We gathered our belongings and left early in the morning to head to Venice. In our packed itinerary, we only had time for a day in this popular tourist destination. Our bus took us to the train station, and we packed on to head to this city of 120 islands.
Getting to our tour guide, also named Elena (another coincidence?) was no easy feat. We walked through the twisty, narrow cobblestone streets, which were more like alleys, and we walked at a faster pace than we had the entire trip. Matteo gave some information as we sped past shop after shop as well as directions. I have no idea how people who stay here get their luggage from the station or parking lots. I did see porters waiting for hotel guests, and I am sure the water taxis must do a brisk business. We went up steps, across bridges, stopping nowhere and passing others to get to our meeting place with Elena as fast as possible. We couldn’t help but notice the Old World charm of Venice, with its buildings untouched by renovation and former water wells that dot the streets.
Our short break for lunch before meeting Elena had us finding a good restaurant with a very small bathroom (which seems to be the norm ….) Then we were ready to go. We stopped at St. Mark’s Cathedral, the Bell Tower, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. (We have one in Pittsburgh that connected the courts and the jails. This is the original with the same idea. Nothing romantic here, Elena stressed.) Everywhere shops sold Murano glass, from the inexpensive to the oh-so-pricey and masks.
Of course the iconic gondolas were everywhere in the canals, which we found out are only 5 feet deep, and the gondoliers are all men save one. Elena said the 340 gondoliers were none too happy when a woman qualified to join their ranks. They were all happier, I suppose, when the women of this city spent most of their time making lace, projects that kept them occupied for months at a time when their husbands were at sea.
The glass making has an interesting tale as well – Most of the pieces are made on the island Murano, as it was all sent off there after too many fires occurred in parts of the city. Elena said it was hot and dangerous, albeit beautiful craftmanship. I bought some on my last trip, and I came away with more this time.
She also explained the Carnevale – which literally means take away meat – and the mask tradition. The celebration to prepare for the fasting and piousness of Lent used to last for three months. Now it is 10 days, and it builds up to a huge Fat Tuesday celebration with hot air balloons and fireworks. Why wear those masks? For some privacy and fun, of course, she said. Doctors, though, wore the long beak numbers stuffed with herbs and spices as they tended to the sick and dying. Picture that with them wearing a black cloak and a big hat as well. Spooky stuff …
Gondola rides next, and to be honest, compared to what we experienced in Belgium and Amsterdam, they were a bit disappointing to me, although the students tell me they loved it. The men clad in their black-striped shirts steered our boats loaded with passengers expertly. But instead of singing (as Elena had told us) they talked to each other. No information for us! The journalist in me wanted to know why they chose this work, what that test was like, etc., etc. But the scenery was great, it did not rain, and we had a chance to people and dog watch (they are everywhere here!) then.
We scattered to do some quick shopping then gathered in from of St. Mark’s Square to collect everyone We had so little time to catch our train! We pushed our way through streets and up over bridges and down steps as quickly as we could, running at the last point to catch our train. I have not run like that since last year when we tried in vain to catch a connecting flight home, which we missed. We were successful this time, only to be held up by demonstrators on the tracks one stop away from our final destination.
A great dinner of spaghetti, pork with walnuts and eggplant made up for it. Unfortunately for me, I caught some of the cold and sore throat the students have been sharing. I am still trying to get it out of my system. A quieter day in Milan and no running for anything is a good start toward that goal.