29, 30 & 31 January 2001 Venice, Italy
Well its January 1! Euro day! so 14 countries today have introduced the
Euro, I tell ya! Thank god! I was growing crazy, 80,000 for this 150,000 for
that in Italy was so confusing. IT was interesting to get a cup of coffee
this morning, the girl at the cash register battling, it must be so hard for
old people that have had the same style of currency for all their life. It
will be so much easier thou, and interesting to see what happens across the
board. I had a wonderful time in Venice, what a amazing place, you see it on
the TV, books, but to actually be there, water all around, canals, truly
breathe taking, I had the longest train trip from Stuttgart, Germany to
Venice, I coped quite well, considering me! Took the day, but was worth it!
I took the number 51 boat (like a little ferry) over to Lido, another island
canal place part of Venice but not on Venice, I could not get any
accommodation in Venice that was reasonable, (very very expensive) so I
decided to stay over on Lido, I was actually very happy I did, I know
staying on Venice (I was not far away like 5mins on the Ferry) would have
been better, but I got to see things on the Ferry like all the stops, I
stayed on one Ferry for the entire circumference of the island, I suppose
you could call it a island, - it truly is amazing, not only the history,
buildings, cathedrals, palazzos, but for us Australians - like the Concept,
of interconnecting canals, and all buildings on the water, and when I say
canals, not one! like thousands, little, large, small, medium. The only main
mode of transport on the main island is water ferry, or a water taxi, the
taxis are very very expensive, ferries cheap and fun, but very slow, I tell
you, you would not want to be in a hurry in Venice! Takes ages by the ferry
to get any where. I did not take a gondola ride around the canals, although
with a partner it would be incredibly romantic in summer/spring - it was
still a little cold, now where as Cold as Prague or Berlin, but cold. Every
thing is geared to the tourist, nice knack and touristy shops every where,
and I mean every where! I walked the entire place - top to toe, was fun, had
no idea where I was going, but you really cant get lost as all the little
paths lead to another main on and so on, walking, browsing, up over little
bridges over little canals......... Gondola passes by, it is very
picturesque, romantic, fun and exciting. I will never forget it, and one day
will have a great time again. Most my trip this year has been like a nice
long Table de Hotel Menu, I have had a long time off, but the destinations I
am going to have been quick and I have not stayed in one place (other than
New York) for any long time. I use a Table de Hotel Menu as this is the
style of menu where there would be like 6 or 7 meals but they are all
different and of a small portion, mainly used to taste the best of the
entire menu in a restaurant. I decided that I would have a little bit of the
areas that I would like see, and then the next trip in the future ill stay
longer and make a month holiday in one place. I would never have thought the
Brussels, and especially Burge would be what its was, so that entrée will be
requested in a main course size next time. I am absolutely itching to get
back to work and Sydney, I have had a good time off, recharged, learnt a
huge amount about others lives, countries, travel, and me. And am ready to
return to work in a week, so I spin around like a Tassie devil and get on
with a million things I want and have to do for 2002 at work and home. I had
my first encounter (first time ever during any of my trips ever) in Venice
of communication difficulties, and someone not understanding me - or not
willing to understand me in what I was after. It was an incredible
experience, the cashier was soooo RUDE, here I was a timid (not in control
at all) subservient, passive boy asking for a cappuccino, and a sandwich
(which I could not pronounce) as the sign was on the other side of the café,
The casher's expression on her face, her amazing over articulation with
PASSION AND VENOM of "I don't know what you Want, Sir! Italian Please!" is
still imprinted - (just like a foot print in the snow) on my brain, I can
still see her as I type, angry, passion, venom - was like as it was
happening was just in slow motion, I have never in my life had any one not
even have any idea about what I was expressing - ever with such anger. In
Tokyo I found that the Japanese were so polite and would stand there and
listen to every thing that you were asking (you could ask the same thing
"where is the cash machine, AutoBank" - 25 times over and over) and in Tokyo
they would just politely stand and nod, not having a fucking clue what you
were saying, I can remember standing in the subway saying the same thing and
this lovely lady nodding - to start I thought she knew what I was saying -
NOPE - was not till like the 5th time that I was saying in my brain "YOU
DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT IN SAYING DO YOU" and you would nod and off she would
go and you would ask another till you could find a solution. Japanese for me
when I was there were so polite, went out of there way. But this experience
was amazing. Its interesting that people get angry with others as they can
not speak the same language - when there are so many other ways - signing,
pointing, paper to help get the message, pointing and signing is my best
ability, have a knack from acting and stuff improvisation to just instantly
get my request across. But nothing work with this chick! ( she was not
willing to try ) its a bit more complex, and funny when I tell you over
lunch, you will laugh. But I find it that a foot print can be left on the
mind just like an museum and musical, I know they are all experiences and
events, just this came out from left field. - I did get my sandwich of
choice by the way, and by her! WAS NOT GOING TO LET HERE WIN!!! NO WAY!!! I
just left the line - went and recruited another staff member that was
willing to understand what I wanted and asked her to explain to the cashier
in Italian, that was funny as the 2 women were yelling at each other about
me in Italian! im standing there - LOL - all the peoples head in the line
all at the same time turn and look at me! so I was mentioned some where in
the monolog of the screaming! was funny! ohh and the best bloody cappuccino
I have had for ages! The Venice square is astounding! You should have seen
my mouth when I turned the corner and bang there it was! I have to be very
careful because the more I am looking around at places and am in ore my
mouth seems to open and like stay open, "ohh" such a tourist. Looking here
there every where. Ill catch one of the pigeons in my mouth in The Square if
im not careful. They were a blast those pigeons, im standing watching a
Japanese young couple with a child, say 4 years they bought some seed (you
can buy it from sales stalls) and gave to the little girl, then put it in
her coat pocket, these pigeons were all over her, she was like laughing and
like was in bliss running and a million pigeons wanting the seed in her
pocket and had, sitting on her head arm any where, parents with the video
camera, so funny was laughing away. Food has been good, the hotel I stayed
in was the first time my internet booking site really have been misinformed!
This place was like faulty towers! It really was, trying to be every thing
and achieving nothing. But clean, warm and comfy! On the train to Rome, see
you sooner than you think! Tim xoxo
