Brett Harden and the Attack of the Gondola Men
Trip Start
May 08, 2006
1
75
108
Trip End
Mar 07, 2007
Venice,
Italy
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Ahh Venice...
The words uttered by Indiana Jones when he was there. Yes, I still follow the quest for the grail. I found the church of San Barnaba. Underneath was the shield of the 3rd knight, which pointed back to petra. Doing it backwards.
But apart from Indiana Jones there was also the Gondola men, male models...idiot...... Mermen!
So, i got to Venice, i had booked a dorm cabin in a camping site
a. venice sunset
. Two bus rides away from the centre of venice. But half the price of normal accomadation (10 euros, 20 bucks). And look pretty good too. All accomodation is out of venice unless you wanna pay 60 bucks a night. I arrive at the camping ground. It has table tennis tables, fuzzball, a pool (going green), restuarant, beach soccer, a cabin as hot as a sauna, nice staff. The only problem, no one there but me. Alright there were a few couples that kept to themselves in their own cabin. But i had a dorm cabin to myself. Since i arrived in the arvo i headed to venice in the arvo. As soon as i walked over the first bridge i was lost. Venice is one big maze with hardly any directions. Somehow i found myself as if by fate standing in front of the church that Indiana Jones went to. San Barnaba. Its not a library inside like the movie. I then walked to the grand canal where the boat chase happened in the movie. Although most of it was filmed in England. Took yet some more sunset shots. I thought i would get some good night shots too. But venice isnt a night city at all. I thought i would get some pretty lights reflected on the canals. Nothing!!! Nothing has lights!! You walk around lost in the dark, crapping yourself as you walk down the dark alleys. The only reassurance is that i look like more of a mug then the mugs. My shoes are so old i have worn through to the ground, they look at my shoes (meant to throw at the first day, still have them, i swear and curse every day at these shoes as they have a become a colour i didnt know existed), my hair, my shrunken chinise shirts that are so short they show off my belly button and my fluff on my face and think im a homeless person
b. venice 1
! Derilique!! Walked around the sites for a bit and decided to head back to the camp where at the time i thought, all the people would be there to hang out with. I go back and there was no one there. Went into the restuarant to have my discount welcome dinner. Was 7 euros! and all i got was a little lasagne the size of a coke can laying down. No joke!!. I was going to put the coke can next to it and take a pic but it would have looked bad in front of the chef.
The camp site was like the coldest place in the world. Maybe because it was right next to the airport. Hows the serenity!. I had a shower in the big shower block, and it looked like there was a fire coming from the building. I used the net there for 5 euros and hour! Shocking. But was so bored. I read the rest of the night, passed out and slept in the next day. My one full day of venice and i sleep in till midday.
Caught the bus. Half hour later im in venice. Got lost instantly again. But somehow ended up at he indiana jones church again. Headed to this big old bridge that all the tourists go to. Ponte di Rialto its called. While i was standing on this bridge i noticed something. All the Gondola drivers are trying to look cool. From then on i stalked gondola drivers, taking pics and my mission to prove they are all male model wannabies. Distant looks, Blue steel, Magnum, they had it all.
I walked over canals to the big san marco piazza thing. 1000's of piges. If you old out your arms they land on your arms and your head
c. Venice at night
. I did not do this. You would have hated it Jesse! you germophobe!I walked and walked around, found a bookstore, found a cheap pizza place somehow. 6 bucks for a pizza good for venice. Then as i was about to leave i bumped into dan from rome and naples. Was freaky, keep bump into him again. Walked around with him for a while and got lost. Got the bus back and left he next day on the train to Nice, France.
Was lucky with my date selection. France had a real strike until 6am for like 4 days until the day i was going to go to france. My laziness and staying of extra days beacause of sleeping in payed off.
Venice is exactly what you imagine it to be. Old buildings, canals, Gondolas, slight smell from the dirty canals. But its really beautiful as well. Exactly what you expect. Bring a gf though and your credit card. Its a couple place and to do it properly, you need to spend money, ride a gondola and eat in the flashy restuarants. Not eat peanut butter on bread. I didnt ride in a Gondola. Because it was 70 euros (140 bucks) for half an hour. I would preffered to have brought my tinny from home and ride that around. Maybe i should come back and bring a boat and do one ride a day
d. The way i would do venice
. 140 bucks tax free not too bad. There were so many gondolas, they backed up. I dont know if i would come here for a honeymoon or something like that. I saw one couple getting married on a gondola. Its so touristy that its not really romantic i dont think. Still, the only thing to do is wander with a gf and look at the canals and the wooden boats that were also used in indiana jones. Or you can do as i did and take pictures of the men who drive the gondolas and imagine they are trying to protect you finding the grail.
Ahh Venice...
I loved Italy. The buildings were beautiful. The girls even more so. And for some reason the in things for guys in big jackets with puffy real fur lookalike stuff around their necks.
But i loved italy....
Ciao
