Two Blocks Away And Not A Clue To Be Had

(Disclaimer: I do not have Wi-Fi at the moment in the apartment so I will not be able to update every day.  Also since classes do not start until tomorrow, I do not know if I will even have time to update everyday…or that people will care.)

So just how yesterday 5 hours was not enough to check in and get back to the hotel, waking up at 6 was not enough time to get to Venice by 10.  It is things like that that make me wonder why people love having to rely on public transportation.  Also, small adventure was no one yesterday informing Laura and I that no place will be open to buy bus tickets on Sunday.  Luckily there was ONE place (with a One Direction poster in the window) that was open that sold them.  So we made it to the city around 10:30 and then took almost another hour to figure out our water bus tickets.

Things I read about Venice: “You will get lost.” “If you come across something you like, get it then because you will not find it again.” “Embrace being lost.”

Things I did NOT read about Venice, but found out: “The reason you will get lost is because the street names are freaking ridiculous and not always available.” “Long roads will not tell you what they are, except maybe once.” “The words ‘Dov’e’ Piazza Roma?’ will become your mantra. If you can get back there, you will PROBABLY be able to find where you need to be.” “The reason you can embrace being lost is because there is same things on every road: Venetian masks, men selling bags, gelato, pizza, and tobacco shops (oh yeah, because Italy apparently didn’t get the memo in the 50’s that smoking kills).”

So Laura and I split up to go to our apartments because at this point we were both later than we said we would be.  Though I probably didn’t need to get a water bus ticket, I am glad I did.  It was like a tour without knowing what you were looking at, haha.  Don’t worry, I made up my own facts about things.  Really though, if you want to get some good pictures, just buy a water bus ticket for 7 Euro, it is good for 12 hours and just hop from line to line and take some pictures.  I feel like I might do that one day.  I have to embrace being a tourist at some point.  Since I have a bit of time, I wanted to get my feet under me first, or at the very least not be carrying 80 pounds of luggage with me.

So I got on my water bus and rode it for a few stops.  So everything I just said about being dependent on public transportation…yea, I TOTALLY get the water buses.  They are pretty cool.  And since there are no cars at all, these are actually very necessary.  I got off at the correct stop and realized that there was all of 5 people around.  Thankfully one was an old lady who saw me looking around and offered to help me.  I worked my way through some small streets and emerged on a hustling and bustling road (which was NOT labeled).  I guessed which road it was only because there is only one big road in that area.

Now it was time to guess, right or left. I took a glance at my map, had no idea what it was saying, and chose left.  After walking for a while, I found a new street name, tried to find it on the map, still couldn’t find it and then asked someone what road we were on and where I needed to go. Turns out, I should have chosen right. So I turned around, walked for a little bit more, realized I was getting no where and called Signora Nicosia, my hostess.  I named a few things around me and she said to stay put and she would come get me.

I was literally around the corner from the apartment and had no idea!!!  Hence the name of this post.
I cannot tell you how much of a relief is to have moved in and unpacked my suitcase.  I do not have to worry about it for another 27 days!  Between that and a nice relaxing shower and a nap, I felt so relaxed and ready to face the day.  I set off to meet Laura and find the school.  If I thought finding the apartment was hard, finding the school was 10 times worse because I didn’t have a safety net of someone to call to figure it out.  I knew roughly where to go, though we shall see tomorrow if I remember the way to the square again.  The good news is I was only carrying about 4 pounds of things, and therefore significantly less irritable.  The school’s sign could not be any smaller and after walking around a residential area and consulting two maps, I did a double take on a building I had already passed twice and saw the tiny plaque.

While I was waiting for Laura, I found a book store!  I think before I can buy things though, I either need to find a post office to ship things home or decide what I can ditch.  I also found out that there is a small bar right outside the gate to the school and a gelato place close by.  The whole area is basically a row of bars and restaurants nicknamed University Square because it’s where all the college kids hang out.  It is also where apparently all Venetian kids try to live out their life goal of catching a pigeon.
Laura and I had dinner at the bar just outside the school and followed with gelato.  My first gelato of the trip! Then we walked around a bit because Laura thought we could see her place from the island. Surprise, surprise…we didn’t actually know how to get to where we needed to be.  The view was nice though.  Once I get a chance, I would like to revisit that area and see what else there is.  We parted ways again and the walk home only took me half as long as the walk there.  More surprising and exciting is that I found it on my first try!!  I also never thought I would say this, but thank you mom for making me pack that super bright flashlight.  Once I got into the building, there were no lights that I could find and I definitely had to pee and did not want to waste time trying to figure out the stairs in the pitch black.


((I know I am posting this a few days late, so I have another post I am working on about my first few days of class.  I am going to try to post as much and as often as I can more for myself so I can reread this later and remember small details.))

Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore...

Buongiorno!

After a morning of packing, repacking, weighing, repacking, ditching items, reweighing, and double checking size and weight limits I was ready to go.  You would think having an extra 16 pounds to play with by not flying out of Metro would be a blessing, but that is not necessarily the case.  You still have to fit every thing INTO the size limit and remember that you are going to a city where you do not have taxis or cars to transport your luggage.  I still channeled my inner Tim Gunn and Made It Work with enough room to fit my new Red Wings gnome (look forward to that series of pictures!).

Now let me start my records of my Italian adventure by just saying: the Toronto airport is harder to navigate than the staircase in Harry Potter.  Well, not the airport itself.  Once you are inside, it is easy breezy beautiful, CoverGirl.  But the drive to the terminal might as well have David Bowie as a guide.  It took several turns, asking a man who did not speak English, and a waitress to get us where we needed to go.

Our flight had some more turbulence than I would have liked, but nothing too terrible.  I originally had my row all to myself, but they moved a lady into the other aisle seat.  Not that I am complaining because I was still able to lay down in the fetal position and catch some zzz’s.  Though, did you know that babies can cry for almost 8 hours straight.  I do now. 

From the airport, Laura and I had almost 4 hours to get to the hotel, check in, and then get to the island to meet my hostess so that I could get my keys.  Yeaaa…that apparently was not enough time.  First off, the first bus we were supposed to take barely stopped at the airport. As in, they pulled up, stopped, we stood up, and it drove away.  So we had to wait for another hour to catch it on the next loop around.  Then we got to the second bus stop and I mistakenly put us on the right bus number, but going the opposite direction.  I was just in a panic because I didn’t want to waste another hour waiting for it to come back again.  However, since we were only a handful of stops away from where we needed to be, we had to now ride the bus alllllll the way to the end and back again. Oh, and of course sitting in front of me for a while was a kid wearing a Blackhawks hat. Whatever, GO WINGS!! Beat them tonight!

Now, almost 24 hours from when this adventure started in my driveway, we are in the hotel, I’ve made contact with my hostess (oh yea, I had been trying to call her but stupidly added numbers to their already 20 digit phone number so I felt bad about that), and we are going to grab some food and rest.  Tomorrow we head to the island.  I can’t wait to get this suitcase into the apartment and not have to worry about it for 24 days.

I may also start searching for some flat rate postage boxes to get some of this home.  I do not want to deal with this much stuff again.

Ciao!