Today I woke up at sunrise and wandered the streets of Rome as the shopkeepers began to open their doors for the day. I grabbed a shot of espresso and wandered around for a bit before buying one of the best peaches I have ever had in my life for .10 euros.
When I came back to the room to grab my belongings my Slovanian dorm-mate Sandy asked me where I was off to. When I told him Venice he quickly gave me some street advice and suggested a pizzeria "Il Rifolo". I thanked him and headed out.
After returning my keys and sharing a quick laugh with the hostel host, I headed to the train station to catch my ride to Venice.
Immediately upon entering the train, I throw my backpack on the storage rack and prepare to sit down when suddenly a steady stream of liquid begins to flow on my shoulder. I look up and realize that it is coming from my pack and I started scrambling to reach inside and find the problem. When I opened my pack I see the 3/4 full bottle of wine from the night before laying on its side with the cork nowhere to be found. I quickly grabbed my laptop from underneath and then snatched the bottle up wrapped in an article of clothing. Ignoring the stares of the passengers around me I try and mop up the remaining liquid unsuccessfully. After about 10 minutes of mopping and trying to make it so that the unlucky person next to me doesn't have to sit in a puddle of wine, the train begins to move. Dear God, there is no one next to me and there is an empty aisle in front of me with a window view! Logically (and very American of me) I moved ahead and ignored the mess I made.
Stepping off of the train in Venice was absolutely amazing. Immediately out of the doors I am greeted by a ballet of canal boats dancing for their newly arrived customers with a backdrop of brightly colored houses that words can hardly describe. I check in with my hostel, drop off some stuff in my room, and head to the streets to start my day.
I decide to go without my map for the first part, and this ended up being the best part of my day. I was lost without fear, and as soon as I would find a crowded street I would duck into another alley. I found lovers lost in each others eyes, groups of men sharing bottles of wine, and alley cats begging for affection. Every turn brought me to another amazing bridge over a canal filled with makeshift boats until finally I arrived at the Canale Della Giudecca. I stopped in at a market and purchased some pre-bottled Campari Soda to enjoy on the bench outside.
On the way back, by divine providence I stumble across Il Rifolo and grab a bite of their amazing pizza. For the price, and the location along a canal, I think this might be one of the best deals in Venice.
I woke up this morning and made my arrangements for Munich at the corner cafe and said my goodbyes to Venice. The train ride proved an interesting mix of people and landscapes as I made my way across Northern Italy, Austria, and finally into Germany.
My Hostel was only a few blocks from the train station and located directly across from the Augustiner brewery. Tough luck for me.
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