Buongiorno All,
Noticed that Italian language is quite similar to Spanish yet found that French is quite different to both. Why? Have to check up on that one. Don’t have any internet connection. Wiki where are you in my time of need?
Well not quite to plan today. Got up for an early train to Padova to get accommodation then onto Venice. Problem was that our hotel manager wasn’t out of bed yet but we got him moving by pressing the outside bell. He greeted us in his pyjamas and handed us back our passports. A long walk back to the train station with the same old complaints and comments flowing ‘my pack is too heavy’ ‘your pack hasn’t changed weight you have lost weight and therefore are weaker’,,,,,, then onto the train. Only a short trip to Padova with castles on just about every hill along the way.
The tourist information centre person at the railway station was not so enthusiastic as she was in the middle of reading the newspaper which was clearly more interesting than telling tourists the same information for the billionth time but she begrudgingly took mercy on us and gave us a map. We apologised for interrupting on the way out for the first time but didn’t for the second and third times when asking for directions and the nearest supermarket.
Found a one star hotel on the wrong side of the railway tracks for a mere 50 euros dropped off our bags then were back at the station and onto the train minutes later.
I was surprised to see large luxury liners docked right near Venice. Surprised as I didn’t expect that such large ships could get so close to the area.
Only a short ride later costing 2.8 euro each and we were standing in the long line at the venice tourist information centre. Venice gets an average 20 million tourists a year so lines are enviable but never a good sign. A while later we were shocked when told that maps were 2.5 Euros and the venice card was going to be 78 Euros each. We bought the map and got the expensive 6.5 euro tickets for the ferry up the grand canal to piazza san marco then hopped on the overcrowded ferry for the ride.
Venice is so full of tourists which really makes it a hard place to enjoy and to make it worse many of them are from the country that should be embarrassed to be seen in public after the world economic crash but it doesn’t seem to have affected them or their spirits.
We wandered around Venice and found that it was mostly just a lot of overpriced shops contained within a maze of buildings, lanes and canals. A group of musicians was playing ‘phantom of the opera’ in san marco square which was nice but it wasn’t enough. Venice lacked excitement and felt like a giant tourist park or tourist trap. Sure there were a lot of beautiful buildings and art but these can be found in many cities. Not good enough for us to open our wallets. It was however great to watch the super touristy gondolas going along the canals but at 80 plus euros for 40 minutes (or just over 1 nights accommodation) we weren’t tempted. We did however give in on the ice cream and shared a single scoop cone while sitting on a quiet bridge over a canal away from the main tourist route.
Another matter of annoyance was the cost of toilets. The extortionate price was 1.5 euro or AUD3 for the pleasure. No way. Hope that no one drinks that ‘beer’ left in the plastic cup in the corner of a lonely backstreet.
We walked back to the grand canal and bridge near the train station then sat for a while eating afternoon tea and watching the boats and other tourists.
During the day we saw tourists struggling with their suitcases as they stepped them up and down the bridges while navigating Venice to save using the expensive water transport but the best was late in the day with two high maintenance girls in very short dresses dragging their large suitcases up the bridge over the grand canal. Wonder whether they were thinking ‘what a romantic city’ at that time?
We headed back to Padova quite disappointed with Venice. Maybe it was the money grab or the number of tourists but we will be at Padova tomorrow rather than returning to Venice.
Arrivederci,
David and Vanessa
