London one-way!

Up early to travel to Venice, our final Busabout sector. I ran into Ado, our London housemate, in Wombat’s lobby. He was off to St Johan, the midday stop, and he’s traveling until he goes home to OZ.

Rather uneventful except for the beautiful scenery along the way. The morning stop in Austria was at the Macca’s with the best view ever over the Europa bridge – about 200 metres and you can bungy jump it, at least when the weather’s good.

We got into Venice at half past six, or at least the campsite where everyone else was staying. We were at a hotel, neither are actually on the island of Venice, it’s far too expensive.

Venice kind of looks like a fish floating on a wave, with a long bridge connecting the mainland. Once we were settled in the hotel (very nice, although I was quick to claim the single bed haha) we headed out on a bus to see the city by night. Not a lot was open and it was very dark. We just twisted and turned through alleyways and over bridges. I think I read there were 140 bridges and over 400 canals in Venice, as well as three separate islands close by. There are no cars, but the public transport system, their metro, is boats.

To go on a gondola ride is quite expensive, 70 euros plus at night time, so we skipped it, but watched everyone else. We had dinnera t the first place we found because somebody couldn’t wait any longer, and got slugged with a 12% service fee. I had lasagne which had spinach pasta sheets and a meat and vegetable sauce base – it had peas in it!

We found our way to the Rialto bridge over the Grand Canal and had gelatis before heading back to catch the last bus of the night, as it started to rain. Of course when we got back to the hotel, on the other side of the highway, it was pouring, and the bridge was metal, high, scary and not safe looking!

I had my teetch clenched and fingers digging into my palms as I tried to hurry across, breathing a huge sigh of relief before bounding down the stairs and along to the hotel. I managed to miss all the puddles, but I heard one of the others yell out in disgust as their foot soaked into the puddle.

Showers to warm up and a bit of JAG, South Park and Law and Order in Italian!

Tags: Travel

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