Lost In Venice

Hi Koko, 

The last entry became a little intense, didn't it? To something lighter then. 

In continuation to our last adventure at Pitti Palace, today I will talk about the time we got lost in Venice. Yes, you read it first here - we were lost!

So this was our first trip as a family and we were super excited. Venice was our first stop and we were staying overnight on the mainland and would take the ferry out in the morning. 

We initially wanted to catch the sunrise at Piazza San Marco, which is the central square of this quaint town. The majestic St. Mark's Basilica is located here. But of course given the extreme cold (our general laziness & disappointment at having lost your stroller at the airport the day before) - we decided to sleep in. Not wanting to waste any additional time in the hotel we headed out without having breakfast. There would surely be some good food in the food capital of the world! We headed to the port to catch the vaporetto or the waterbus (which is what the ferries are called). 

So we walked out in the chilled air and headed to Piazzale Roma from where we would have to get the vaporetto and head to Piazza San Marco through the pretty canals. Upon reaching we saw many groups of people spreading confetti  and dressed in Venetian corsets and whatnot. It seemed we had walked into the set of a Shakespearean drama. Correction - it felt as if we were Muggles on 9 and 3/4. 

While we mulled over what was going on we walked into this small yet busy eatery. We quickly had a breakfast of a simple egg mayo sandwich and it was easily the BEST ever. Risking making an unpopular opinion it was even better that the highly Instagrammed Florence sandwich

A little conversation with these groups later, our mood was immediately uplifted. Coincidentally, we had landed in Venice during the Mardi Gras Carnival! This was such a happy surprise , we wished we had one of these costumes or masks as well. The Mascherari (mask makers) enjoyed the privilege of their own guild in Venice during their own time. 

We were most excited to be sharing the vaporetto with these performers. Once we reached, we realized that a great crowd had gathered as the carnival parade was to begin shortly. We got a little preferential treatment of course, thanks to you. We were in the front row looking at this amazing parade. People were so happy - dancing & singing in every lane - all was beautiful with the world that day. 

But we had a train to catch so after the parade we rushed to look for a lunch place. We found this charming little place where we would enjoy some bruschetta and spaghetti. Even here I could not use any of my well practiced Italian sentences. As soon as we walked in, me complaining of how late we were, you looking for a bathroom and your father trying to be calm, the owner of the restaurant approached us and smiled, "আপনরা কি বাঙালি?"

We spent some obscene amount of time at the lunch. I was getting paranoid as we had to head back, get the vaporetto, go to the hotel, pick our luggage and get to the train station. But you know how your father gets: "You are being uptight Amu"; "Go with the flow" etcetera.

Anyway, we got out with around 15-20 mins to spare. It was rather touch and go and I could see that your father had his game face on as he confidently keyed in our destination on Maps and started walking. Very fast. We could hardly keep up but we tried. It is important to point out that between the two of us we just had one functioning phone which had offline Maps as the puny and sleepy Venice airport had zero shops selling any local SIM cards and it was a Sunday. People just don't do anything in Italy on Sundays.

So your father was striding ahead and we were lagging behind. The streets were still full of revellers from the Carnival who were increasingly appearing annoying to me as I lugged you along the cobbled stone walkways, which was completely deterring my speed. For all the narrow canals and lanes that we were crossing, it did not seem like we were anywhere near a waterbus port. All the lanes looked the same and I felt like were just going around in circles.

It was pointless to ask your father because he was definitely not within an earshot. Also, he has this personal principle of not asking for directions to human beings but rely on a piece of code. Maps has misled us before, but more on that later.

After struggling for around 10 mins he suddenly stops, his shoulders slouched and he looks at me and says "Amu, I think we are lost"

In my head I am screaming, but outwardly I boost him, "If any one can get us out it's you"

Suddenly he is inspired and sprinting full speed ahead and we lose sight of him . I have you on my lap (because you can't walk anymore), I have no phone and I am just standing at a crossroad. Providence smiles and I spot a policeman. (Maybe I can use my Italian?). We realize that we were to go to Piazza Roma (the waterbus stop) and instead we had been going towards Venezia Piazza Roma (the bus stop) - yes those are the names of two distinct places!

At the same time I spot your father returning. He has also realized we are at a land bus stop instead of the water one. No time for blaming, so we get up on the first bus leaving. It does not drop us directly in front of Hilton but the driver assures us it is just behind the hotel. We have to make a short walk (again!). We realize upon getting off that this might be a graveyard we are walking through. Once we reach the hotel and get our luggage, we had missed the bus to the train station, but the nice people understand our plight and arrange for a cab which gets us there on time.

Oh what a day! But why Venice, why do you have to trick us so? When in Venice be very very careful of the words you use, they need to be exact.

Act IV, Merchant of Venice;

Portia: "The words expressly are "a pound of flesh" --- take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in cutting it, if thou shed One drop of Christian blood..."