It was dark outside at the train station. We booked a sleeper train from Rome to Venice and went to our cabin. There was a kind lady that had already settled down who showed us our beds. She had already placed her luggage in the compartment and her black sling bag was on her bed, near the door. Then, someone asked for her help at the door, and she left. People kept walking pass the cabin as Cherrybelly and I were alone to settle down.

When she came back, she looked at her bed and suddenly reacted frantically with very rushed breaths. “Did you see a bag on the bed?” she asked us. “No, I didn’t” I replied first. But Cherrybelly actually saw the bag when we came in.

The lady dashed out of the cabin and came back with the train conductor explaining the whole situation. That bag was full of her valuables, including her passport, IPhone, and wallet! All we could do was watch and pray for the best. Due of the incident, the train was delayed and she eventually had to bring the rest of her belongings off the train and stay another night in Rome. Someone’s bag got stolen right under our noses! I couldn’t believe it.

I felt so guilty that I was not alert enough that maybe I could have prevented it. Maybe I could have helped her. Maybe not. It could even happen to me! But one thing’s for sure is that we were both really shaken up and quickly locked the cabin door and just sat in silence for awhile.

We reached Venice really early, at around 6-7 am where shops were not even opened yet, except for some cafes. So, we got some breakfast at this place that has a really big ‘Halal’ sign hanging on the window.

And got some Smurf-flavoured gelato. (In all honesty, that was just blueberry ice-cream, but hey, it made people like me happy.) At this point of time, we were carrying our backpacks and walking around aimlessly because nothing was opened and our check-in was at 2pm.

All I remembered was the difference before the shops opened and after. I loved roaming through the empty streets, where the light was slowly peeking through the roofs, the rustic feel of the houses that seemed untouched yet preserved and the sea that sparkles in the sun.

Accommodation

Day 1: Generator Venice (16 Bed Female Dorm) Fondamenta della Croce

This place was located away from the main island. We had to take the Vaporetto (ferries that work as their main transport) to reach to another small island across it. The place was pretty clean and had air-conditioning. The toilets were small but roomy enough to use and the toilets were usually vacant by the time I went to use it. The funny thing was the lockers in the room. Cherrybelly and I had no idea how to use the lockers, until the end of the day when we saw someone using it!

We originally thought the locker, shaped like a big safe box, works like a drawer, so you have to pull it out. To no avail. What we didn’t think of was that you can lift the cover up to open it! *Bangs head on the wall*

This was my first time in an actual hostel, so I’m not used to the mingling and being in contact with so many people at once. Thankfully, my bed was at the corner. But in general, being in a small limited space with 16 ladies can get noisy. From groups having loud conversations, to the occasional snoring and creaking of beds and oh my gosh, the constant squeaking of footsteps and slamming of doors even through the night. I did not sleep well on that day.

We explored the place nearby and found out that it was a neighborhood for locals. It’s a pretty place, but quite empty as we were on another island from the main city centre.

Day 2: Casa Linger Hotel

We changed accommodation for the night after because we didn’t want to be late. Our train to cinque terre was early in the morning, we probably had to wake up even earlier if we stayed on in Generator Venice. I preferred this place a lot more than the hostel. It was a little difficult to find at first, but google maps helped (THANK YOU GOOGLE!).

The hotel was on the second floor, and the stairs were freaking steep, I would probably recommend this place only to young people. I can imagine my mother having a very difficult time just climbing up and down the stairs. We stayed in a 5-bed room, and the toilet was a lot more spacious and private. The room was also spacey and a lot more comfy. But it was hot with only one (probably dirty) ceiling fan in the room. Good enough for me.

We met one lady from Switzerland who was travelling solo and she was very approachable and nice. We had some good conversations while we were both in the room. I’m amazed that she learnt 3 languages while growing up in Switzerland and how she always travels solo. (I shall do that one day!) She has also traveled to Asia, but sadly not to Singapore though she did hear about Singapore before, phew! The other two were Koreans. We started talking after she spotted me wearing my Minguk socks (the K-wave is real).

Transport

Get around Venuce either by walking or take the Vaporetto (waterborne transport).

We bought the 72 HOURS YOUTH CARD: ROLLING VENICE for 20,00 €. Which basically means unlimited rides for 3 days, inclusive of other islands like Murano and Burano.  I liked how the whole pace of life here is quite slow and steady.

I remembered reading that Venice was built very differently from the other Italian cities. It was under the territory of a Muslim leader, and he built it to make the houses all look similar, have a main square for people to interact in their vicinity and created this unique path of navigation that somehow is pretty simple for the locals but difficult for thieves and intruders. Pretty cool.

On the other hand, walking in Venice needs a lot of patience. We took the advice of most guidebooks, which was: Get lost in Venice. Explore the alleyways, you’ll never know what you will find!

That was the worst advice ever. We were so lost till we couldn’t find our way back to the main square or find a Vaporetto stop and became very hungry and a little frustrated.

Attractions

I absolutely loved the architecture of the buildings there!

And there were a lot of small sized dogs in Venice. Very cute. I guess the weather there doesn’t allow big fluffy dogs to live there comfortably.

Other than Venice, we also went to Burano and Murano. As usual, many scenic photo spots and we bought a super pretty necklace together! Murano closes pretty early though. We were there at around 5pm and there were only a few shops left opened. And Murano was the place when we were so busy snapchatting our new necklaces that we missed 4 Vaporettos for no reason. Ho ho ho. We still had fun in the process though!

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Of course one other attraction of Venice is the gondola! Did you know the parking space of the gondolas are the wooden poles. Freaking cool (or more like I’m easily amused). Of course being travelers with a budget, we could only watch lovers spending their time together in one.

I couldn’t find a penny presser in Venice even when I googled for the location. They probably removed the machine But I find the shops are so full of antiques, Murano glass merchandise and a lot of pretty stuff (I’m sorry the only vocab I’ve been using is pretty but oh my gosh it’s really pretty everywhere in Venice)

Food

More milkshakes and gelatos and pizzas of course. AMARINO was my favourite gelato flavour in Venice. (how do they make up such nice sounding names just to describe cherries?)  Tried some anchovy pizza in Burano, the sour taste was a bit too strong for me. There was also a time where I was sitting down at a bridge while eating pizza, and a cat kept rubbing my legs. I shooed it away by talking to the cat, but I doubt it understands.

But cherries here are so cheap compared to in Singapore! So, we bought some cherries, from this guy that happened to work in Singapore for 7 years previously. What a small world! He instantly recognized us as Singaporeans from our accents and the fact that a Chinese and Malay is travelling together (the effects of multi racialism, booyah).

There were a few halal restaurants in Venice. But it was all at secluded areas, where we had trouble finding it so we gave up after looking for it for 1.5 hours and ate whatever we found nearby that was cheap. Right after that, we found one. Sigh. Then, when we were not looking for it, we happened to see 4 halal shops. Yes, I counted. *cries*

Conclusion

We initially wanted to skip Venice because it was the most out of the way from our other destinations. But, we somehow couldn’t let go because firstly, it is sinking and we may never get to see it at all in the future. Secondly, it’s Venice?!

I had a pretty mixed vibe with Venice. It was amazingly pretty, but super crowded with one of the largest groups of tourists I’ve seen among the cities we traveled to. I think in general, Venice is an expensive place, and the place was a little smelly. But hey, that’s the beauty of travelling. Look past the tourists, focus on the beauty of the place. I would still visit this place again ^^