Italy 2006-4.1

We have said goodbye to Venice, although it seems certain we will return someday. We were perfectly content to just wander the city and be there together, but this also means that there is still a lot left to see. I could see spending some time on Murano and Burano, visiting the Guggenheim collection, and perhaps taking in a concert or play. We really only saw about half of the city and it would be nice to see more. We would absolutely return to the Residence Corte Grimani., but there may be other hotels that also appeal.

We had breakfast and then took the Vaporetto to the train station, picking it up at the Rialto stop. Of course, it is bright and sunny in Venice this morning, as opposed to the clouds and rain we have had the last few days. According to the hotel staff, we should probably have great weather in Florence as well.

The train is a bit of a trip. We are sitting across the aisle from each other in a first class EuroStar train (a very nice way to go). There are many other Americans on the train and they are all taking loudly about their personal lives. There is one young woman proclaiming that all the guys she has dated are jerks, thus she has always had to be the "boss." It makes me wonder why she dated them, as well as giving me incite into why the rest of the world thinks Americans are jerks. This is great, one of the Italians on the train a fairly attractive man, just introduced himself to her. Totally sarcastically, and she didn’t get it.

Luggage on the train is a bit of an issue. There is not enough room for everyone’s large cases, and there is one Italian woman who simply insisted that no one put anything in front of her suitcase, although she has put it in the middle of the luggage rack. Frankly she is being a bit of bitch about it. After sitting behind her for the last hour, I can’t figure out why it was so important. It isn’t like she is getting up and going to it every few minutes. She must be used to getting her way. La princessa…

There was also a luggage travesty. One American got on the train, and the doors closed behind him. This was fine, except that his luggage was still on the platform. The train began to pull out, and he freaked. The conductor calmed him down, and informed him that his only option was to get off at Mestre, about 5 minutes down the line, and go back. They called it in, and collected his luggage for him, and presumably he will get it back. I just can’t figure out why he would get on the train without it. The view from the train isn’t great at the moment, unlike Venice, the Italian countryside is fogged in. Hopefully it will get better. We are getting off in Florence, and there is about half a kilometer to the hotel. Then on to exploring the city.