Venice - Day 1: Poor Wondering One

Ciao!

After breakfast at the hotel in Rome this morning, I hopped a cab to the train station.  Before I left, in the breakfast room were these two prints I took a picture of.

My cab driver was a woman, I don't know why I'm mentioning it, but I just am.  Cab fare was 1/2 of what I paid going from the terminal to the hotel.  What's up with that?  Anyway, I got to the station and was rather early.  There really isn't anywhere to sit there, so I hung out and waited.  Finally, my platform was listed and I was on the train and on my way. 

I was sitting alone until Florence, where a bunch of people got on.  Then I had a seat mate.  My seat mate didn't say a word, she just ate her pringles, drank her sprite and finshied with a chocolate bar and put her sun glasses on and listened to her ipod and napped.  The lady in front of me, pulled the window shade down and took a nap.  I couldn't see Italy at all anymore.  Oh well.

I got to Venice, stepped out of the train station and this is what I saw...

And then as I headed to the bridge, I saw my first gondola

Here are a few pics of the Grand Canal from the bridge.

So then it was on to find my hotel.  With the help of google maps and the fact that the paths of Venice can be easily confused with hallways, and most were not marked well as the signs were eroding from the buildings.  Well, I backtracked over canals, down streets (?) - what do you call them, anyway?  Passageways?  I felt like I was intruding into people's property, especially since the buildings are so high, streets are darker.  I took me a while to realize that, this in fact, was Venice.  Frustrating at first, I must say.

I found my hotel, which is technically a Bed and Breakfast I guess.  I got there and had to ring the doorbell.  The door opened onto an atrium, which was lovely.  The guy knew who I was, kinda scary. Anyhow, I checked in and was put into this room for tonight...

Celing

 More ceiling

Tomorrow, I have to move.  I don't know why, but I do.

Anyhow, I got to my room, cleaned up and relaxed after my harrowing journey to the hotel.  Wondering if I was going to enjoy Venice at all.  So, I ventured out.  There are signs that point to the Rialto and S Marcos, which are a huge help.   And going back to my place are other signs to get me back to my area.  It's a sign!!!  This isn't so bad after all.  So, I took off toward the Rialto and quickly discovered what a joy this city is going to be,  You turn the corner, and you stumble upon a square, a shopping area, and bridge over a canal.  Quite amazing, and thus begun my love affair with Venice.

I finally arrived at the Rialto - a famous bridge over the Gran Canal...

I'll need to go back there while I'm here, but it was so much fun getting there.  So much fun that I tool pictures of things that I don't know why I took them...

And a few pics of some signs of home

Then I stopped for dinner.  Pizza, wine and water. The pizza was just OK, not as good as any I had in Rome.  I'm hoping tomorrow will bring better pizza!

Then I decided to head back to the room while there was still light out.  I stopped on the way for water and gelato.  Pistachio and Nutella this eve.

I stopped in the supermarket for some water, which they didn't have any chilled, but I took a picture of these personal watermelons for Mom.  See then even have personal watermelons in Venice!

That was my first day (or a few hours) in Venice.  I'm excited about tomorrow!!

Ciao,

Maestro