Our bags ladened, minimal amount of this load consisting of clothing and about 3/4 food. Slovak potato bread, Slaninka ( beacon fat) Salami, cheese x 5, peppers and chillies. Anything I have left out will be mentioned...oh yes..Instant noodles, pastieka x 30 (pate), and then, most necessary, a bag of goodies.
After me running off to check the possibilities of a reservation for the night train, usually recommend, but not compulsory when traveling through Italy, I saw 3 minutes till departure, got the information, backed up and rushed off to the train which was caught in the nick of time. The answer to my question regarding space was a negative, but we boarded anyway. We had till Salzburg in a cabin shared with a Ozzie, 2 Hollanders and a South Korean as well as the inter-mediated company of two New Yorkers who kept popping in. We settled in and prepared tea on our cabin floor using our gas cooker. All was well till parting with our seats.
Now expedited to the corridor with another 16+ travelers, 1st sleeping on our back packs and later opening up the mattress to afford a luxurious journey we were on our way.
The next morning awaking in the hills of Italy was a magical experience, we entered a tunnel, had darkness which felt like a life time and arrived in the still snow caped mountains, being summer time this was a magnificent sight to behold, I could feel the crispness of the air as I flung my head out the train window inhaling the morning in deeply.
Destination reached and besides running on empty after the great nights sleep we had enough energy to discover Venice. What a beautiful city, a tourist attraction, geared at enticing and luring in unsuspected shopping victims is needless to say pricey and over the top, E1.50 to use the loo!
The architecture is however beautiful and well deserving of all the hails it receives. The mask shops and little waterways, as well as the flower pots hanging out the windows, tuscan shades and gondolas create a most inciting atmosphere.
This time of year is renowned to art exhibitions...the city is full to the brim with them, there are a series of galleries that get together to have on display art from all over the world. All styles imaginable and another wonderful aspect is that the galleries are not only official sites but we had the interesting experience of stepping into an old stately home where there was a sweet old woman in her dressing gown, looking a little confused as we browsed the collection in her home.
Besides venice being a bit of a tourist trap I'd say it's a worthwhile experience and a part of Italy fit to add to the holiday list.
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