Back in Italy, and it’s sure nice being able to read the alphabet again and having toilets where the toilet paper flushes – though the campsite we’re staying at here, just outside Venice, is completely out of toilet paper already.
We spent a full day and three nights on the ferry, cruising up the Adriatic Sea. I was sick for most of it, so it was fairly uneventful, though a bunch of the girls bought watermelon and vodka and discovered it doesn’t combine too well with choppy seas.
Yesterday morning, we docked in Trieste, and from there, we made an unscheduled stop in Verona, which is most famous for Romeo and Juliet. So of course we went directly to see Juliet’s house – not really, of course; they’re fictional characters – but it’s a courtyard with a statue of Juliet cast in bronze. It’s supposed to be good luck to rub the statue’s breast, so everyone tries to get a picture doing just that, and as a result she has a very shiny breast. The house overlooks the courtyard, and for a couple of Euros, we could go in, look around, and stand on the famous balcony. I of course had to get that picture taken.
Verona is charming even without all that, though the main drag has lots of designer stores that are super-expensive. The city’s all walled and there’s a nice park with a fountain where we sat for a few minutes to chill. There’s also really pretty bridges along the canal.
After Verona, we drove into the campsite here in Venice, and made a beeline for the laundry facilities because it was the first opportunity to do laundry in about 10 days. Very exciting, since I was just about out of clean clothes. We had welcome drinks and dinner here at the campsite, and last night there was a beach party at the bar, which was pretty wild.
Today we had a fun day touring Venice. We started off in the famous Saint Mark’s Square and got to feed the pigeons. Then, we went to a glass-blowing demonstration. The glass at the shop was beautiful but outrageously expensive. They had chandeliers for 32,000 euros! Only. Haha. Next we had a demonstration in lace-making. The place was the last lace school remaining in Venice, and it only survives through heavy government subsidies. I suppose it would be a shame to let the craft die out, but lace isn’t really my thing.
After lunch, we walked up to see the Rialto Bridge, and bumped smack into a couple of people I know from Dollard. I’m amazed at how many people I’ve encountered randomly so far on this trip. Small world. Then we took a gondola ride on the canal, which was relaxing but a bit of a letdown. It’s pretty but the water is dirty and smelly, which you’d never know from the pictures. We saw a lot of garbage and even a dead rat. Gross. But I guess it’s a Venice must-do, so I’m glad I went.
Today was the first rain of the trip since London, and I discovered that I really didn’t miss it at all. It poured – poured – as in, the heavens opened up and there was a full-fledged thunder and lightning storm at the campsite tonight. So now everything’s wet and muddy and gross, and I hope some of it dries by morning because we have to pack up early to get back on the bus to head out to Austria.
The Cousins have just started a mud fight. This should be interesting. Later!