, and (because we forgot to print out the instructions) it took most of that. As a byproduct, we must have walked every back street in the Siestre San Polo (Siestre=neighborhood?) and a few adjacent. The island of Venice, at least around here, is like a labyrinth of walkways, some narrow and some narrower. It is beautiful and covered in graffiti at the same time. We eventually found the apartment we are renting for a few days with 45 minutes to spare. We had some impressive pastry and coffee at a little shop and then checked in with a young man who spoke less english than we do Italian. After an hour or so of settling we headed out for some lunch at what we imagine is the least authentic of options, on the Grand Canal at the Rialto bridge. We ate pizza and watched the Grand Canal like TV. The side canals here are quiet, but the Grand Canal is a ridiculous competition of small barges, gondolas, water taxis and a kayak or two for good measure. After lunch, we headed back to our apartment. Theresa talked Brian into a quick nap which lasted four hours. We took another stroll in the evening to find any kind of little market, of which there appear to be none, and then retreated for the evening. We are hoping to put jet lag behind us and have our tourist legs on in the morning.
Today's Photos
