Thursday, March 19, 2009

Venice

The train was full in the 1st class section, or was this the 1st class section? It was an older train and we still had our own booth to ourselves. One other person was there later. She was very loud and was breaking up with her boyfriend over the phone, and leaving town at the same time it seemed. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but she was yelling on her mobile phone and squeezing her zits at the same time. She also had some kind of drink with her that she didn’t finish and which made the floor sticky. After she left the rest of the trip was fine.

We got off the train and in the shops at the station were a lot of decanter sets and other glass wear. Duh, Venation Glass! We found a place to stay with last minute bookings. It was just on the other side of the Grand Canal. As we exited and boom, we were right on the Grand Canal! It was a breath taking sight; it looks like a film set, the homes in pastel colors and the green water.

The hotel was a little tricky to find with all the nooks and crannies. I asked for some ice, I just needed was a glass full. What I got was a whole big salad bowl full of ice. I said thank you in Italian and took it up stairs. They obviously knew that American’s really like a lot of ice.

We took a ride on a Gondola after dinner. Dinner was great by the way. In the small spaces in the canals it could be just about any century, if it wasn’t for the blue glow of the TV sets in the homes.

The next day we went to the Rialto. There were plenty of shops along the way as well. We found a place that had hand blown calligraphy sets. They set down two tins with all the colors of the rainbow, just full of the pens. “Pick one.” I was instructed. I could no sooner pick my favorite flower at a flower mart! I managed to select two, with gold in the glass and two hand-bound leather journals. As I left I cried a bit, it’s difficult when you hold on to a dream for years and it comes true.

Later we went to the big town square and saw a boy with seeds in his hand feeding the pigeons. His family was filming him and the birds were pecking the food and it hurt him. He was saying “Ouch” and we chuckled, which must have ended up in the film. We also saw a big Scottie dog and asked to photograph him. The owner posed, but the photo is just of the dog.

We did get some Scotty dogs in glass at one of the shops. We didn’t get a decanter set. But it’s good to leave something for next time. We had more gelato, which felt great in the hot summer night. The next day we took an afternoon train back to Malian then a night train to Cologne Germany.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Florence

The day was hot and humid as we rolled into Florence; another train station and another time to look at the last minute bookings. Only this time we ended up in a hotel that was just around the corner from the station.

It was on the 3rd floor and had a very small cage elevator. It was okay but later in the evening I wasn’t sure if the lower floors had brothel or not. There was a lot of yelling. Or it could have just been a drunken husband coming home at night.

I had taken art history while at Fullerton College and I was anxious to see the Uffizi museum and the dome that they said couldn’t be done. As well as the brass doors on the baptismal, which had been awarded to an artist competition. They really liked to do to see who would get the commission.

First things first, after getting settled into the hotel then we went back to the train station and had to book an overnight train we would need in a few days. We also had to book a spot for the train to Venice. It was a long wait and everyone was getting tired. It was very hot, this was a record-breaking heat wave and there are not always air-conditioning in these old buildings. Most of the time they really don’t need it, that’s why. As we left we heard two older women talking. Someone was taking too long at a light and we all had to wait on the curb longer. One said to the other “Mama- mia!” I didn’t know anyone really said that, I thought it was just a stereo-type. It was cute.

After that was done then it was time for more shopping. I bought a nice linen top and some things from Cosabella. That night we went to a cafĂ© and then got some gelato later. We didn’t have any dessert at the restaurants since it was hot and we wanted to try as much gelato was we could. My feet were getting really swollen and I was getting a heat rash. So we went to the chemist. Or drug store, I showed the pharmacist my hands and what was going on. He got me a cream it had like lemon in it and worked great. I still have the tube in case I ever go back and can get some more.


The next day we did go to the museum and I was the personal tour guide for my man. I told him all I could remember about the artists. It is really something to see in real life the paintings you studied. Sure you have seen them before, like Botticelli’s Venus. But it is nothing like seeing it in person. The color is different than a reproduction and there is nothing like standing in it’s presence!

We only stayed a short time in Florence. The day after we were left for Venice.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Italy

The train took us through the Alps and into the station in Milano. There was a dog some on brought on the train and the dog just laid in the middle of the walk-way and just let people walk around him. He wouldn’t move at all.

We arrived at the station late in the day and from there had to catch an underground and then walk to our hotel. We kept going in circles trying to find our hotel. After a while we had to break down and get a cab and have them take us to our hotel. I don’t know if we would have found it on our own. After checking in we left to go get dinner.

We walked towards the center of town; along the way we saw a driving school that was teaching people how to ride scooters. They did have training wheels on them. We had to take a photo of that. We found some great shops and went to a cafe for dinner. They did not bring out menus and the owner just named off different dishes and we just picked one. They all sounded great, what I got was pasta with ham, egg and some tomatoes and basil. It was great, after dinner we found a place the sold gelato.

We made our way back to the hotel. The next morning there was a breakfast buffet at the hotel. I ended up eating a lot of yogurt when I am in Europe and the coffee is nice and strong. We had made reservations for this place but not ever hotel on our trip was planned out. There is always ‘last minute bookings’ they are at the train station. When you get a room you can ask for the amenities you want, such as air-conditioning and a bathroom in the room. Not down the hall. Most places have some sort of breakfast included in the stay. It makes it nice to just go down stairs and not have to find a place to eat right away.

The day was filled with shopping; there was a sale at the department store. It was great to see men shopping for new shirts and things on their lunch hour. We found a Prada store and other shops. A lot of great shoes and since it was a sale month, so much the better.

The city was not what I expected. Having heard so much about it in fashion magazines, it was a little dirty and grey looking. The fashion was great and the women did dress well. I just expected it to be a bit cleaner I guess. It was amazing to see women dressed to the nines get on to a scooter in high heels and take-off down the street. I wouldn’t do that, too afraid of ruining the shoes.

We only had one day there and it was off to Florence. The train station was filled with pigeons and not that clean. I took a photo to show how bad it looked. In the photo the station looked great and it looks so much better than in real life. Isn’t that just the way?