Arrival in Venice

Florence to Venice:  We had to leave Florence today. After breakfast, we had one last walk around the Duomo area. The streets were roped off due to a road race and there was a huge wedding at the church. The church bells were ringing and everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

Our train was just after noon at the nearby train station. When we were arrived to the station, we were greeted for the first time by (often described in our guide books) a Gypsy woman with a very drugged-looking baby slung across her arms. She presented Dave with an empty baby bottle (full of holes) and I assume she was asking for money to buy milk for her baby. Unless the woman was fertile at age 70 - that wasn't even her baby. Supposedly the Roma actually drug the babies to make them seem "near death". The Italian government needs to do something about this crime! It seems the police are too busy chasing the stealth African immigrants selling fake Gucci bags in the tourist areas.

The station was busy, but we had time to enjoy a very good and very cheap cappuccino before boarding our train. The ride took three hours and it was pleasant and comfortable. Woody sent me an email, saying their train would arrive in Venice at 2:09. Steve and Mary were dealing with a last minute canceled flight and were rerouted through Los Angeles, so arrived in Venice just after 7 pm.

Dave and I arrived at the Venice rail station and wheeled our bags out to a water taxi which charged a small fortune to get out to the island of Lido, but it was a very interesting ride.

 
Looking towards the front as our driver backs out
of the taxi stop into the Grand Canal


A view off the back of our water taxi


The Canal


The Hungaria Palace Hotel on Lido (mjb)

 
Our room at the Hungaria Palace Hotel on Lido
(Note: We learned later Lisa also stayed here on her high school tour of Italy field trip.)

Later, after everyone had arrived and settled-in, we went to dinner. It was fun, and everyone was excited, but everyone was really tired - especially Mary & Steve - so we called it an early night. Tomorrow we will explore Venice and I will post lots of pretty pictures. Traveling day pedometer: a lousy 10,019 steps.