Rendevouz with the city of canals - VENICE

29^th March 2003

We took the tickets from Milano Centrale to Venice.  Its was an Intercity Express.  There were Eurostar also available, but considering that we have to pay almost 50% more, decided to go with Intercity.  We had taken the return tickets also.  The bookings were done on 28th evening.  Milano Centrale is a very ancient railway station, feel like its one of the oldest in Europe.  The fact that most part of Italy is untouched during the world wars I and II enunciates this philosophy.  We have automatic ticketing machines also there in the station.  Here we can take our own tickets and only problem is we may not be able to take the return ticket. Our train timings to Venice, S Lucia station was at 7.15 am.  We got up at 5.30 and by 6.00 came down to the reception and there was packed breakfast for us which we had asked them to keep it ready on Friday night.  Took that and with the Tram tickets purchased on Friday, we took the tram at 6.20 to Centrale.  Reached around 6.45 and proceeded towards the station.  Thought finding the platform would be a herculian task as  the station was very big.   But to our dismay, didnt even spend a minute to reach platform no 7.  Settled down on a window seat and was ready to enjoy the trip.  There was a EuroStart superfast train to Studgard on platform no 6 and that too was expected to start at 7.15 am.  Hoped to see the race between EuroStart and InterCity.

 

To my beliefs, EuroStar took off like a bullest and InterCity made a slow start.  Passed through the lovely country side and rivers and super highways and exactly at 10.40 we reached Venice S.Lucia station.  The narrow patch which even includes the rail lines, is supposed to be the only connection of Venice with Italy.  It was pretty cold and was forced to stick on with my decision to roam around with out my jacket on me. First went to the information center, took and map and enquired about the journey and all.  They were very helpful and they even suggested that since we are three we can go for a family ticket.  Took one and we have to punch that (rather frank it) on our first use and should be with us while we travel. Boarded the boat from Port Roma which is the first point in Venice and proceeded towards the Rialto Bridge.  Got down there and enjoyed the beauty of the bridge.  This is a very old bridge.  Saw some shops over there and was really fascinated by the conventional masks that Venice produces and especially the glass wares that Venice produces.  Believe me lovely glass wares and only problem was they were very very much expensive.  Saw the Gundolas, which are snake shaped boats which we can see in Thailand.  Spend around 1 hr there and then proceeded towards St. Marks Basilica.  Here the  Dogges Palace, St. George Church etc were situated. Decided to go and have some quick lunch and sat in one place and opened and had the food that we took along with us.  After that saw the Dogges palace and St Marks Basilica.  Then decided to spend some Euros.  I was instantly fascinated by a Venice poster that I saw there.  That was also very expensive, if we consider the conversion of Euros to rupees.  After that bought a mask and 4 gondola boats as souvenirs.  After that we went to an island church called the St George Church.  That was a wonderful church on an island. Venice, its totally a water logged place.  You wont believe that this city was built on water.  One mystery (Which probably will remain unsolved in my life) is how they managed to build such buildings in water!!!  Here around 2,00,000 tourists come and go every day and the city of Venice is very expensive.  Very ancient buildings, umpteen no of boats etc are a lovely sight to watch.

 

Then we returned back Port Roma from where we started and had a small snack session and proceeded to the train.  Our return journey was at 17.50 and reached Milano at 20.30.  Finally reached the hotel at 22.00 and slept off. Here due to summer the time is advanced by 1 hr and now I feel there is only 3.5 hrs diff between IST(Indian Standard Time) and IST (Italian Standard Time) On Sunday went to the Sferesco Castle in Milan and the Duomo. This was the second time we went to Duomo but had to go there cos wanted to see the interiors, which we missed the first time. The entry to Duomo is heavily guarded. When we saw the beautiful interiors we understood why !!!! It is so lovely and so huge that its not a surprise that its the second largest church in the world. The Castle is pretty small and if we compare it to the fort in Aurangabad or Agra , this is nothing. But even then we enjoyed seeing it.