No cars are allowed in the city of Venice, which made it fun but also confusing if you get lost. When we got to the airport, we easily took a bus to outside the city, to the main car park and train station but once we got there it was tricky. I took a picture of a map and we basically just guessed how to get to our hostel. We were exhausted and seemed to be pretty lost, so we decided the eating of Italian food starts now and stopped for pizza. I ended up getting a calzone with cheese and tomatoes. It was truly incredible. The pizza gave us some more energy, and we turned three more corners and saw our hostel, A Venice Museum.
We rang the bell, and checked in. We looked at a map when we got inside and found out that we ended up taking the most direct route to the hostel from the train station. Pretty good. The hostel was very different from other ones we had been to, very relaxed and informal. They had a 5 euro dinner that reviews said were fun, so we bought wine and signed up for the meal. We looked at the book collection of things to do in Venice and planned out our day for tomorrow and then ate with a lot of other people staying there. The people who worked at the hostel were great and a lot of fun. We met a girl from Australia, Emma, who had been travelling for a long time and she was really nice. She was in Venice alone because her friends had missed their bus to meet her, so I’m sure she was happy to meet us as well. The dinner was a three-course meal including pasta, sausage and mashed potatoes, and dessert. Really good! The people who worked at the hostel took us to a local bar. There were about 10 of us from the hostel that went with him and we each got a shot that was ordered for us by the hostel guy.. Kelly, Maggie, Alex, Barb and I headed back early because we were exhausted and wanted the full day for tomorrow.
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Our first order of business was to go on a gondola ride. We rode past Napolean’s house and the oldest part of the city. I couldn’t believe the way Venice was set up. It was amazing that the houses and other building are literally right along the water. The canals were really narrow, and before every corner our gondola rower would sing out that we were turning the corner. He also sang “if the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that’s amore” which we all loved.
He dropped us off near San Marcos Square, which is where we were able to see the Bell Tower, the San Marcos Basilica. On our way we stopped for breakfast pastries and cappuccino. The best cappuccino I’ve ever had. We walked around San Marcos square taking lots of pictures and taking in the sun near the canal at the edge of the square. It was pretty amazing to see all the boats around and that every mode of transportation was on foot or via the water. I liked it a lot.
We met up with Mark and Evan and went to Osteria ae Spezie for lunch. We had bread and olive oil to start and then I orderd cannelloni. It was SO amazing and delicious. I don’t think I ever want to leave Italy.
With our full stomachs, we walked back to San Marcos and I fell asleep laying near the canal in the sun. It was so relaxing and a perfect setting. After saying goodbye to Mark and Evan we headed to a gelato shop and pizza shop near the Rialto Bridge. Rialto Bridge is one of the only bridges that has stores on either side of it, all the way across. From the bridge, there was a great view of the city.
We headed back to the hostel for the same 5 euro dinner that was pasta, quiche, and strawberry cake. We met Emma’s friends who finally made it to Venice and we went out to a bar with them. Maggie made the mistake of drinking with the Aussies and they loved her enthusiasm. Who can't drink a shot from a straw?!
Our flight was early in the morning and we are heading to ROME!
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