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Published: June 27th 2005
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Date: 27.12.2004
Destination: Milan and Venice, Italy
Day: 1
We started our 6-7 days trip to Italy and Switzerland just days after Christmas and days before New Year. I bought a Eurail Ticket for 3 countries (Germany, Italy and Switzerland) and have it sent to me straight from Malaysia. This ticket let me use any of the fast or slow train for a total of 6 day. Cheaper compare to point-to-point ticket. So, off we go to Milano for our first stop. We went there with the night train from Duisburg and the journey is from 7pm until 9am. It was pleasant because not much people on the train and it went pass the Switzerland border. For the first time, I saw snow and lots of them, blanketing the whole small town. I am not sure which town, either Lagano or Luzern. We were checked by army when we cross the border but nothing much happen.
The next morning, we reached Milano. It was cold and breezy but we were excited. The main reason to come to Milano is surely for the Milano Church. We used the Metro to Piazza Duomo where the Church is but so greatly dissapointed
is that the main face of the church was covered with big cloth for renovation. It has been going on for quite some time already, a few years. But nevertheless, the other 3 sides are visible and quite stunning. There are a lot of small statues build around it (goygoyles) and almost every part of the church is made from marble. After some photos, we went inside the church. Amazing! The interior is dark but very large compare to a lot of other churches and around the wall, old and large paintings of Christianity were hanging. It was the first time I enter such a famous church.
Then we went to 'the most beautiful shopping center in the world' just beside the Church. It was actually a part of a old building similar to the church but they modify it to become what it is today. Really nothing special inside but the entrance was unique. A semi-circle shape! I read from the internet that we should find a bull picture on the ground in the complex and step on its 'balls' for good luck, I assumed. But somehow, we couldn't find the bull. Haha...
Actually, for my opinion,
Milano is boring and nothing much to do and luckily we just have a few hours to spend here. We take a walk around and discover a small fort few kilometres from the church and some art exhibition along the road. That's all. So at about 2pm, off we go to Venezia. The journey took just 3 hours.
Venezia or Venice is for my opinion, the most amazing place in the world! The train cross the bridge to an island and that is Venice! A whole island with canal and boats and gondolas and no cars and no bikes. The whole small island is full with old houses, some facing the canals, and lots of small piazzas and alleys. At 5pm, it was getting dark so we checked into our hostel immediately, just a few walk from the train station. One can see a rows of small tight shops, some selling souvenirs and some restaurants, lining along the way. Really no cars or bikes! We had our dinner in a small coffee house proclaiming 'the best pizza and spagetti in Italy' and it was nice. We had some typical Italy set dinner with a bit of spaggeti, pizza and
lasagna. A must or you can't say you are in Italy!
After dinner, we had a nice breezy walk. We walk pass a lot of small bridges and saw a lot of canals and the main Grand Canal. Boats and Gondolas were all along the Grand Canal ferrying people around. There was a lot people around walking aimlessly as we were, haha! After half an hour walking, we realise we were lost! The weird thing is there are still a lot of people around. As we walk, suddenly there are just one or two person along the road and then the next road, so crowded. Really aimless... After a few hours, we decided to head back to the hostel and we ask for direction eventhough we have a map in hand. Shops are closing but still crowded with people. We had a good nice sleep for the next day journey.
Date: 28.12.2004
Destination: Venice, Italy
Day: 2
To have a taste of the real Venice, we woke up early. A nice cup of coffee is what we need to get us going but a coffee is an Espresso in Italy? It is small and very bitter. People are setting up stalls and having their breakfast. The street was lined up with a row of short tables and now I found out that it is actually for people to walk above it. The morning brought in the water from the canal and it flooded the area so this is one of the way to keep dry. Very interesting! Even though it is still early, people were everywhere to be seen. We bought a day ticket for the boat. This ticket takes us along the Grand Canal and also to some of the island around.
I guessed Venice is a lot nicer during the day than at night. This time, you can admire the building in its splendid colours and the designs. Along the Grand Canal, the building is half sunken and one can drive a motorboat into the main entrance. Hotels and restaurants and even some royal residents lined up the Grand Canal. As the boat was going from one stop to another, we can really see the uniqueness of this place in a slow pace. Too bad we can't sit the Gondolas, I heard it was very expensive. The boat brought us to the main part of Venice, the St.Mark and Piazzas.
This San Marco square is the main symbol of Venice. The Bassilica and St. Marco Bell Tower was the most frequented place by tourists. The whole square was flooded by the tide water making it so interesting. Some walked above the lined up tables while others wore some special rubber shoes. Pigeons roamed around freely and they "seem" friendly. After some photos, we went walking around the alleys again trying to find some food but found McDonald instead. I wonder where in earth will we won't find McDonald? But it cost a lot too so we had some sandwiches for lunch.
We strolled around the alleys and along the canals. Venice is actually a whole big tourist place but definately better during this time compared to during summer when it will be full of people. There are alot of stalls set up selling souvenirs, from carnival masks to T-shirts. I bought some of the MUST buy mask and it cost a lot. After walking for quite a while, we decided to sit the boat further, maybe around the main island. Not realising how far the ticket will took us, we reached another island, Murano and decided to visit it. This island is famous for its glassware and there are many shops selling it. But really not suitable for a student like me. Too expensive.
It was quite late when we reach back to the main island. We headed to the San Marco square again to have a look at the night view there. Nice with all the lights and lamps around the square. Weird thing is that the Bassilica was not lighted too brightly, just dim. The pigeons were long gone. After having spagetti for dinner which is the cheapest food one can find in Venice, we bid farewell to this magical place and headed to the train station waiting for the night train that will take us to Rome, Italy capital.
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