Today’s Schedule
Another high speed train ride. This time Firenze (Florence) to Venezia (Venice).
Get to Hotel Principe that I had scheduled, then a “whoops.” No reservation listed. I check my many e-mail that I exchanged over the past 2 months to find that I never got a confirmation. Vincenzo, the desk manager, says he will “help” us. One night only though. Not the 2 nights for Maggie and the 4 for Carol. Mya and I. Maggie and Dan wer going to leave on July 7 to join son, Diego. He was in Italy also with another friend who graduated from high school with him. The friend’s family has a home & business on the Isle of Elba where Napoleon was exiled to. A small island just off the coast from Pisa – yeah – the place with the crooked building.
http://www.hotelprincipevenice.it/
Vincenzo sets us up in “luxury.” Rooms with balcony facing the Grand Canal. Is this special you ask? If you know of anyone who has been there, ask if they got a 4 star hotel room with balcony facing the Grand Hotel. We felt blessed! Lucky too (-:
My Observations
Train ride was nice. Since our seating was set up in groups of 4, I was “odd-man” out. Was across the aisle with 3 other people. I find in our 90 minute or so ride it is a mother with 2 teenage daughters. Traveling from Rome to Venice. At first I did not chat with them. I know – who me – not talk? I listened a bit at the chatter between the 3 of them. Realized they were talking in Polish. I used my abbreviated Polish skills and introduced myself and family across the aisle.
Spent the time learning much from the emigrés from Poland to Italy. Agnieszka came to find work. She is a school teacher. After a few months of learning enough Italian, opened a school for visitors to learn a bit of Italian to ease language fears while in Italy. Then added classes for English with the Italians who were interested. Was great to have all 3 share their stories with me. Got more talk from the 16 year old, than the 13 year old. I know though, they probably thought me a scary Americano.
We parted ways after reaching the train station. For us, just a short walk to the hotel. Already Maggie and family surprised at the various types of watercraft using the canals.
Since rooms not yet ready, we go across the pedestrian only walkway. Yep – no cars. Maybe a few baggage carriers with carts, but no motorized vehicles. I talk the group into trying Ginos Pizzeria. Carol & I ate there a few times during last visit. Plus – my “nickname” from teen years was Gino. My neighborhood Italian friends had a hard time with the long Polish surname and shortened it to Gino.
http://www.ginospizzeria.it/
We ordered pizza and drinks. Being another hot day, asked for the large beer? I hear the word – Grande? I nod – OK. Out comes a jug with a liter of beer. A true 2 fisted endeavor. Mmm – good and cold.
After getting settled in our rooms, decide to wander the streets. Maps are OK, if you can find the street names. The are typically painted on a building corner about 10 feet high – sometimes. Maggie and Dan go off on their own. Mya stays with us and is our “guide.” Her job is to locate the directions to key locations – Rialto, for the Rialto bridge. P. Marco, for the Piazza San Marco, known to us as Saint Marks Square – it’s really an L-shaped rectangle. And the key one, back to the hotel – Ferrovia – the Iron place that is the train terminal. A short walk from the hotel.
About halfway into our excursion, bump into Maggie and Dan, who are having a ball – getting lost, then found and lost again.
Another great day.
Photo 1 - See. Mya did a great job of locating the Venice direction signs.
Photo 2 - Do. Got a great room right on the Grand Canal.
Photo 3 - Eat. Pizza and BIG cold beer.
Click here for today's online photo album.
