Venice

Day 32

I've seen Venice in many films and sort of knew what to expect, however when I walked out of the station I was dizzy with delight at the sight before me. It was so cool. People everywhere, gondolas and water taxis, fruit and cake stalls and the Grand Canal not 20 yards ahead. Our first night there we headed for the main Rialto Bridge and St Marco Square. Both were found with ease and it was still day light when we decided to head back to the hostel and sort out our digs for Rome on the internet. That's where the afternoon took a wrong turn (quite literally)! Our journey back was accompanied by some small talk and the humming of the bond theme tune. Soon I began to feel the situation was looking more like a scene from De Ja Vou. Yes you've guessed it, we were lost! So for the best part of 2 hours we really got to see every inch, every side street, every cake shop, pizza place and bridge, Venice has to offer. Once we realised the situation was hopeless and pathetically funny we gave up & went for some grub. Well, we got back in the end and decided not take any short cuts next time! Venice streets are uniform and very confusing. A total maze. Even the italians were lost! Day 2, after a not so good kip due to yet another ridiculously loud snorer in the next bunk, we checked out and left our bags in left luggage. We had 12 hours to kill. Our train to Rome wasn't till 12.04am that night.

Venice is a place I'm glad I visited, however I would not come again. Unforunately the level of tourism has diminished its charm and character and you are left with stalls of tat, Africans selling authentic knocked off gucci bags and a constant flow of icecream eating tourists meandering back and forth using up every inch of bridge and walk way. The water taxis and gondolas are a rip off and on the whole the city is overrun, overpriced and overrated. Sorry.