ARRIVING IN VENICE

So before last year, I had absolutely no idea what Venice was going to be like. But last year, when we spent 6 weeks in Austria, we ended up taking that bus over for the day (4 hours over, walking all day, and 4 hours back)- so I knew that there was this freeway that was built out into the water connecting the mainland of Italy to Venice—but what I didn’t realize until yesterday was that the train ran RIGHT next to the freeway- because after cutting up the direct center of Italy through all this beautiful Tuscan landscape- we ended up cutting right out into the water over the Adriatic Sea and pulling up into a beautiful train station RIGHT on the Grand Canal. It couldn’t be more convenient.

I also knew to expect complete chaos when we got there with people speaking tons of different languages and going in as many directions. But I think it helped to be finishing three weeks of already haven been in Italy; we were pretty much already used to the chaos—This isn’t the greatest picture in the world but its kind of fun cause it shows how you first see the Grand Canal- as soon as you get off at the train station you need to get into these water taxis that I think they spell “Traghettos”. Honestly- its awful to say, but when I see these things go by all I can think of is the boat people that you see landing in Florida- people are just CRAMMMMMMMED into these things- and at 6.50 Euros a ride you think the accommodations would be a little better- but they aren’t. Still they are a ‘walk in the park’ compared to the Rome subway system (but I’m not bitter)- Fortunately our ride was only about 10-15 minutes. We are staying at a place that Rick Steve’s recommended and of all our accommodations in Italy, this one is the most sketchy. But eh- its ok. The location is really nice. It is located on the backside of Venice which means that about a block from our place is a beautiful wide walkway called The Zattere- the sunsets are beautiful and there is actually room to walk unlike the Grand Canal which doesn’t really have nice walkways, and is JAMMMMMED with people. - The canal is called The Giudecca Canal- its actually bigger than the Grand Canal.