DAY 25 - Venice

Saturday, 14 May 2005

San Marino
We did get a chance to visit the city way on top of the hill to get a few souvenirs and take a few pictures. Our timing was perfect...we were just leaving as the first of many tour buses were rolling in. This is one cool, laid-back little country snuggled in the Apennine Mountains of Italy...it's totally worth a stop if you're roaming around Italy. Also, did you know...it is the oldest republic in the world!

Grand Canal/Canal Grande
Venice's "main boulevard" through the heart of this floating city...

Venice/Venezia
- Ducal Palace/Palazzo Ducale
- St Mark's Cathedral/Basilica San Marcos
- Academic Gallery/Galleria Accademia
Venice was one big disaster. From the hotel losing our reservations, making us pay for inferior reservations (tiny rooms, sagging beds, smelled bad, no television, etc.) at another hotel even though our first hotel admitted the problem was their fault, steady rain for 2 hours, too many people, unpleasant people...this was Al & my worst experience in Europe. The Palazzo Ducale is definitely interesting to look at but the Galleria Accademia was only so-so. It also poured on us, but Al & I salvaged the day by having a nice dinner after the rain cleared at an outdoor cafe. This is definitely a walking city and the maze of streets can get a little confusing/disorienting at times.

The hotel disaster...
After the fiasco, we go over to the other hotel – a single artist hotel, with rooms that stink. Locke and I are seething...so, I mention to him that we CANNOT let this other hotel get away with what they did – basically "lose" our reservation for 130 euros,
so they could charge 400 euros for the weekend telecom convention that was going on. We go back there and make the biggest scene either one of us have ever made. In the lobby, while other American tourists are checking in, we publicly humilate the owner/manager. Then I do the ultimate – I put my left hand on the inside of my right elbow and give him the Italian version of "f--- you!" and we storm out. Locke and I high-five one another -- at least we were able to enjoy the rest of the day in Venice and make him feel guilty knowing what he did to us. Sometimes one just has to be a little "Italian" and get just as expressive to get the emotions out -- things were already looking better... :)


Bell Tower at San Marco's Plaza/Campanile di Piazza San Marco
The high point for low-lying Venice...

-- Al & Locke