Our first day (and night and day again) was spent flying to Venice from Tampa. It was a red-eye flight, so we tried to get some sleep. Brianna slept fine, and even had to be roused in the bright sunshine of a Venetian morning. Our luggage actually made it, but we brought far too much. How could we help it really? We had to pack for daywear and evening wear, for sunny and warm and for cool and rainy. We had to bring enough fun things to entertain my daughter without having too much that wouldn't be used. All in all, between three people there were seven suitcases (four of them large) and it all weighed over 250 pounds. At least Brianna could pull her little valise herself, and that is what she did. First order of business was to find out how to get to our hotel. Once we got there, we could crash. I really didn't sleep on the plane, just watched 27 dresses and the golden compass without sound, finally giving up and studying the Italian section of my European Phrase Book.
When flying into Venice, one lands on the mainland of Italy, but the city is accessable many ways: by bridge (and therefore bus or taxi) and by water (by private boat or vaporetto). The public transportation kiosk was right in the airport, so we waited in line to buy the right ticket to get us to the separate island of Lido. Our bulk of suitcases hindered other commuters and I was treated to my first Italian word: Permisso pronounced like pairmeSSSSSoh. They really manage to get a hiss in those S's. It would not be the last time I heard that word. The Italians use it regularly to navigate crowded streets and get through groups of gawking tourists. Getting all those suitcases and ourselves onto a boat bus was not easy, and aided greatly by the friendly vaporetto drivers. We landed on the island of Lido, re-hooked our suitcases into their long chains and started walking/pulling on the main drag. We were not the only tourists, fortunately, but we were the only ones dragging seven suitcases. Lido was a beach resort and the word lido means shore, sand bar, or beach, or a place to do some swimming. It was a cute town, and we received good directions to the hotel and found it after several rest stops. The flowers were in bloom. We passed by several souvenier shops and cafes and the weather was divine: cool, breezy, perfect humidity. Our hotel desk clerk spoke english and gave us a room close by. My mom in her fatigue tripped up the stairs, and the clerk practically panicked, but helped her the rest of the way, having the maid bring the luggage. Then my mom and I fell into heavy sleep. Brianna actually didn't nap, but played and waited until I was conscious again. Brianna and I found a cafe for late lunch. Brianna had pasta (of course!) and I had a prosciutto and cheese sandwich that was so good that I didn't care if we had to order it off a picture menu from Chinese vendors. We liked it so much that we ate there for dinner.
Afterwards, I wanted to see more of the town so I headed further down the main street. I found huge blooming wisterias in light purple and fragrant white. I found a large statue of fat people hugging. And I found the beach. The lido of Lido. I looked across the vast expanse of water and marveled that it was the Adriatic Sea. I never thought I would be here, and I was so happy I was.
3 hours ago
1 comment:
That is about how many suitcases we flew with to Arizona (and 4 cats). People stared. It was exhausting!
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