Train Journey in Italy: Venice
I booked a flight from Beijing to Venice via Brussels, Belgium on Hainan Airlines through Ctrip. Arriving in Brussels at around 7 a.m., the flight to Venice was scheduled to depart at 9:30 a.m. Including the time to clear customs, it was already very tight, and I almost missed it. It was a close call, thanks to the Belgian police who helped by arranging us to the front of the queue to clear customs. Arriving in Venice around 11 a.m., I took a taxi from the airport to the hotel for 35 euros. The taxis were very orderly, lined up one after another at the airport entrance. We did not stay on Venice's main island; our hotel was next to Westminster Station. Based on tips from other Ctrip travelers, taking a taxi seemed the best option. For our family of three, the airport bus fare would have been about the same.
There are many fast food options at the entrance of Westminster Station, including McDonald's. The Big Mac meal includes one burger, one Coke, and one order of fries. Unlike in China, the fries come with cheese sauce, which I didn't like; I prefer ketchup. Ordering is self-service. UnionPay cards are not accepted here, so we had to use cash. After selecting the meal, we had to choose "Other" and "Need Help" on the machine, which printed out the meal details. We then handed the slip to the cashier and paid with cash. The food is served when your number is called, just like in China.
Taking the train from Westminster Station to Venice's main island is very convenient. Online, some suggest taking a taxi or bus, but since our hotel was right across from the station, I felt the train was the best choice. It costs just over 1 euro to the main island.
Train stations have self-service ticket machines. TRENITALIA tickets are the cheapest, as shown in the picture. You can pay with cash, but UnionPay is not accepted. You must be careful to check the station name and not make a mistake. We don't know Italian, so we memorized the spelling of the main island train station and double-checked it when buying tickets to avoid errors. Also, before boarding, you must validate your ticket. There are validation machines on the platforms, as shown in the picture. Insert one end of the ticket, and the machine stamps the time on it. Occasionally, ticket inspectors check for validation records; failure to validate may result in a fine. Most train cars are double-decker, with interiors similar to China's high-speed trains, but not as fast.
[Venice Main Island]
On the second day in Venice, we officially started exploring. We went to the station around 7 a.m. to buy tickets and arrived at Lucia Station, the main island station, in about 10 minutes. Across the river from the station is a Catholic church, which looked beautiful from a distance, so we took photos. Even though it wasn't yet 8 a.m., there were quite a few people near the station. We walked clockwise along the main island, crossing the Barefoot Bridge, which is the core area of Venice. The streets are very narrow, like Beijing's old hutongs. There are no cars or bicycles. The entire island is crisscrossed by canals, with occasional boats passing by. It is very quiet and peaceful. Most buildings along the streets are four or five stories high, but due to the narrow streets, they appear very tall. Walking and boating are two separate transportation systems; some places can only be reached by boat, but the scenery from a distance is beautiful, and photos unmistakably show that this is Venice.
I have a strong sense of direction, but the maze of narrow streets here still confused me. We passed a church, a typical European Catholic church with no entrance fee. The murals and sculptures were meticulously crafted. A few minutes' walk from the church brought us to the Rialto Bridge, at the foot of which is a market. This Rialto Market is said to be a famous local market, mostly selling souvenirs. We arrived too early; the shops were not yet open, mostly stocking up. They probably start business around 10 a.m. By this time, there were already many tourists on the Rialto Bridge. Finding a good spot for photos required waiting a few minutes. It seemed these tourists, like us, were independent travelers; tour groups likely head directly to St. Mark's Square. But even for independent travelers, the destination is usually St. Mark's Square and the Bridge of Sighs.
Before coming, I heard that toilets here charge a fee. On the way to the square, there are signs with W.C. to guide you. The toilets have turnstiles and coin slots. An attendant nearby can change coins. It costs 1.5 euros per person per use, quite expensive, but the toilets are clean and odorless.
Following the crowd through several streets, the view suddenly opened up. In front of us were the bronze statues of Venice's patron saints, and not far away, the Bridge of Sighs.
At the entrance of St. Mark's Square, there are two tall columns. One bears the "Winged Lion," the symbol of Venice, and the other Saint Theodore (San Teodoro), the earliest patron saint of Venice. This is the welcoming entrance to the city. St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) is very large, surrounded almost entirely by buildings. One side is St. Mark's Basilica, and the other three sides are commercial facilities for shopping and dining. Baidu provides detailed information on the history of St. Mark's Square, so I won't repeat it here. There are many shops near the square, selling various designer bags and clothing, as well as affordable brands like Zara. We strolled and ate, and before we knew it, it was past 2 p.m. There is a Royal Garden next to the square where you can rest.
We crossed the Accademia Bridge, walked along the river to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, looked around outside but didn't go in, then followed the navigation to head back to Lucia Station. I thought about taking a water bus directly to the station, but after studying the dock for a while, I couldn't figure it out. Maybe everyone still had energy, so we decided to walk back to the station, enjoying the scenery along the way since we weren't in a hurry.
At the station, we concluded our Venice trip. With a heart full of memories, we headed to our next stop: [Verona].
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