DAY 9: VENICE

The rain began an adventurous day as the group hopped off the coach to take the boat to Venice. This is the only way we were able to get to the city, as it is known for flooding 70 times a year! There were ponchos ready to purchase and we looked amazing with them, as you can probably imagine. After arriving, we walk around San Marco square only to see thousands of pigeons, otherwise known as “flying rats” by our Tour Manager. Masses and masses of pigeons covered the ground everywhere and flying overhead. I was extremely glad to have my poncho on at that time…

Soon, the weather cleared up and it became very sunny! YAY! In the San Marco square, we were able to see the Doges Palace, Campanile tower, and the San Marco Basilica. The group went to see a glass-blowing demonstration, which was really interesting. A man showed us how to make a glass cat from scratch using a glass blower. Then, we went into the room with all of the glass materials they had available to buy. Everything was so shiny and colorful!

I decided to “get lost” in Venice with Marian and Jeff, two of my pals. One thing I love about Contiki is that they don’t really take you on guided tours, short ones if any. Pete told us to explore the city, which makes the trip feel more like we are on our own, but at the same time we also have the comfort of knowing we have a group to go back to, which is nice. Our little group first visited the famous Rialto Bridge, which had a great view of Venice. Although I had left my camera battery in the hotel, Jeff was able to take some good pictures. We found some lunch, which was an amazing, better-than-words-can-say turkey Panini. Wow, I will probably never eat a Panini of that taste value again.

While getting lost and having random fun, we come along to the original ghetto. It was a very quiet square, partitioned off from surrounding buildings, and had a synagogue within.

Fun fact: The city of Venice is in the shape of a goldfish.

Of course, a requirement in Venice was to get gelato; my favorite kind is tiramisu and chocolate. You don’t know me until you know I am an obsessive chocolate lover!! The gelato was incredible.

The three of us met up with the big group again to see a lace making place, which is the last handmade lace location left that is subsidized by the government. Next, the GONDOLA RIDE!!!!!! 6 of us were allowed on each gondola. Combining a gondola, 6 friends, and white wine is one of the best things. The man who held the gondola pole told us that the water level is usually .5 meters and that today it is 2 meters high. So, when we were going under a bridge, my whole group actually had to lean to one side so that the gondola would fit! It was kind of exciting because it felt like the whole thing was going to tip over.

After making another trip for gelato, we had dinner at a nice little Venetian restaurant! I liked everything there besides the sea bass, which was whole and I’m not used to seeing a whole fish on my plate…I don’t like when it seems like the fish is looking at me with an ubiquitous gaze (I learned that in art history, haha.) During dinner, I got the opportunity to talk with Luke, who works at a running specialty shoe store. Since I am a runner, he recommended some running shoes, which I am extremely grateful for now because my knee problems went away completely! (Asics GT 2110) More wine and pie for dessert left me very satisfied!

On the boat ride back to the mainland, everyone was pretty buzzed and was singing and acting pretty stupid. It was fun though. On the bus ride home, I bonded with Jeff then went to bed as soon as we got back to the hotel. Long, but incredibly great day.