31 dec 2007, venice

on the opposite side of Grand Canal, standing outside Santa Maria church

the Grand Canal

99m campanile (bell tower) - built in the 10th century. it suddenly collapsed in 1902 and had to be rebuilt

Basilica di San Marco (St Mark's Basilica)

Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square)

the 3 chinese students on my left were from china. they were studying in a university in turin and were here for a few days holiday. we chatted and walked together to

St Mark's square

Santa Maria church in a distance

see the small shop across? the fruit seller was not very happy with me when i asked to purchase one kilo of apples (i thought sk and i should at least eat some fruits to hydrate ourselves after spending several nights on trains and buses and not eating well).

this fruit seller appeared that he didnt like me from the start and the fact that i did not speak any italian actually gave him some chance to mumble a few words at me with some kind of unpleasant look on his face. not wanting to be rude, i just continued smiling and paid for the apples that i had asked for. i hope he wasn't trying to be racist...

it is easy to get lost in venice. why? because it is built on 117 islands with 150 odd canals and 400 bridges!

so what did we do? just follow the road names, remember landmarks and ask the locals who frowned at us when giving directions. perhaps we look like 2 pathetic blockheads... :p

arrived venice at dawn. we had only about 6 hours to spare here cos our flight to liverpool leaves at 4.30pm.

took a 8hrs night train from croatia. didnt sleep well cos the leg room of the seats were too small. there was not enough room for leg extension and furthermore, the lights on the train were on all night, heat radiator gave out cold instead of hot air and 3 customs checks on board as the train passed through slovenia into italy... *yawn*