VENICE...the way you look in pictures and the way you really are...

So after Border Patrol Control men disembarked it took me forever to fall back asleep. But I did for a little while, but not enough to conquer jet lag. Man, that sure has a way of playing with your mind and body. Sleep deprivation is not a good thing. But we are drinking lots of bottled water and I’m taking homeopathic jet lag pills which seem to be working.

Customs set us behind about 20 min. and some people missed their connecting trains. We got our first look of Venice from the train Window.

It is interesting that the train comes right out across the ocean on a thin strip of land to allow us to arrive at Venice. It’s a hustle and bustle of activity from when we first walked out of the train station looking for where to go next. I was told it was a 5 min. walk, but it was actually just down a set of stairs from the entrance/exit of the train station to the public water taxi dock.

Then we had to decide which ticket to purchase, did they charge extra for bags and where to stand to wait for taxi. Well, what we found out is that it’s best to purchase a 48 hr pass and then we can take the public water taxi’s for free during that time period. And there is not a charge for amount of bags, even though it said the cost was 6.50 euro’s with one bag.

We also noticed that they do not check for tickets once you purchase them. You just hop on and off of taxis – it’s an honor system (or only stupid tourists pay). So we figured out the # system, it’s a lot like metro system. The lines go one direction and you hop on and wait till your stop which are labeled very easy to read. Our stop is Arsenole which is the stop before or after Piazza San Marco depending on which direction you are coming from. We are becoming experts. We had to use the boat system after wandering around and ending up on the other end of the island and deciding we were too tired to walk back…feet, heels, toes, toenails hurt LOL Back is fine though. Note to self bring gel inserts when traveling and walking, Our little apt is two walking bridges down from Piazza San Marco.

What we didn’t realize is that San Marco is VERY crowded and sort of ruins the look/feel that you see in all the pictures (where no people are present and it’s quite and serene). And we have to pass by the vendors saying “take this purse for only…” even on the little stair step bridges themselves….and who designed a bridge to have steps up and down…didn’t they think of us carrying our suitcases over them for goodness sake?

And speaking of weird things…there are a LOT of dogs here for being an island and since it’s mostly cobblestone streets (I’ve only seen a few little park areas) guess where we’ve seen dogs “do their job”, and owners not pick up. We even had a dog inside a restaurant with us today and they don’t have any issues with that either. Another interesting thing Deeanna and I were discussing during our evening chat was that there is graffiti everywhere…just like US…from Paris to Venice…only difference is that it is more artistic than most of ours. And last realization…we sure got looks when we pulled out phone to make phone call or Deeanna started texting on the boat, NO ONE has cell phones glued to their. We look like we are rich by just possessing one in Venice.

I LOVE the great photo opportunities…up to over 1,200 photos…little narrow side streets,

laundry hanging outside windows
 

and little cafe's everywhere along the water fronts

and the magnificent Churches and...

Of course the Gondolas

Who can forget the Rialto Bridge (vacant of people in picture but teaming with them in real life

Can't wait to explore the rest of the Island and the other Churches and Museums.  Such a cute little city. Tomorrow we will take the public boat to Murano Island for the hand blown glass blowing and this is where the street vendors are supposed to come in handy because you dicker with them to get the price you want and as you walk away they offer you a lower price because they know that you will purchase from the man down the street.

Next we will travel to Burano and Torcello one island is known for it’s lace making and one has a great low cost pasta restaurant per Marco, the man who we have the apt from. And just so you know, yes…the train porter was Marco, a different Marco owns our apt. and when the mother was calling for her son Marco Deeanna wanted to say “Polo”. LOL Just video Skype'd with Sara and Riley Rose.  She is now throwing her head back unexpectedly when being held.  What a sweetie.  Michael and Krista - please download Skype so I can talk with Micahel on his birthday tomorrow. Signing off from day one in Venice (Venezia). What a GREAT adventure.