January 3, 2014

Google Maps and Apple Maps evidently have a big problem with Vodaphone, the local cell provider.  We have walked a lot, and a lot of that walking involved the same real estate.  Our goal was to get to the train station.  We had purchased Eurail passes that needed to be activated; and to get reservations on the train to Verona on the 7th.

Cheerfully both Google and Apple will have you repeat the same route to the train staiton, only to tell you (in that pleasant Siri voice) that you've missed the turn and would have to double back.  Google Maps said it would be "an easy 20-minute walk."  My butt!

Finally in exasperation we walked into a hotel and asked where we might find the train station. Easy, peasy.  Turn left, turn right, and follow the via until we reach the station.  Crimony!

In the interim of this Venice Train Station Death March my foot started hurting.  I had foot surgery about 3+ weeks ago and was warned about spending too much time on it.  So, we took a break on a canal waterfront that was a docking station for the Gondolas.  I noticed the Gondoliers didn't sing like every pizza commercial you've ever seen, but boy, these guys had arms like Popeye and I would never, ever, consider picking a fight, or an arm-wrestling contest with them.

A gondola armada waiting for touristas.

The weather was cold and damp, but we sat at a spot that had a tent enclosure and heat lamps - even little lap robes to put on.  Cappucino for Jack and Prossecco for me with cheese and bread.  There were little sparrows and I noticed they weren't as wary as the ones in Las Vegas.  They would eat right out of my hand.

We moved on.  Here is something that I'd never considered in my American arrogance:  even though it was not a holiday, the little vias were jammed with people.  Then I thought back to Las Vegas - the sidewalks are always packed, too, day, night, or Sunday.

A little further on, and time to take another break.  We don't have a train to catch today, do we?  So we duck in to a little caffe spot that's right at the foot of another pedestrian bridge.  We take seats facing the window.  The waiter asks where we're from and we get the usual "Ahh-Las Vegas!"  So  fun.  I act like I'm throwing dice in a craps table.  Cheers and laughs from all the patrons.

Street view in Venice

We finally make the "20-minute walk" from where we're staying to the train station (which by the way is not marked by any shape/form/fashon of signage) and get our Eurail pass validated.  The trek made it clear in our minds that hell, no, we wouldn't be dragging 5 pieces of heavy luggage over bridges (6 in our last count) even if we knew where we were going.  We took a water taxi back to the "Ospidale" (hospital) that was very near our apartment. Sixty euros.  And got a telephone number for a taxi pickup.

There is a lot to be said for paper maps.  We plan on purchasing one tomorrow.