9 September - Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

We got on our way at 4am this morning. We took a taxi to the train station in Helbronn, took a train to Mainz and from there, took a bus to Hünsruck where the Frankfurt-Hahn airport is. We flew to Treviso airport and took another bus into Venice. Everything actually went just fine. I was so worried about our bags being too big or too heavy, but they didn't even check! I checked though and we were fine. I guess when they do check, they can hit you really hard, so everyone is just paranoid about it. We had to buy plastic baggies for a euro each for our liquids though. Although, they didn't seem to care much about that either because there were a couple things I forgot to put in and they didn't even notice them in my bag. However, they did take my knitting away when we got on the plane and the flight attendant said she was surprised I made it through security with them. Knitting needles can apparently be used as a weapon... you know, like a pen or a cue-tip could be too. She let me have it back after the flight though.



We finally got into Venice at about 2pm and the first thing I wanted to do was find some pizza and some gelato! We walked around a bit gaping at all the beautiful old architecture and bridges and finally settled on this cute little place with our table beside an enormous open window so it was practically outside. Unfortunately, I wasn't that impressed with the pizza. It was paper thin and just OK. Afterward, we followed the trail of tourists with ice cream until we came across the first of many and got a cone. Yummy!!! It was just as I dreamed of... and yes, I actually had been dreaming of real Italian gelato. Seriously, what makes it so good?? Why can't Americans make ice cream like that??



We decided to stay and wander around until the shuttle came that evening because it would take us directly to the hostel and we wouldn't have to deal with the public buses. We walked up and over and around the many canals. We looked at the little gift shops selling masks and Milano glass thingies. There are fruit and vegetable stands all along and on the canals too. So we got some delicious peaches. We went to a Leonardo Da'Vinci museum which was actually pretty neat. It had models of many of his designs such as the cam, some pulley mechanisms, ball bearings, the bicycle, a machine gun, and a bunch of other mechanical stuff. It was all made of wood and they were working models so you could turn them and see how they work.



We kept on walking and admiring everything until our feet hurt and our shoulders were sore from carrying around our luggage. So, we backtracked our way back to Pizzale Roma for the shuttle. We still had some time so we stopped at a park and played around a while.. well actually Skylar played... I think I fell asleep on the park bench.

When we got to the station, we waited and waited.. and waited... 7pm (when the shuttle was supposed to come) came and went and we waited. We befriended some other travelers that were also waiting. Finally I called and they said that due to the end of the season, the first shuttle now comes at 8pm instead of 7pm. So we all went to a nearby cafe and got a glass of wine. In Germany, beer is cheaper than water.. well in Italy, wine is cheaper. My glass of wine was 2.50 and Skylar's sprite was 3 euro! It was strong wine too!


Finally, the shuttle came and it was a big fancy charter bus. We made our way to the hostel and checked in. The hostel is called Camping Jolly so I thought for sure it was going to be a total dive, but it was actually pretty decent. Not the Ritz or anything, but nice. We have our own cabin (actually a trailer) with our own bathroom and refrigerator. It has two cute little beds and decent space. There is a giant pool and even an exercise room.

We went to the little restaurant for some more pizza and met up with our new friends again. The waiter swore he knew me from somewhere and finally relented that I must just have one of those faces. What does that mean anyway? That I look like everyone else? Uhhh... thanks. We rented some towels and headed back to the room for an early night. We were exhausted!

More photos can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/osani77/VeniceDay1