Venice
I woke up at 6:30 this morning because the god of holidays seems to hate me. I lounged around on the internet waiting for it to be eight o'clock so that I could have breakfast. Eight came and went so I decided to get dressed. At nine o'clock I decided that I couldn't wait any longer. I figured that I could just ask for my breakfast to go. I went downstairs and was taken to the restaurant next door for breakfast. It was a buffet, and I was excited. I got a croissant which I covered in nutella, some orange juice, really strong coffee with milk and three sugars, some toast with strawberry jam, and two thin pieces of cake with chocolate chips. I tried not to rush my breakfast, but I was too excited to get on the road. I grabbed a warm roll to go and started for my day. People kept looking at me as I walked down the street munching on my bread. My coat and scarf were covered in crumbs that I kept brushing away. I guess people don't eat while they walk in Venice.
I've been reading about Venice on a tourist site, and it says that you should buy a map. I'm a Parisienne.; I rely on street signs and help from strangers. I figured that if I got desperately lost then I'd buy a map. I started walking where I had explored yesterday and started to follow the signs to the Rialto Bridge and San Marco Square. Venice is covered in yellow signs that point to the major landmarks. The arrows point down all sorts of twisty, sketchy streets, but you just keep following the arrows until you get there.
I walked along until I spotted a glass shop and went in. I love glass. I could buy a million glass items and never get sick of them. I picked out some gifts and then walked a few minutes until I spotted another glass shop. This time I bought myself the flower ring that I've been dying to get. I've been in love with a certain complex flower pattern ever since I saw the paper weight version made on How It's Made. I figured that I would never get to own one, but then I saw the perfect ring in the store and I just had to buy it. I can't stop wearing it.
I stopped my shopping for a bit and found my way to the Rialto Bridge. It's not that fantastic, but it's Venice so it's beautiful. I took some pictures and kept walking. While I was walking I stumbled upon a lace store. I really wanted to buy Italian lace while I'm here, and I leaped into the store the second I saw it. I ended up buying two lace circular pieces for me and mom, a handkerchief with yellow flowers on it for me, and two initialed pocket squares for dad and franny. They are all handmade and absolutely beautiful. I just had to have them. I happily walked along the tiny streets swinging my bag of goodies.
The Rialto Bridge. I had to see it; I am from a city named after it.
Before I got to the bridge I noticed streets that were flooding. I just walked around the incoming tide and kept moving. I knew that I had reached San Marco Square when I saw an entire plaza covered in water. Tourists in boot covers were splashing around in the water and taking pictures in chairs from cafes that were floating in the plaza. I took a picture of a shop that had entirely flooded near the square. I thought about going in, but I like having dry feet a little too much. I still wanted to see the square so I started shopping around for boot covers. They range between 8-10 euros. Not worth it.
A flooded restaurant near the canal
See where the boats are? The water in forefront of the picture is in the plaza
Venice
I walked back to the bridge and walked along the canal taking lots of pictures. I've realized that all of Venice is made up of tiny, sketchy alleys and that you just have to walk down them to get anywhere. I wound up lost in some alley and back tracked my way to the canal. I figured that I should start heading back to my hotel. Venice is tricky business to navigate so I figured that I would need about an hour to walk back to the hotel. I turned around and started to retrace my steps. I kept winding up in the same square over and over again but couldn't find my way out of it. I wound up at the fish market in the St. Sophie area and was getting more desperately lost by the second.
I finally found my way out and headed towards Roma Plaza and something else that starts with an "f". I remembered seeing signs for them as I walked towards the Rialto Bridge, and I thought that I'd just find my way there and then ask how to get to the train station. I knew that I could find the hotel from the train station. I twisted down alleys following the yellow signs towards the plaza. I got lost in one plaza and asked a man which direction to take. He told me to walk straight. I picked up the signs soon enough and found my way to the train station! I was so proud of myself. It was just a five minute walk back to the hotel. I got upstairs and sat on the bed for a bit. My legs are terribly sore from all of the walking I've been doing and I wanted to put down my bag.
I sat for a few minutes before leaving again. I went in search of gelato. I wound my way down the streets until I cam across a gelato store. I paid 1,50 for a cone of panna cotta. I don't even eat panna cotta, but I figured that I'd try it. It was delicious. There were tons of caramel swirls in it. I ate my cone while walking towards the Rialto Bridge. I wanted to go see if the water in San Marco Square had receeded. To my surprise the water was entirely gone save a few puddles. I'm so glad that I got to see the church. It is beautiful. I took some pictures of the church and then continued to the waterfront. I walked along for awhile taking pictures before I headed back.
I got in line to see the church and watched one of the workers sweep water out of the front door with a broom while I waited. I loved the decoration of the church, but it was too dark inside to really see anything. I can never get enough of churches in Europe.
I left the square and started to walk back to my hotel. As luck would have it, I managed to walk back to the hotel using exactly the same route that I had used earlier in the day. I've become such a good navigator in Europe. I got back to the hotel and curled up in bed. My legs still hurt, and I haven't walked in almost six hours. I watched the new episodes of people's court, and went out to find dinner at about five when my stomach started to growl.
I walked to the bakery that I went to last night, but it didn't have any bread and wasn't selling the pizza that I bought last night. I kept walking until I found a little pizza stand with calzones in the display. I looked at the options, but they had all ham in them. I then saw one that had chicken, mushrooms, and cheese in it and decided to buy that one. I ordered it and tacked on a "s'il vous plaît" by accident. I can't speak properly in any language now! I'm always mixing languages. I was a little embarrassed, but the man seemed unphased as he heated up my dinner and packed it up for me.
I came back to the hotel for my feast. The calzone was filled with cheese and was one of the best things that I've had on holiday. I might get another tomorrow.
Tomorrow I'm taking a boat to Murano to see the glass making factories. I'm excited.
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