To Italy and beyond: Bringing it out of the postcards (Venice Part 2)

It took a lot of time for me, for Venice to came out from the postcards. Maybe it was first impressions, maybe it was the intensity of the tourist culture and difficulty of finding locals interested in having a conversation. For all it's uniqueness and architectural beauty, my thoughts were for a long time; it was exactly as I expected.
Not to say I had poor expectations, that would be untrue; but it was my fellow travelers and other new friends such as Wie and Francis that personalized my experience in this city. Of cause I did all the tourists attractions like the Doge's palace, the walls and ceiling covered in a huge intricate gold mosaic; and the nearby tower with the panoramic view of the city below watching over the majesty of floating landscape. No Gondola ride though, as much as I would like to say that I done it, there are a lot of other things I would like to say I've done for 80 Euro.

I booked myself into a hotel as it was the only place available at the time, 50 euro. Wrestled with writers block and had rather a boring night to be honest, the positive in this might be, the vibrancy of my outgoing nature was twice as strong by the time the next night came around. In the morning I checked back in to my old hostel. Went for a wonder down to the edge of Venice, a peaceful change from from the bustle of the main street. There are some beautiful parks and a quietness there, where the locals live; and reminding myself of the understated refreshing value of crisp clean air. I took a ferry over to Lido the island of the famous Venice beach. It was an extraordinary grey dismal day, so the beach was left completely silent. I would like to come back in summer when everyone pack onto it, to be able to experience the loved lively feel, others have adored. I could see the beauty in it, but that beauty was also only in my imagination.

As I headed back across the water and watched the sun set over the city, a slight break in the grey black clouds, let the sun breach through, highlighting everything in perfect gold. On my way back to Piazzale Roma I was a little lost, when I saw a group of foreigners with a Italian guide, walking with complete confidence, assuming they would be going (wrongly) to Piazzale Roma as I was. I dropped into the group, with complete confidence and started chatting, turns out neither new where we were going, so we had a good laugh! They were university students over on exchange. We found a bar and stood around talking. Two in particular I grew a fondness to; Londinions, Frances and Wei. Poetry fans, historians and writers. We stayed up talking till 5 (Frances crashed out a little before) in the morning, despite them having a tour of a library the next day at 9am. We got up at 7:30, it was a crisp blue morning, before the bustle of the new day had set in. We had to part ways at the Rialto, the market bridge. I walked past the fish markets of Rialto, with the distinct smell of freshness, though I looked only from a distance, probably all I could take, seeing as we had no kitchen in our hostel.

It became a habit of mine in the evenings to walk down to San Marco square, and let the marvelous music of the nearby band relax me. The played fast passed classics, to a melodious cover of 'What A Wonderful World'. Some days I may of spent an hour there, it would have been perfect to enjoy a glass of red but, gladly I looked at the menu of the nearby restaurant; starting at 12 Euro a glass plus service, plus 6 Euro band fee, it felt like something I could skip!

With a feeling of readiness I left Venice, to take on some new adventure, and to see a good friend. I took a grain of salt to love this place, but that would not deter me from making a return visit. Next stop Milan!