Chamonix to Venice
Our longest (non flying) travel day so far! We had to rise at 5:00am for a 6:00am taxi ride down to St Ricky Gervais (St Gervais Les Bains!), to catch the local train to Chambery where we picked up the TGF fast train to Venice. This train takes you across the France-Italy border through the ? tunnel. Very pretty country side on the edge of the Alps.
Finally arrived in Venice some 13 hours later. Then a ride on the Vaparetto ferry to Rialto bridge and a rather frustrating 30 minutes finding the hotel (we were within metres of it, but everyone we asked pointed in a different direction).
Lovely meals in Venice as in France & some wonderful sights to see and many interesting nooks and crannies to investigate.
We made it to the top of the Campanile Bell Tower (we were relieved that there was a lift, unlike St Pauls and Notre Dame) & looked around San Marco's Basilica.
Sadly Venice is very polluted, spoiling the beautiful scenery, iconic views and buildings. The thousands of motorised water craft supply all of the transport of people and goods, but something will have to happen before it hits a critical point, if that has not already happened.
Venice is very expensive and was the first place where wireless Internet was not included in the accommodation, but somehow a convenient wireless network magically appeared :))
p.s. As this is published we are in fact on our last full day on the island of Santorini south of Greece. Tomorrow we fly back to London via Athens. So stay tuned for entries covering Rome, Athens and Santorini.
Images:
View of San Marco's Basilica from the top of Campanile
A Skull made of pots and pans and other kitchen ware
The Post Office near where we stayed. Amazingly it is an ex town square that has been ´roofed in´
The locals are always up for a photo shoot!
Blogging conditions can sometimes be somewhat cramped :)
Where have all the pigeons in St.Mark's Square gone? And the people at the Post Office? Jenny seemed to be the lone traveller. Sad about the polution in Venice. Did you climb up in Santorini? Can't wait to hear more when you return.Thanks for the updates with those difficulties. Keep enjoying your selves. Luv P.
I am really enjoying travelling the world with you two!!! When I am having a hard day in the office I switch off for a short time and pretend I am with you.
Cheers Emmy
It sounds like you are having fun Dave. The food is pretty amazing over there,I am jealous. I like the way you said a wireless network suddenly appeared.San Marcos square looks empty,bit different to when we where there. The trains are great to travel on, you see so much more of the spectacular country side. The weather looks like it has been kind to you as well, which is a bonus. Look forward to the next update
Steve M
Hi...sounds like you are having a great time. We didn't get to Venice last year so are planning to include it in our trip back to Italy mid next year! We are thinking of going for a month and spending time in Tuscany with some friends and Cinque Terre as well as Venice. We were at our italian lessons last night and were doing directions. Given I cant' even get this right in english, it was somewhat challenging. Michael has to be the minister for transport and directions and I do food, shopping and good times. Keep enjoying, con affetto, Sabrina
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