Vienna to Venice

This morning we set off at 9 for Venice.

We drove through many tunnels - I'm terrified of tunnels - or should I say was terrified of tunnels. As they say practice makes perfect. I now have no worries with tunnels - in fact they were a nice break from the rain.

We were so high up we had escapee bundles of cloud floating beneath us. The mountain ranges (which husband advises are merely hills) were stunning - apparently I will see real mountains later in the trip. The streams and waterfalls coming off the mountains were amazing and we could imagine the raging torrent the rivers turned into that the streams fed in storm time.

The Austrian motorway we travelled down was immaculate as I have now had the pleasure of realising they are a very efficient culture as the germans but dare i say with far more flare and glamour. Lovely to see the Austrian houses and their designs on the hillside as we flew past.

It was very exciting to cross the boarder to Italy. I can't believe its taken me 42 years to get to somewhere I've always dreamed of. I did have a little girli tear to myself.

We arrived at approximately 3.30 to Venice. We drove straight across to the island. Something I did not realise you could do. Naturally this will work out very expensive for parking - we think £60 for our two night stay but husband said its far better than parking miles away and getting connections which will all cost plus time and effort. So we parked on almost the top floor of the car park.

It appeared the only way down was down an open tread metal staircase. I couldn't believe it to be true - what sort of place was this that catered for travellers by making them walk this staircase of fear.

Husband kept shouting at me it was the only way and I had to just get on with it immediately. I kept saying I couldn't do it. To say I was mortified was an understatement. It was high - and you could see the ground.

Well I had no choice so I went for it. Husband said he couldn't even keep up with me at some stages. I was going for gold. My legs trembled for a good five hours after.

When we made our way to the exit we realised there were in fact lifts and we had come down the emergency exit framework. Well something for us to giggle about when I get my sense of humour back and at least I did it. It didn't shake anywhere near as much as I thought it looked like it would and I won't have to spend two nights worrying how to get back up to the car - I don't think I could have managed going up as well as I came down.

It took quite a while to find our hotel and a lovely old boy with his shopping basket stopped to give us directions. Apparently he has lived here 40 years but never heard of our hotel which was a bit worrying but we took his directional advice and once we had arrived in square s. thoma we phoned the hotel who sent their bell boy to find us and bring our bags.

Our room is a stunning boudoir. Very Venetian palace. It has only been opened for two months the concierge advises it used to be apartments for old ladies. Lots of hi spec to keep husband amused although he's disappointed you can't see the bathroom tv from the loo!!! Husband tipped the lad who brought our bags five euros - we have no idea how much we should tip at such times.

We had a quick wash then out for a quick walk at 4pm. Husband said not long as early night for big sightseeing tomorrow. Famous last words.

We walked and walked and walked - I found it all quite disorientating and so so so busy in fact rammed. I thought the architecture or what I could see in the crowds was stunning but all the souvenir shops of tat reminded me of Blackpool on a bad day.

I insisted around 8.30 we stopped for a drink and something to eat - I was still shaking from our car park staircase fiasco. Unfortunately I picked what I thought was a sweet out door romantic setting - which infact turned out to be the most over priced pretentious place possible. Husband was still looking at the menu outside when I was already seated and ordering drinks.

Well that was the most expensive drink I have bought my husband. A water, pre secco and a beer £27. Ooops. Still I took the hot as it was my fault we had stopped there. After we had changed our minds about eating there after reviewing the menu and deciding 55 quid was a bit excessive for a chop about three waiters appeared from nowhere and stripped or table of glasses, bread sticks and cutlery with what could only be described as disgust at our decision not to eat from their menu.

Husband was not at all happy we were embarrassed to be treated so angrily. The wind blew my drink over when the waiter came to get my card and husband insisted they provide another so at least I had one and three quarter preseccos for my £27.

Expensive mistake.

It took a Kim time to find s. marco square. Absolutely vast, stunning, over priced and rammed with frantic tourists all taking the same photos and looking at the same repetitive souvenirs.

We found our way home eventually exhausted and with mixed feelings on my trip to Venice a place I had always dreamt of.

Well tomorrows another day I hope it will be what i hoped for. Today jury's out on that score.