If you still remember, we ended up in Venice one day later than planned because F got our flight date mixed up. So after spending a night in Bristol, I had a Nando's brunch at Cabot Circus (that's just opposite where we stayed) and shopped a little the next day. Sidetracking, that was my first Nando's meal... and I liked it pretty much!
The shuttle bus took us to Bristol Airport, and after checking in, we waited for my first Ryan Air flight to depart. Passengers are allowed to bring only one hand-carry baggage onboard, and this policy was enforced kinda strictly. The interior of the plane was not exactly what you'd call clean; I spotted some suspicious-looking substance that's been hardened over time on the fold-in tray table surface, and several grimy-looking stains on the back of seats, windows. The stewardesses were plump 40 to 50 year-old ladies who looked rather grumpy in their bright blue uniforms, and once in a while, they seemed to have some problems making their ways through the seat aisles without getting stuck somewhere in between. After this flight, I cannot justify grouses that people make about Jetstar and Tiger Air anymore.
We arrived at Treviso Airport after a 3 - 4 hour flight, and a surge of warm air greeted us (something different from the UK coolness). Oh, along the way, I noticed we'd flew past the Alps, looking postcard-worthy, even from a few thousand feet up in the air. Bought a ticket from the airport shuttle bus counter and finally arrived at the outskirts of Venice 45 minutes later. No land vehicles are allowed in Venice itself, so from the bus termini, we had to cross a bridge that linked mainland Veneto to Venice.
Before we got to Europe, I've been reading about how locals (in Italy especially, not true) don't really give two hoots to tourists and will treat you like dirt if you can't speak the language that they speak. Accounts of mainly disgruntled tourists. Just because you are always smiley-faced towards tourists in your country does not mean that people in foreign lands practise that too; it's really just too bad if you are constantly thinking "These people are so rude, we never do this to visitors back home" instead of taking all those wonderful sights, sounds and smells around you.
I couldn't help but chuckle whenever communication problems arose due to language barriers; locals start talking louder and gesturing boldly in the hope that you'd be able to understand what they're trying to say. These scenes are quite comical and I grinned to myself (like an idiot) quite often.
Anyway, as no land vehicles are allowed in Venice (I don't even remember spotting a bicycle around), the locals rely heavily on the water transportation system. Boats (including water taxis and police speedboats) and gondolas cruise the narrow waterways as well as the Grand Canal everyday; it's always a busy scene on the waters. Once goods/produce/what-nots have been moved onto land (see above), you'll see good-looking young men (mostly) pushing them around the little walkways in trolleys, towards different destinations.
F, taking a picture of St Mark's Basilica
Countless tourists in front of the basilica
St Mark's Square; I go dizzy recalling the crazy crowds that we jostled with
I've said this numerous times and I'll say it again, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of crowds, not especially when it's 30-odd degrees Celcius in the day and everyone is stuck on a little island surrounded by water and there's not a lot of places to escape to. But there was no escaping the crowds, because 1) Venice is one of the most touristy places in the world (period) and 2) summer break. Sorry F if I'd been a grumpy bitch (I don't really remember being one, but just in case!) along the way, I blame the crowds, and the weather. But crowds mainly. I'll learn to deal with them better soon, I promise!
ambulanza speedboat
To combat the heat, we had gelato; lots and lots of it. I think Venice was where we had the largest amount of ice-cream/ice-cream-related-food-item in our Europe trip. They were often 1-1.50 Euros per scoop and always delicious. I can't remember how many fragola, cioccolato, caramello or pistachio cones we had in total during the 2-day span in Venice. I love yummy and cheap gelato!
Elderly couple onboard a gondola
In case you're wondering, we did not go onboard one of those gondolas. Shoestring travellers mah, we didn't even bothered asking for the rates. I just did a quick google search and saw that it costs about 80 euros for a 40-minute ride if you were to go on the ones meant for tourists. But there's also the cheaper alternative (0.50 euros only!), a public gondola that the locals utilise; that will allow you to cross the Grand Canal at the many points along the main street. Should have done a little more research before we arrived in Venice, dang!
Rialto Market
another scene at Rialto Market
No great shots of the market stalls because I was too paiseh to stand right in front of them without making any purchases; now I'm starting to hate myself a little for that. I promise I will be a little more buay paiseh and thick-skinned in future! The produce that were sold looked really fresh, and the variety is so much greater than what I'd seen back in Portsmouth's markets. I loved the smells of the fruits, oozing through the skins that's keeping them in and I loved the vibrant hues of greens, reds and yellows.
Typing out this entry's made me realize that I haven't spent enough time here, and now I have a deep yearning to do a few things; namely to get back to Venice, hop on board a water-taxi that would take me to see the colourful houses of Burano, have some sweet shrimp (why did I only have to read about Venetian seafood being one of the best and freshest around the world only now) and seafood for dinner.
I hope I get to visit Venice again someday..
teeny with the Grand Canal
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