of course a bridge

I'm in Venice. I'm never leaving.

I woke up this morning to the sound of my alarm. Today was finally the day that I left Rome, and I couldn't be more ready. I checked facebook for awhile before getting up to get ready. I was just getting up when I heard the distinct crackling of heavy rain outside. It was pouring. For some reason this fact didn't phase me much so I continued my morning as usual. I had already packed everything up last night so I'd have a stress free morning. I got dressed and went down for breakfast before I got myself to the train station. Since the rain was so heavy the cafe at the park was closed. I was directed to go to the cafe one door down.

I got to the cafe and handed my breakfast card to the woman sitting at the cash register. She was too involved in her text message to even acknowledge me, and the woman behind the counter wasn't much better. She told me what my breakfast options were, and I picked out a pastry out of the display case and ordered a cappucino. It was the best decision I've made in awhile. The flaky pastry was filled with really thick chocolate that kept falling out everywhere. It was so delicious and sweet that I couldn't help but smile to myself as I crouched at a table in the corner. I got my coffee and put in two packets of sugar. The foam is so thick in cappucinos in Rome that I ended up eating the foam and sugar at the bottom of my glass with a spoon. Despite the rain I was in a great mood and having an excellent morning.

I went back to the hotel and got my bags. I then proceeded to start to walk to the tram stop. I stopped on the way to get a piece of bread from a bakery that I had kept passing. I tried to open the door, but European doors still confuse me. The workers inside came to open the door for me and I went inside. I picked out a piece of bread that had rosemary and salt on it that said that it was 1,20. It ended up being 37 cents. It was still warm as I shoved it into my purse, and I kinda regretted not eating it then. Warm bread is the best bread.

I walked to the tram stop and wasn't even upset when a car totally splashed me and my luggage. The tram came and I got on. It wasn't full at all today and I was able to get a seat. We got to Manzoni and I got off in the pouring rain. I got splashed again as I was waiting to cross the street. No worries. I carried myself and my luggage into the metro station and tried to put my ticket into the ticket reader. It kept denying my ticket and I was confused as to why. I just happened to read the ticket, and it turns out that tickets for the Roman metro system expire after some amount of hours. It's definitely less than 24. I stood by the gate for awhile thinking that I'd slip in when one of the gates didn't close. Paris really is turning me into a criminal. I didn't think it was right that I should pay again when I hadn't used the ticket at all. In the metro in Rome there is a surveillance booth right next to the ticket gates. I went around to the door and told the man that I hadn't used the ticket and asked if there was anything he could do. He told me it wasn't a problem, stamped the ticket, and told me that he'd open the first gate for me. Life was working out in my favor.

I got on the metro, which surprisingly wasn't crowded, and got off at Termini. I had a little trouble finding where the high speed trains were departing, but I eventually found it. It was only nine and my train wasn't departing until 10:30. I sat on a bench for awhile then decided to talk a walk around the station. That area of the station had clothing stores and other shops (it even had a grocery store) just like an airport. I looked around in some clothing stores, and even tried on a shirt, but I didn't buy anything. At 9:30 I went to the area where trains departed from and stood looking at the board. My train finally popped up on the board and I went to track two to get on the train.

This train wasn't like the train I took to get to Rome. This had pods of four seats facing each other and was definitely not as nice of a train as the last one. I had settled into my seat when a young couple sat across from me. I ignored them while I got my books out of my carry on bag. I had put all of my books and my laptop into the bag so that I could do my work on the train. It turns out that the bag isn't waterproof and everything inside was wet. My poor books were wet, but I was really worried about my computer. I took it out and turned it on. It was fine. I moved all of my electronics into my purse and set my books on the table in front of me to dry.

I was sitting there dismayed about my books when I noticed the couple making out. They were being all sorts of gross and I felt myself getting really angry about it. I was going to be on the train for six hours and I couldn't watch them do that for the whole trip! I tried to give them the side eye so that they'd stop, but they weren't getting the hint. The train left the station and within five minutes I had yelled at them to cool their jets. The stopped and I tried to read about Sacré Coeur and the Eiffel Tower for histories. I suddenly didn't feel like reading. I would read a few pages and then take a break to look at the window. After a bit I ate my bread. It was delicious. After some more breaks I finally finished my reading and spent the last four hours of the trip staring out the window. The couple eventually got off the train, but their disgusting memory has yet to leave me.

When they left I took some time to sort out my soggy life. My poor Poe book now has wavy edges; battle scars from its trip to Europe. I also took off my socks and boots (I know, gross) so that they could try to dry for a few minutes in front of the air vent. Almost everything in my bag was pretty soggy but nothing was ruined. Let's fast forward to getting to Maestre.

I got off the train and had to figure out how to get myself from Maestra to Venice Santa Lucia train station. I wandered around the station for a bit before I found a ticket machine. I was too confused to get on the train going to Venice Santa Lucia that was right next to me; it pulled away just as I figured it out. I then went downstairs to find which track another train to Venice would be leaving from; they leave every few minutes. I found another track and stood there with a large group of people. I disrobed from my hat and scarf and pulled some sour gummy worms out of my bag while a guy obviously stared at me. I should have ciaoed him; he was pretty cute.

A train pulled up and I didn't think that it was the train I wanted. It was early and no one was on it. I walked all the way to the end trying to find a worker, but no one was to be found. I got on and asked a man if the train was going to Venice Santa Lucia. He understood what I said just as I was reaching for the ticket in my bag. He said yes and I sat down. A minute later a girl got on and tried to ask me in Italian if the train was going to Santa Lucia. I told her that I thought so. One second later two English speaking girls got on the train. The four of us chatted about if it was the right train and how we'd know when we were approaching our stop.

It just so happens that the train announced that we were arriving at our destination. I got off the train just as it started to rain again. Not a good sign considering that I still had to find my hotel and it was already dark. Venice is beautiful! The train station is right on the canal and the air smells of slightly clorinated water. The buildings were even beautiful in the darkness. I was so excited to be in Venice that I almost forgot that I was lost.

 I went outside and made a right. I tried to ask a woman for directions but she told me in Spanish that she's also a tourist. I kept walking until I found some young adults who had clipboards. I asked one of the girls if she knew how to find my hotel and she got a boy to come over and help. He gave me great instructions, but didn't know the final few locations. I thanked him and went over the bridge.


I got lost for a second, but found my way to the second to last direction. I then asked a couple on the street if they knew where the hotel was. They told me no but that I should ask one of the shop owners. I just so happened to look up to see a small sign for my hotel a few feet from me. I was informed as I checked in that the canal is going to flood tomorrow so I can't go to the cafe for breakfast. I was then told that I would have breakfast brought to my room between eight and nine tomorrow.

I came upstairs, put down my bags, and immediately went out to explore for a bit before it got too late. I wandered up the street looking at shops with pretty things in the windows. I was mostly looking for dinner but didn't really feel like anything on the menus of the restaurants I passed. While I was looking around I came upon a glass shop with pretty things made of glass in the window. I went inside and immediately felt the need to buy everything. I picked out a ring shaped like a white daisy, a multi colored circular ring, a necklace with a large black and gold pendant, a small square keychain with gold streaks, and two small pairs of pink and gold earrings. While the man was wrapping up my purchases I noticed glass rods and a torch burning on his table. It turns out that he mades everything himself. He was fasely advertising that it was Murano glass, but I didn't care. His work is beautiful. I took myself and my 27 euros of shopping out the door within ten minutes.

I looked around for awhile more until I came to a bakery. I got a slice of pizza with garlic and onions on it and immediately started eating it the second I left the bakery. It was perfectly salty deliciousness. I found a tabacchi nearby that sells postcards and stamps and has a mailbox, and I also found some other cute stores selling glass. I found one that I really liked but I didn't like the man working there. Too bad. I feel like Venice is going to be a huge spending spree for me. I want to buy every piece of glass that I see!

I walked around for a bit and crossed a few bridges before it started to sprinkle. I somehow managed to get lost in a two square foot area and started to kinda freak out. Venice is scary at night. The water looks menacing, and all of the small streets are very dark and empty. I found my way back to a landmark and came back to my hotel. I've been here ever since.

I can't wait to go out tomorrow. I don't even care if I don't see St. Mark's square. I'm so excited to walk around and explore the neighborhoods! This is going to be great. I love Venice already.

Also, it turns out that I didn't see the Trevi fountain when I was in Rome. I don't feel too disappointed, the fountain is covered in scaffolding and doesn't have any water in it.

**oh, I forgot to tell you yesterday. I saw a girl with an "oh là là" sweatshirt on the metro and I laughed for a little too long. You know you live in Paris when you know what that phrase actually means.