I was a bit worried about the whole business of taking the train to Venice, managing getting on and off boats, and also making my way to an early morning plane departure. The more I looked into it the more nervous I became and rightfully so.
I was reassured that it was a short walk to the train station from the cruise terminal. Yes it was only 5-6 blocks. Thats hell and gone for an old lady dragging suitcases over less than smooth side walks.
Money sure solves most problems. A nice port helper took my suitcases to a taxi, for a tip, and I taxied to the train station. Managed to drag both pieces of luggage up two stairs and bought my ticket.
Of course there is no checked baggage on the train you drag it on and hope someone will help you get it aboard and up on the baggage racks at the end of the car. Well as I was blocking passage ways some one did help. Thanks for the kindness of strangers.
Next issue is getting off the train and again if everyone else wants off the train someone will help me and they do. So now I’m in Venice at the top of a wide railess flight of stairs down to where there is supposed to be a water bus. I can’t manage the stairs, let alone my luggage. Well there is a person there for a 10 euro tip will get in down and arrange for water taxi. Now I know water taxi is the most expensive form of transportation in Venice, but what the hell, I have a credit cards and no desire to be in everyone’s way. (I did see how crowded the water bus was.)
So now I’m being personally water taxied in a lovely old cris craft boat to my stop at Rialto where I’m to get off and follow the “short walk directions” to my hotel. Twenty feet in is a set of stairs that go up and then down. I got two stairs up when a nice gentleman helped me up and down. As I was fighting my way along in the crowds dragging my suitcases along when a slightly disreputable looking man came along and volunteered to help me with my suitcases and get me to my hotel. Well I have a history with disreputable folks so of course I said yes, figuring I would just buy a new wardrobe if he ran off with them. He didn’t, he spoke horrible English but was kind and took me and my suitcases to my charming hotel for a nice tip. It is right on a canal, but not my room. No view at all. My room is nice and I don’t have the vaguest idea of what it cost to get me here, but I’ll do a Scarlet O’Hara and worry about it tomorrow.
For lunch I found a cute outdoor restaurant and had the best scallops I have ever eaten. I’m starting to enjoy Venice!!!!
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Signing off KO
Zihuatanejo 