Take me to Venice… Sire!

So it was an early start to bid farewell to Milan this morning. We had to catch a tram in the dark… although that means 7 o’clock in the morning, and got to Milan Central Station, which is a lot like a shopping mall that trains stop at … in plenty of time to catch a high-speed train to Venice.

Two and a half hours later were were at the Venice railway station … which is just on the mainland side of the Grand Canal. The train trip passed through lots of flat farming country and the the city of Verona … but no no sign of the Montague’s or Capulet’s. Upon arriving in Venice we were met by Anna … who showed us the apartment … bought us coffee and gave us good briefing on where to go… and more importantly where not to go. It is commonplace for people to pay up to 20 Euros for a cup of coffee anywhere near St Marks Square. The apartment is very nice … with plenty of room and a nice view out the window…

Once we settled in it was a case of just taking to the streets and getting ourselves used to the city. Between the canals there is a labyrinth of streets filled with cafes and shops. The shops sell a variety of goods, with the most popular being glass products and jewellery, crass souvenirs, Masquerade masks and antiquities.  We also had some serious stuff to do … like organise our Ferry passes, toilet passes and museum passes. I do have to say …that although my feet were very sore by the end of the day it was nice to just wander … and get a little bit lost.

Just digressing a little … but as we crossed the bridge from the railway station there were several reputable gentleman like the fellow pictured below. We have seen these guys in several places … but not so many as here. The device on the mat is a ‘Selfie Stick’ and enables it’s owner to attach there camera or phone … so they can take better selfies. There are a telescopic stick … very popular with the Chinese and Japanese tourist … I have to say. 

 

Anyway… I digressed … we finished the evening with a home cooked pasta (from the local supermarket) … by home cooked I mean ‘in the microwave’ … finally happy the fog and clouds seem to have cleared out for the day…

Until tomorrow

Rob