1980 Venezia/Venice (7/12/1980)

Saturday, July 12, 1980

At about 05:30 we left the compartment expecting to arrive in Venice about 06:00. But we had a long sit out in the corridor since we didn't arrive until 07:30. We checked our bags at the baggage counter (consolidating the 3 bags into 2) and went to sit by the Grand Canal for our breakfast of leftovers: a ham sandwich, potato chips, and cookies. We then wandered through the maze-like sidewalks of Venice and ended up in the Rialto open market which had a lot of fresh fish/seafood stalls. We crossed the Rialto Bridge with its shops, and headed for the Piazza San Marco/St Mark's Square. On our way to the Rialto we had lost track of the "path markers" and an old lady helped direct us back on the path.

Rialto Bridge

It was easier going to St. Mark's Square where we entered the cathedral and noted the buckling floors.

St Mark's Square

Postcard of St Mark's Basilica

We walked around to see the Bridge of Sighs and a few early-bird gondoliers pushing off.

Terry and Kathy at the Bridge of Sighs

Gondolas (TAT)

After Kathy got rid of the worst of her headache, we went window shopping around the square, then went into the Ducal Palace which included the old courtrooms and an armory collection. We also walked across the Bridge of Sighs to the prison.

Ducal Palace ticket

We headed toward the Academy of Fine Arts where we were able to first use our Italian museum passes with a disgruntled clerk. We bought some bread on our way to the Church of Mary Grace of the Friars where supposedly Titian’s "Assumption” is located. But they were charging a fee to get in and we figured it wasn't worth it if Terry had never heard of it. After skipping the School of San Rocco for the same reason, we went to the city garden for our lunch of bread with "spicy" tuna fish (in a tomato sauce with onions and peas). The park was full of cats, and most of them seemed to gather around us!

Kathy, Terry ,and a cat

Grand Canal

 We hiked back to St. Mark's Square to take photos and people-watch for a while.

Clock Tower in St Mark's Square

Gondolas

While I was sitting writing in this journal, I heard a “plop!” Some pigeon had left a gift on Terry’s jacket! Terry was off getting a gift for DeeDee, but a much nicer one: a Murano glass pendant.

Venice canal

Venice canal (TAT)

Map of Venice

We then made our way back to the train station to wait for the train to Nice, France at 19:20. Hopefully we can spend a couple days getting cleaned up at the Riviera. Bought a “bag meal” to take along on the train. Had a full load on the train with standing room only, although we managed to get seats. On our way through Italy, Terry and Kathy made sandwiches from the bread and roast chicken in the bag meal. We also ate the apple; and the salami, cheese, potato chips and sweet roll were saved for later. Most of the people in our compartment left by Verona. In Verona we were joined by a lady and her Down syndrome child. In the Verona station on the platform was a man who was deliberately unzipping his pants and pulling out his underwear when he apparently caught someone’s eye on the train. We didn't continue watching to see if he did much else. One lady in a nearby compartment was making loud complaints that if the train were to arrive in Milano too late then she was afraid of the youths taking her purse. I believe we arrived in Milano before 23:00 as she preferred. We had the compartment to ourselves after Milano until one station before Genoa. There, three gaudily dressed women with lots of make-up joined us turning on the light and conversed/argued/discussed loudly. Kathy managed to sleep through it all. By their conversation it seemed that these were three ladies of the night, and they weren't being given much business by the boss because they were old and fat. They figured their positive points were being blonde and experienced. They got off at Genoa where we were joined by two English girls who helped us pull out the seats and we all slept.
Next: Côte d'Azur/The French Riviera.