Thursday, September 27, 2012

Venice: Living like movie stars…in a tent


Daniel Craig runs through the streets of Venice in Casino Royale. Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp prance around town and cruise the canals in The Tourist. So no surprise I was expecting an equally glamorous stay in Venice.

Not to be sleeping in a tent. Which we were, by the way.

Due to our issues with the soccer and Champion’s League, we had to cut our stay short to only one night. One night in a tent. We’ve done dodgy hostels, come on we can do this.

So the three of us piled into our tent, fitted only with one light, one power point, a bunk bed and one single bed. It was cosy to say the least, but it was a bed. And it was cheap, only €11 each for the night.

It was also clear we had sacrificed location for cost, as we were situated a 10 minute walk and then 20 minute bus ride out of town.

By the time we got into the city we were busting to take a gondola ride through the canals. Our Busabout guide, James, suggested we pick a gondola from one of the smaller canals rather than from the main square, for a cheaper ride for budgeting travellers. He also suggested we go during meal times to avoid waiting.


Ciao bella

The general rate for a gondola ride during the day is €80 and €100 at night. We found a cute gondola captain, Alex, who we negotiated to €90 (€30 each) for the ride. Perfecto.

This was my second gondola ride, but it was so luxurious and relaxing. Alex serenaded us and told us of his family and the local history.


Ready to roll, or float


When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's amore


Their back doors open up onto water

During the ride the three of us were so happy. Melbourne was sleeping and we were cruising the Venetian canals. We even fantasised about being proposed to on a gondola ride (close, but no Trevi Fountain: take note fellas).


Livi is unimpressed with Ash's lack of diamonds 


No cars, just boats


My Corolla would not be welcome here

High on life we sat down for a traditional Italian pizza and a glass of wine, before setting off in search of San Marco Square, the main piazza in Venice.


Pizza and wine, buon appetito!

Venice can be notoriously tricky to navigate, so meeting up with friends who had already been in the city a few nights; we expected them to be able to find their way. Yeah right, they got us to the square, but couldn’t get us back to the bus stop to get home.  


Have we been here before? It all looks the same! Yes, we are lost


Finally we've found you. The Duomo

After wandering around, getting lost, eating gelati, getting more lost, it was time to ask for directions.

I know enough Italian to string together a sentence and get my point across. So it was fun to ask a nice old man for directions to the bus stop, and actually understand his response.

So we were saved and back on our way to our tent. Great, I forgot about the tent.

Although we only had one night in Venice we got to do most things we wanted. Last time I was in Venice I also visited the Doge’s Palace, climbed the bell tower and took a day trip to the islands of Murano and Burano – activities to consider if time permits.

And sleeping in the tent wasn’t that bad, until the early hours of the morning when trucks started driving down the highway next to our fabric walls.

Camping pro, Nikki

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