Ciao Venice!
Highlights:
Every little street is a photo opportunity and I’ve resisted living with my phone in front of my face the whole time - but I have become that ‘nice canadian’ that takes pictures for random people.
Walking across the grand canal for the first time literally took my breath away, that’s never happened to me before.
Lessons:
Need to learn more Italian, I’m not doing well at all.
Remember always the water, especially before bed after drinking.
When your phone is buzzing funny, the charger you just bought may be exploding soon...
Well, what to tell you today? First day in Venice completo! (Yes my Italian is that bad)
I took off from the hostel early (seems like people like starting their day at 6am and I figure instead of trying to sleep through them getting ready I may as well make some noise too. Why would I sleep away a day in Italy? I’ll sleep at home.
Train station was a little overwhelming - why buy a ticket for a location and then have a different name for the train... only a 10 min ride to get to the island. Which was awesome. Getting to the grand canal was incredible. I only had one goal really for the day and that was to explore and make it to St Marks Square.
Along the way, I stopped for a coffee, took refuge in a church during a rain storm, almost got in trouble for climbing up some wooden stairs apparently I was not allowed to, found a little DaVinci Museum which was maybe not worth the 8€, and many slow walkers later, I’m in the square.
Wandered back to the hostel as I had signed up for a pub crawl. It was good... and that sums it up. When the group was asked where we were all from over half were American, the rest were British, handful of Canadians, and a few Brazilians. So, English speaking crowd! I met a few people, good chat with a Brit who I guessed at 28, he’s 18... he guessed me at 23 so. He grew up in Calgary actually and is currently on a gap year - I said how much money do you need for a while year?! He has £2000 and said that’s more than enough!?
20€, 5 shots and 3 beer later we are back at the hostel where they have a DJ awaiting for us, but my new goal was food. I hadn’t really eaten all day - I know... I’m in Italy and didn’t eat? What’s wrong with me?! Let me just say, the going standard is basically pizza, more pizza, pizza with thicker crust, and sandwiches with meat and cheese. Oh, and croissants! Croissants for days. Last thing I wanted in this muggy heat was bread... and only thing I wanted after a few drinks? Bread.
On the way out only a block away I saw a pizza place and made a mental note. So, off I go. I’m pretty confident and can hold my own but after about three different encounters within the block of men speaking Italian at me trying to ‘Bella Bella’ me, I figured pizza would have to wait. Poppa Billows voice in my subconscious saying ‘what the hell are you doing’. Got back safely, with a bag of chips :) and off to bed I went, sadly without the water.
Starting today off with a BIG breakfast.
Highlights:
Every little street is a photo opportunity and I’ve resisted living with my phone in front of my face the whole time - but I have become that ‘nice canadian’ that takes pictures for random people.
Walking across the grand canal for the first time literally took my breath away, that’s never happened to me before.
Lessons:
Need to learn more Italian, I’m not doing well at all.
Remember always the water, especially before bed after drinking.
When your phone is buzzing funny, the charger you just bought may be exploding soon...
Well, what to tell you today? First day in Venice completo! (Yes my Italian is that bad)
I took off from the hostel early (seems like people like starting their day at 6am and I figure instead of trying to sleep through them getting ready I may as well make some noise too. Why would I sleep away a day in Italy? I’ll sleep at home.
Train station was a little overwhelming - why buy a ticket for a location and then have a different name for the train... only a 10 min ride to get to the island. Which was awesome. Getting to the grand canal was incredible. I only had one goal really for the day and that was to explore and make it to St Marks Square.
Along the way, I stopped for a coffee, took refuge in a church during a rain storm, almost got in trouble for climbing up some wooden stairs apparently I was not allowed to, found a little DaVinci Museum which was maybe not worth the 8€, and many slow walkers later, I’m in the square.
Wandered back to the hostel as I had signed up for a pub crawl. It was good... and that sums it up. When the group was asked where we were all from over half were American, the rest were British, handful of Canadians, and a few Brazilians. So, English speaking crowd! I met a few people, good chat with a Brit who I guessed at 28, he’s 18... he guessed me at 23 so. He grew up in Calgary actually and is currently on a gap year - I said how much money do you need for a while year?! He has £2000 and said that’s more than enough!?
20€, 5 shots and 3 beer later we are back at the hostel where they have a DJ awaiting for us, but my new goal was food. I hadn’t really eaten all day - I know... I’m in Italy and didn’t eat? What’s wrong with me?! Let me just say, the going standard is basically pizza, more pizza, pizza with thicker crust, and sandwiches with meat and cheese. Oh, and croissants! Croissants for days. Last thing I wanted in this muggy heat was bread... and only thing I wanted after a few drinks? Bread.
On the way out only a block away I saw a pizza place and made a mental note. So, off I go. I’m pretty confident and can hold my own but after about three different encounters within the block of men speaking Italian at me trying to ‘Bella Bella’ me, I figured pizza would have to wait. Poppa Billows voice in my subconscious saying ‘what the hell are you doing’. Got back safely, with a bag of chips :) and off to bed I went, sadly without the water.
Starting today off with a BIG breakfast.
Breakfast at the Anda Venice Hostel. Free - because they messed up my booking - twice.
Seriously, this is real
My first glance of the Grand Canal, just wow.
There always seems to be someone singing not far away.
My coffee spot for the morning
Little unfinished drawing - only because I promised
Little magical moments like this, everywhere.
I believe this is part of the Doge’s Palace, where I hope to get into today or tomorrow.
Coffee in St Marks Square.
This is inside the coffee refuge church, I forget the name now but I will add shortly.
This very lovely and famous bridge that I should know the name of but I don’t was gorgeous.
The beginning of the end - our pub crawl group had 50+ people signed up. Made for a good (and very safe) night!
Papa Billows here. Have fun and I know my voice is always whispering in your ear. Have loads of fun. I am really enjoying the blog and the pictures (especially the drawings).
ReplyDelete