I stayed at Tally and Alex's apartment Friday night, got up at 5:20, found online that our 6:45 train was cancelled because of snow. Luckily the 7:45 was still running. We caught the subway, one of Rome's two subway lines, to Roma Termini. I was impressed with how comfortable and fast TrenItalia was. Our top speed was 155 mph. The seven of us sat in two sets of four train-style seats across the aisle from each other until we got to Florence around 9:15, the first stop on the three hour and 45 minute trip to Carnevale. Here we encounter an unexpected cultural difference with some Asian girls. Our actual seats we very spread out, but Tally said in his experience that it was open seating and no one paid attention to their actual ticketed seat. Tally had apparently never riden a train with Asians. They spoke English just well enough for us to explain that there were people sitting in our real seats too and the ticketed seat assignment doesn't matter. This fiasco lasted at least 25 minutes. I may have gotten a little sarcastic with the Japanese girl, but detecting it must develop later in the English learning process. Once we sorted everything out I ended up sitting in a different coach by Breezy, one of three girls in our seven person group. She's from Manhattan, and no, Breezy isn't her real name.
Bologna from the train. At least a foot of snow.
Our train went across a very long bridge and let us out on the northwest side of the city. Hotel Tre Archi was about a 10 minute walk from the station.
After we found our hotel we found a restaurant then took a water taxi from the terminal to Piazza San Marco. I expected Venice to be overrun with tourists, but it was overkill. All bar owners and waiters were fluent in English since they only serve tourists. Pretty much every restaurant we saw seems like a tourist place. It seemed like no one even lived here, hence the title.
It was about 30 degrees on the boat, but the wind was whipping around pretty well. Wind chill had to be in the single digits. Also, I had no gloves.
Tally, Paige, Ali
Nice front door
Coming up on Rialto. Shops are closed.
Under Rialto
Creepy woman. Kept staring at me.
Accademia Bridge
Santa Maria della Salute
San Marco after Grand Canal opened up into an open harbor
Bridge of Sighs (the higher one)
Herd
This is where Italy Disney really begun to shine. There was an elaborate parade over the canal where the bridge of sighs is located, going over into the piazza. In the piazza there was a stage with a Venetian man (actor) dressed in his full Carnevale garb speaking in full English to the mainly American crowd.
Leader
The pictures of the actual official event aren't too good. It felt a little gross to be participating because I doubt the performers where even Venetians. Everything seemed really fake, and we had fallen right into it. We were all extremely cold after the water bus, so we agreed to go into the Hard Rock Cafe to warm up and go to the bathroom. This is a little more defensible when you learn that not all places have working heat. Of course the HRC did though. None of us wanted to go to HRC, but we almost felt like we had no other choice. We were all making fun of us because we were such conformers. We got a table and stayed here two hours.
Tally and Alex
So gross
After this embarrassing episode we followed Tally back to the hotel. This would be a good time to try and explain how useful Tally is. I don't know if I previously talked about this, but he knows everything about traveling. He knew his way around Venice perfectly without the use of a map. He showed us his favorite views and sights in Venice, most of which we wouldn't have seen if it wasn't for him. He had been backpacking through Europe for nearly a month before our program started. By his estimates, he's been to around 30 countries. Not just been in, but traveled around in. He knows their people's customs, the countries history, former rulers, major events, fun facts and everything else you can think of. I am very lucky to have him as a travel partner. He's practically a tour guide.
View of the Cannaregio Canal from outside our hotel
Our hotel room. 5 beds, 7 people.
After this we went back out on the streets and experienced the Carnevale scene. It was a little crazy at places, but we didn't feel like going full blast with our fellow Americans. We went back to the hotel around midnight, with the expectations of me and Alex waking up at 5am to see the sunrise over Venice.
To be continued...
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