Aug 5 - Venice - History | Day 1 Intro to sailing

Highlights

Stone pizza in the marina

Roof top view of St Marks Square

The original drawings of geometric designs for St Marks tilefloorinf

Lessons

Bug spray! Winning

Always buy the guided tour

Don’t trust google maps

Last day in Venice, bittersweet. Main goals for the day were to see the Doge’s Palace and St Marks Basilica - great success on both notes. Other goal was to purchase my first piece of Murano glass - failed on this one but I might have to go back so, we shall see.

Started off the day early with some laundry and breakfast at the hostel. Packed my bag - I’m getting really good at that - and made my way to Venice. Dropped my bags at the train station and water taxi over to St Marks. I’m extremely happy that I walked the first few days but man was I excited to take the water taxi today. My legs are sore - this is also due to a battle I had with an elevator... which I lost.

Buying my tickets ahead of time - GENIUS. No line up, and well, what can I really say. It was all just an amazing experience, I felt a little rushed but I’m happy I made it work and that I went today. Monday’s are not as busy - apparently 5-6 cruise ships come through on Sundays.

I don’t think any description can really do, so I’ll leave explanations with the pictures below.

After St Marks, I swore I knew where the glass shop I had found the perfect little piece was... What I actually found out, quite quickly, is that retracing your steps is not so easy. I’m sure I was close, but I was running out of time so I had to catch the water taxi back to the train. Retrieved my bag and I was off again on the taxi to the island of Certosa. This I didn’t realize was almost an hour boat ride... meaning I was now going to be really late.

Then I figured - not much more I can do. Messaged the Skipper of our tour and made sure he was in the know. I arrived at Certosa and went to look again at my map but saw the location was actually at the next stop! What!? How did I mess that up (Moose, if you’re reading this, I know already what you’re thinking ‘you fucked it up, big time’. Well, my ticket for the bus has expired, I see no ticket station on this little island, frantically I’m trying to pay for one online when the Skipper messages me back saying - ‘no, Certosa stop is correct’ and sends me his location. Turns out, I’m in the right spot after all. Thankfully before I went through buying another ticket.

Meet the group! 45 minutes late - which I found out later another girl was 30 mins late. For the 8 person boat we only have 4! This makes me happy, not as busy. What also makes me happy is that it is 4 other single women! This makes it a little less intimidating - all in the same boat - that pun is for you Becky.

Three teachers. One British, and the two are American and travelling together. We go through a briefing of sorts and we are off to the boat! It’s amazing, we get a tour and are assigned our rooms. Mine is at the back of the boat, single room. The other rooms have bunk beds. We settle in, get a training session on throwing ropes to dock and knotting the buoys and then we are off to dinner! Recommended by the Skipper (Jose), a little pizza place on the island. Wow, the perfect end to the day and the most perfect pizza and a perhaps even more perfect sunset.

Daily we are given a brief of what will happen tomorrow - so we depart at 7 for Grado estimated arrival is 1pm. I’m on a boat!

The jail within the Doge’s Palace

View from the top of St Marks Basilica towards the ocean

It’s directed towards the fish, Pisces

Inside the Palace - my favorite part of historic architecture are the entry ways and Windows - so detailed and beautiful with the glass and wooden details.