We had a great flight to Milan on Easy Jet. I must say, it is great flying in Europe, one because it is cheap, two because the flights are so short. We flew from Prague to Milan in 1 hr, 10 minutes. How great! We are now getting used to using the Euro, and trying not to spend too much money. It can be deceiving!! Can you believe gelato is only 2 euros..oh wait..that is 3 dollars for a miesly scoop!!
Lets see...we made it through immigration just fine. Added another stamp. YES! Our bags even made it. It was starting out wonderfully. Then, found signs in Italian and English that got us to Stazzione Central where we were supposed to catch our 2.5 hour train to Venice. We left ourselves lots of time on purpose because we had a hunch, we could get lost easily. :) We didn't though. Everyone would be proud.
So we stood there. Yep, stood at the train station for about an hour and a half because there are no seats. Now this was interesting to us. No seats in a train station...why would that be? While contemplating, we found a small bench by the bathroom...aka wash closet...which you have to pay for about 10 dollars. Hmmm...another thing to contemplate. We start looking through the "Let's go Europe" book. Andy told me to keep an eye out for gypsies. So I was looking carefully with a scrutinizing eye. Erin, minding her own business reading to me what we should do in Venice. Suddenly I catch eyes with a "sweet old woman" who looks so poor and lonely. OH, SHOOT. I made eye contact! This was the gypsie Andy was talking about. She then (of course) starts walking towards us. Slowly, but surely...she is closer and closer. I realize we are about to be approached and bolt out of my seat. "Erin, LETS GO!" She says..."Huh, what? We're talking about Venice" Erin realizes the gravity of the situation and bolts upright also. :) Ok, so maybe not that life threatening, but from then on out we were analyzing every look, walk, saunter..etc. We are equal opportunity discriminators.
Ok, made it on the train, where they only speak Italian. And only Italian. So, I bring out the handy translator book. It has great things in it, but I realize, you ask a question in Italian, you get a response in Italian. What to do? Sign language right? This is what we do at work with non-English speaking people :) I figured it out. I need a personal translator. Maybe a pocket one that I talk into and then the other person talks into and it translates. Ok, these were the thoughts going through my mind as Erin is sleeping on the train and I am staring out a dark window riding backwards on the train. We go and go. Stop after stop. No Venezia. It is now past 2130 our stop time and I'm a little anxious. Imagine that. Erin still sleeping. :) I get out the translator book and start searching for words. While still realizing, I'm going to get a response in Italian. Ok, I'll go for it. I know a little Spanish...it's close enough. :) The train ticket guy walks past our seat and I wave him down with wide eyes and a small wave. Don't know if that is offensive, but still did it. He stops, I ask politely in Italian if Venezia is soon. He says bluntly in the middle of my poor grammatic phrase....."Next one". I was a little stunned with the use of English. Erin thought it was hilarious that I put in so much effort and the dang guy spoke English anyway!
So, we got off the train, and here is Venice. Beautiful city even at 10pm. Yes, the buildings are sinking and if you don't watch yourself, you'll step from the sidewalk into the canal. The streets are poorly labled and confusing. My parents always told me not to walk down small, dark alleys, but we really have no choice. We did find our hotel though. A very nice man at the counter walked us to our minimalistic room. Literally, a bed and two lights. We are on the canal though which may or may not be a good thing. It smells like sewer at the end of the day and you can hear EVERYTHING because the sounds echo off the water and the stone buildings. But, we didn't come to Europe to stay in our room all day. So it will do. And, we slept well...:) and here were are exploring. Til later!
Lets see...we made it through immigration just fine. Added another stamp. YES! Our bags even made it. It was starting out wonderfully. Then, found signs in Italian and English that got us to Stazzione Central where we were supposed to catch our 2.5 hour train to Venice. We left ourselves lots of time on purpose because we had a hunch, we could get lost easily. :) We didn't though. Everyone would be proud.
So we stood there. Yep, stood at the train station for about an hour and a half because there are no seats. Now this was interesting to us. No seats in a train station...why would that be? While contemplating, we found a small bench by the bathroom...aka wash closet...which you have to pay for about 10 dollars. Hmmm...another thing to contemplate. We start looking through the "Let's go Europe" book. Andy told me to keep an eye out for gypsies. So I was looking carefully with a scrutinizing eye. Erin, minding her own business reading to me what we should do in Venice. Suddenly I catch eyes with a "sweet old woman" who looks so poor and lonely. OH, SHOOT. I made eye contact! This was the gypsie Andy was talking about. She then (of course) starts walking towards us. Slowly, but surely...she is closer and closer. I realize we are about to be approached and bolt out of my seat. "Erin, LETS GO!" She says..."Huh, what? We're talking about Venice" Erin realizes the gravity of the situation and bolts upright also. :) Ok, so maybe not that life threatening, but from then on out we were analyzing every look, walk, saunter..etc. We are equal opportunity discriminators.Ok, made it on the train, where they only speak Italian. And only Italian. So, I bring out the handy translator book. It has great things in it, but I realize, you ask a question in Italian, you get a response in Italian. What to do? Sign language right? This is what we do at work with non-English speaking people :) I figured it out. I need a personal translator. Maybe a pocket one that I talk into and then the other person talks into and it translates. Ok, these were the thoughts going through my mind as Erin is sleeping on the train and I am staring out a dark window riding backwards on the train. We go and go. Stop after stop. No Venezia. It is now past 2130 our stop time and I'm a little anxious. Imagine that. Erin still sleeping. :) I get out the translator book and start searching for words. While still realizing, I'm going to get a response in Italian. Ok, I'll go for it. I know a little Spanish...it's close enough. :) The train ticket guy walks past our seat and I wave him down with wide eyes and a small wave. Don't know if that is offensive, but still did it. He stops, I ask politely in Italian if Venezia is soon. He says bluntly in the middle of my poor grammatic phrase....."Next one". I was a little stunned with the use of English. Erin thought it was hilarious that I put in so much effort and the dang guy spoke English anyway!
So, we got off the train, and here is Venice. Beautiful city even at 10pm. Yes, the buildings are sinking and if you don't watch yourself, you'll step from the sidewalk into the canal. The streets are poorly labled and confusing. My parents always told me not to walk down small, dark alleys, but we really have no choice. We did find our hotel though. A very nice man at the counter walked us to our minimalistic room. Literally, a bed and two lights. We are on the canal though which may or may not be a good thing. It smells like sewer at the end of the day and you can hear EVERYTHING because the sounds echo off the water and the stone buildings. But, we didn't come to Europe to stay in our room all day. So it will do. And, we slept well...:) and here were are exploring. Til later!
Ciao, Buon Giorno, Grazie, Prego...that's all we know!
2 comments:
Your stories are hilarious! I'm glad you girls are having fun and are managing to find your way around Europe!
K, so dont feel bad if you have to punch a gypsy.. afterall, Gramma did it. And if she can punch, you can punch.
I think its funny that you report in military time.. and the fact that Erin was "sleeping" and then conveniently woke up in time to hear the guy on the train talk to you in english! Sneaky Erin.. well done!
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