Italy Trip - Part 3
That was when we just stepped out of the train station in Venice. I'm on the extreme right. Yup with the smallest bag. I believe in travelling light. Haha.
That night we were in 1 star hotel. wow, 1 star. Never thought I would actually end up in a 1 star. Wasnt too bad la. 5 guys in 1 room, and the couple in another. Looks like hotel 81 according to someone. Haha. We had an attached toilet n shower. But I would say it really 1 star water pressure, and 1 star hot water. It wasnt even warm.
Didnt really walked much that night. So, next day. Woke up to find a small fish market right outside our hotel! Its really cool actually, and it was so fresh, the food of coz.
If u look hard, in the background, there is a head of a swordfish, with a very long sword. Damn cool.
We woke up late actually, so the couple left first. I had a crabmeat sandwich with real crab meat in it! Seafood is suppose to be good in Venice.
We bought a day ticket for the boat, obviously there is no buses in Venice, only boats. Which basically replaces the bus.
Venice is actually built like that, on more than 100 islands. No idea what's the purpose though. But it was a major sea power long time ago. Transportation is obviously by foot or boat. The most car-free area in europe. It also has an aging population, with majority of the population over 50. The younger people we see dont live in Venice, but outside Venice. Also, Venice was the first place to have a Ghetto. Which all the Jews were confined to. Apparently, they are really not well liked at all. Cool huh, but we didnt check it out.
So it famous Gondolas, is damn nice, and damn ex too. like USD 100 something like that. The major attraction there is St. Mark's Basilica. Also the resting place of St. Mark himself. The basilica like any other I've seen is very beautiful, with elaborate cravings and paintings. The inside is not a breath taking as others like St. Peter's. But what is truely amazing about this Basilica is its ceilings, something like 6000 cubic meters of mosaics, and the background of it is usually gold. So when u look up, the ceiling is glittering with gold. No pics allowed there, so no pics to share. Outside the St. Mark's Basilica is the St. Mark's Square. And there are like a thousand and one pigeons there. And people just love it. There are some locals selling seeds to dumb tourists to feed the even more dumb pigeons. And hope not to get shit from these disease carrying birds. But it was fun la! Haha.
cute pigeons.
a pic of St. Mark's Basilica outside the main church.
Then it was off to Rialto Bridge. The biggest canal in Venice is called Canal Grande, and there are only 3 bridges that goes across it. Weird. And this bridge is the most famous. And like Florence, it has shops on it too. And lots of shops around. So it was shopping n shopping for us.
Santa Gondoliers under the Rialto Bridge. How cute.
super huge chocolate!
That night was 24 Dec, Chrismas Eve! So what was I doing when the clock struck 12? Partying somewhere? Or at some outdoor celebration of the birth of Christ? Nope. I was on my bed, in a 1 Star hotel room, drinking super cheap sparkling wine, watching a movie starring Andy Lau and listening to the church bells ring. Unlike Singapore, Italy is missing that Christmas spirit which we are used to having. The Italians apparently just stay at home on Christmas and be with family.
So next day we were off to Rome.
And we were sure we didnt miss the train again. haha.
Back there we visited the Colosseum. Night version.
and a gelato
with some famous building behind.
And then it was another mad rush to the airport. And on the bus on the tarmac, we found out that the plane has been delayed for 5 hours. Damned budget airlines.
The last pic of Rome, for my window seat.
keith at 10:30 PM
1 bullcrap Post a Comment
***