Venice, Italy - The beginning of The Cinque

When I left Avignon, I took the overnight/sleeper train to Venice, Italy. The train ride was pretty uneventful, and if it hadn't been for the ladies from the UK showing me how to put down the bed, I would've been sleeping standing up. There were five of us in our "suite". The ladies from the UK, who were traveling to Greece for a week. Elvis, a young-ish Aussie who didn't have much to say, and kept running his hands through is wavy blonde hair, and an older gentleman traveling back to Venice from a business trip.  Once I got settled in, it was actually quite a pleasant ride. The motion of the train helped to rock me to sleep. The bed wasn't very comfy, and sleeping in my clothes felt a bit confining, but it was nice to watch the night sky go by out the window.  


I arrived in Venice around 9 am, and made my way to the Hotel where I would meet up with Lisa, Michelle, Robin, and Susanna. They were flying in from Portland, and after a couple of days in Venice, The Cinque (us five girls) were heading to Como, Italy for the Swing Crash Festival and dance camp. I can't tell you how good it was to see them. I really needed a dose of "home", and they brought it. Plus, they speak Italian. Me? not so much. 


We stayed in the heart of Venice in an old Hotel call the Pacifico. It was a little challenging to find on the small streets and alleys , but a really nice man who had lived there all his life, walked me through the maze to the door. 

tiny balcony view

 I chatted with the concierge until the ladies arrived. She was studying to be a lawyer, and wanted to practice her English with me. She was really nice to talk with, and had lots of suggestions about what to do while we were visiting. The ladies showed up an hour or so later, soaked, due to the rainy weather. They had to wait a while for the water taxi to pick them up from the airport - but said it was a fun ride. 

Susanna, Robin, Michelle, and Lisa

We got settled in our rooms, (which had the most amazing Murano glass chandeliers), dried off, then hit the town.

lovely. 

It rained on us the whole time were there, but it didn't matter. We walked the streets and saw amazing sites. We must've gotten lost a dozen times, but it didn't matter one bit because the more lost we got, the more great views we saw. We always made it where we were going eventually. 

the "streets" of Venice.

 the water came right up to the side walks. so cool.

We had a lot of good meals (one meal came with dancing waiters!), saw some great art, and went to Murano for a tour of a glass blowing studio. It was  a really good time! My camera kind of crapped out on me or I would have more pictures of our adventures, like being in St. Marco square when it was knee deep in water. We all waded out in it to get that perfect shot of the Cathedral. There were lot's of tourist humming "Singing in the Rain" there. I think folks must have given up on the weather after a while. 

who cares if we get wet?! we are in Venice!

I mean when you are already surrounded by water, what difference does it make if it is pouring from the sky too?!