So I jumped on the train in Verona bound for Venice and it turned out that I took the wrong train! When I went to the platform that the guy told me to go to when I got him to change my tickets to an earlier train, the guys at that platform said that the trains there weren't going to Venezia but were instead bound for Roma. So I left and found the train going to Venice or so I thought. The whole platform was deserted so I just jumped on the train. My ticket had an allocated seat but the train didn't have numbered seats. I didn't think much of it as the other passengers were also expecting to go to Venice. About twenty minutes into the journey, this lady came around to check everyone's tickets and she said to me - You are on the wrong train. I had a huge heart attack and said is this not bound for Venice? She said yes but you are on the wrong train. That was when I clicked. The train I paid for was the fast expensive train. The train I got on was the regional slow train, the equivalent of the local bus. I had time to kill anyway so it didn't matter. It was a timely lesson too because it ensured that I wouldn't make the same mistake on the way back when I actually have a plane to catch! So I ended up arriving in Venice at the original expected time of around 9 pm.
I woke up bright and early the next day and managed to stumble in the right direction and found the right bus that took me to Venice. I stayed on the mainland as I was too cheapskate to stay in actual Venice. The bus was only Eur1.50 or so and took about 20 minutes so it was handy. It took me to the edge of the island and from there onwards, I had to leg it as Venice is a car-less floating city. It was quite weird because you don't notice it. I guess the lack of vehicle activities is made up with activities on the water.
First shot of water, bridge and building which made me squealed out loud. By the end of the second day, I was getting slightly jaded by all the beauty around me.
Crossing the Rialto Bridge, bound for St Mark's Square. Venice is made up of a maze of alleyways which I love but it is so easy to get distracted and lost. It was meant to take me half an hour to get from the bus stop to St Mark's Square but in reality, it took about 2 hours when you take into account my constant ability of getting lost and my constant need to stop and eat.
Also discovered the art functions in my camera so I had a field day playing with all the different setups.
Finally made it to St Marks' Square and I was underwhelmed. Yes yes it's huge, yes yes it's gorgeous. Yes yes Napoleon called it the finest drawing room in Europe but meh, it's so touristy. Give me the charming back alleyways anytime of the day.
I was dressed in shorts so I didn't bother going into Basilica San Marco.
Neither did I sit down at one of the cafes in the square and listen to live music while sipping on my Eur10 coffee.
Basilica San Marco is Byzantine which means it's made with mosaics. Byzantine this byzantine that. I'm so bored with mosaics hehehehe. Such a brat.
Anyway as I was dressed inappropriately for church, I went to check out Doge's Palace, Palazzo Ducale, instead.. the real thing, not the fake one in Vegas and Macau... although I have seen both of those as well hehe. The museum used to be the residence of the Doge (Duke) of Venice.
The guidebook said to get there early to avoid missing out on seeing stuff as it is jam packed full of interesting things to see. I was done in under an hour. What can I say... hehehe i'm hard to impress. Besides, you can't take photographs once you are inside the museum so I lost interest.
Gawdy gold staircase that led to the entrance of the museum.
I basically power walked through countless of rooms full of old paintings with obscure hidden meanings and ended up at the old prisons which were more interesting to me.
A corridor leads over the Bridge of Sighs which links the Palace with the prisons. Enclosed and completely covered on both sides, the bridge contains two separate corridors that run next to each other. It's called the Bridge of Sighs because reputedly the condemned would sigh at their last glimpse of sky and sea as they crossed the bridge.
Photo taken from the Bridge of Sighs of the hoardes of crowds taking a photo of the famous bridge haha.
Close up of the Bridge of Sighs.
After ticking that off, it was time for aimless wanderings along the canals and in the back alleyways. Venice is so freaking charming. So were the Venetians.
I was too cheap to pay for a gondola just for myself. I might spring for one when I go back with the parents.
The Rialto Bridge crosses the Grand Canal at its narrowest point and is only one of 4 bridges that crosses the Grand Canal even though there are hundreds of bridges in Venice.
Romantic shot.
Lunch was squid ink pasta which is a Venetian specialty apparently. I prefer my spaghetti vongole in all honesty.
Time for a gelato... can't remember what flavours I got.
Super adorable shop 'front'. Super expensive prices too.
Bridge with No Parapet - one of the only two remaining bridges with no side protection.
Venice at dusk....
Time for me to head back to the bus stop. Good night, Venezia.
