Beautiful Venice
P d G to Venice 8th Dec 2023 Overcast 2- 6 C (whole day)
We finally reach the last quarter of this memorable trip. We have been really fortunate in that, barring from a few hiccups like no shows from travel agents and the bike shop closure on the day we were to go cycling, things had been pretty smooth sailing. Little did I know, that almost at the end of the trip would an tumultuous event happen to me in the train,that made me lose faith in the common good of SOME people. I had blogged about that incident in an earlier post, and if you have interest, please visit my post dated
The agent has landed in Piazza Saint Marco
After a hearty breakfast at the C House breakfast place, we took the 10.40am train to Venezia Santa Lucia station. There was some misunderstanding with an elderly lady but after some badgering, she eventually got up and left to another seat.
When we reached Santa Lucia station, thats where the fun starts. Now, as you know Venice has no driving roads. Canals and water transportation is the main mode of getting around. Of course you can walk, but lugging 20 kgs of big and mid sized bags across multiple bridges is no one's cup of tea.
We saw the same Bangla worker who carries or with his team or baggage handlers manhandles the luggage across the bridges at the water ferry station Ferrovia "A". We tried but unsuccessfully negotiated with him to provide the same service to our hotel. Apparently, it is not legal to do so nowadays.
He offered to provide us a private boat ride to the hotel for EUR 60 which we declined. We motioned to the Ferrovia "A". Water taxis or ferries are numerous throughout the day and night in Venice, so our stop was San Zacharia, near to Piazza Saint Marco.
Apparently my Indian looking face gets me some privilege amongst the workers legal and illegal (smiling as I write this). A Bangladesh vendor selling trinkets sold us 2 day passes worth EUR 10 each and sent us on our way. We were very fortunate for this stroke of luck, because many tourists upon arrival will be muddled as to what exactly to do and buy what and from where.
San Zaccharia is about 30 minutes taxi ride from Ferrovia "A" so I make a mental note as it is best to leave with plenty of time for the water taxi on the 12th Dec - the day of our departure from Venice to Milan.
We reached San Zaccharia around slightly past noon, and find our accomodation for the next 4 nights (yes, the longest we have ever stayed in 1 place since 2016).
Locanda al Leon is all what the reviews make of it. Extremely central in location, it is "perfecto" in all senses, central location, near all the famous sites and restaurants and well managed by the Leon family and their staff. Marco is extremely professional and helpful in this regard.To reach the hotel, you alight at San Zacharia and walk about 100 metres towards Piaza Saint Marco before turning into a small and narrow side lane and leading to the Campo Santi Fillipo e Giacomo. It is just at the corner of the Campo.
Locanda al Leon (4*)
Campo (Square) Santi Filippo e Giacomo
4270, 30122 Venezie
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