Tag Archives: Venice

Venice to Ljubljana – Day 20

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Today we had a later start as our drive day was only going to be a few hours. The drive from Venice to the Postojna Caves was only about two hours. This stop was an optional extra but everyone on the tour did it. The cost was only $22 Euros. We had about half an hour to wait before the next tour so mosty got something to eat or drink at the food stall. Once we were given our tickets we lined up and went through the gate then proceeded through to an underground train station. We caught an adult size kiddy train that took us 2km into the cave. We then got of at a station within the caves. There were actually two trains and we were on the first. We waited at a muster point for the second to arrive before the tour began.

The tour guide spoke good english and lead us around the caves on 1.5km walking tour. The entire cave network was wheelchair friendly. However the train we came in on was not. Seemed like a small oversight in the claim. The caves were be large and very pretty. You were not allowed to take photos so I didn’t take any. The caves have a small animal that lives in the caves which named translates to human fish. It is called this because it is colourless. It is also very sensitive to light. The caves are a constant 8 degrees year around. After completing the walking tour we caught the train back out of the caves and then had around 45 minutes for lunch.

After the caves we got back on the bus and travelled for around to more hours until we reached Ljubljana. We arrived early at around 3:30pm. After checking into the hotel we had around an hour before meeting in the lobby for our walking tour of Ljubljana lead by Kristy our tour guide. The walking tour was only about 30 minutes as there is not a lot to see in Ljubljana. We were shown the main sites then had free time until dinner. I was left with Rhian and a group of the girls who then just wanted to do shopping. They spent over an hour in another H&M store. They all love this place. I sat outside in the cold people watching. Lots of pretty girls in this town.

Before dinner we went back to the hotel briefly before walking back into town for dinner. Dinner was at a traditional styled restraunt in town. I had a mixed meat plate but did not have the horse. One or two people in the group had horse meat which is a speciality in this part of the world. After dinner I was feeling a bit ill. It was first real food I had had in over 48 hours. Rhian and I left money and went back to the hotel and to bed.

Venice – Day 19

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I woke up this morning felt ok. Rhian and I got ourselves organised and went down stairs for breakfast. I went to reception to buy a days WIFi pass then meet Rhian in the Breakfast room. Suddenly everything in the room begun to spin. This got worse and worse and I was also sweating like a pig. I went outside for some fresh air. This didn’t really help. After about five minutes I threw up anything that was in my stomach on the side of the road. I knew I was not going to get to see Venice today.

With the help of a couple of my tour buddies I stumpled up the stairs to the room. I felt like I had been drinking for a day. Could not balance and was stumbling all over the joint. I stripped off and layed on the bed. This is where I stayed for the next 24 hours. Even with my eyes closed the world felt like it was spinning.

The story of Venice is up to Rhian to tell because I didn’t see it.

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Ciao,

Since Nathan was sick, I had a free day with out my lamb. Once I got Nathan to bed with the help of Jason and Tyler as I can’t carry Nathan I am not strong enough. (Since he was stumbling all over the place and me trying to get Nathan to the room as quick as possible) I got him settled, I was going to stay with him, just incase he wanted to go to the doctor but he wanted me to go and see Venice. I quickly got ready as everyone was waiting down stairs to leave. I left him with money, drinks, phone and tablet an left the key in reception if he left to go anywhere and told him to call me if he needed me and i’d come straight back. Then I departed for the day.

Its not a great feeling leaving someone who is sick. I was really worried about him. The only thing I could do is to watch him sleep.

Once I went down to reception, everyone was waiting for me. Krizsty gave me my bus pass with a reciept, just in case it doesn’t register with the swiper on the bus we had proof of purchase. Once we arrived at the busport we started with a walking tour. We walked and she pointed out churches and the best Gelato places to go in Venice. She also showed is the windows in Venice as they are unique to renassiance period of Venice. (see picture below). We went past the museum that has origional “perfect man” picture by Leonardo Davinci. Then we went to St Marc’s Square. Krizsty then told us a bit of history and then we went to a Lace demonistration. It is the only Lace school in Italy, (its a dying art) and the goverment subserdise it to keep it going. The demonstration was very quick. She just showed us how they do it on some work in progress items. They gave is a gift of a doylie with a flower pattened on it. I found it interesting. She spoke of the different styles and techniques used when making lace. It is very percise and takes a long time. Once that they showed us some items that we could purchase if we wanted to, and showed us the different techniques.

Once everyone got there purchases we left to go straight to a glass blowing demonistration which was around the corner. We went into a little room that was very hot. A man was waiting for us, I was in less than two minutes create a little 10 cm high horse. It was so quick. A lady that you couldn’t really hear was telling us about the process. After we went to have a closer look, it was pretty cool. After that she showed us to a room that had glass statutes and glasses, champane flute, animals all hand painted or class coloured. They were soo pretty and cool. Kelvin bought a glass eagle. Every thing is half price for us. I wanted to get a tea pot, cup and saucer set at $1100, but sadly I didn’t as its too $$ and I’d have to drag it everywhere and not break it. In the room you couldn’t take pictures. On the exit there was a glass guitar that I managed to be a shady lady and got a pic of it.

After that we had free time to do what we wanted. I checked in with Nathan if he wanted me to come back, but he was mostly sleeping. So some of the girls went to lunch Cathi, Kristy, Amy N, Asmaa and I went to an resturant called close to the square. I had a Margerita pizza and we all had bruchetta to start. The food was sooo nice, my pizza was relly nice it wasn’t too cheesy or tomatoee it was a great balance and the pastry was very thin. Best pizza I’ve had to date.

Once we ate we did some shopping. There soooo many places to shop, glad Nathan wasn’t with me, I didn’t have the winging and whining (he’s like a little toddler and he wonders why I get shitty and pissed off at him.) He will never go and do what he wants, hence he’s called Lamb, I’m Mary. We wondered through shops, we didn’t go to any churches or St Marks’s Campanille (Bell tower) or St Mark’s Basillica (Church) as I wasn’t that interested. When we were finished we made our way back to the hotel.

We got back around 4ish. I went and seen Nathan, he was asleep. I went across to a supermarket and got him some crackers and poweraid as there was no chemist around. I left him in the room and and went to reception and spent a couple of hours with Kristy. We had dinner at 8, so just before I went to check and see if Nathan was up to go to dinner. He stayed at the hotel. Dinner was a 10 minute walk dinner was a starter of spagetti Bolougnse, main was veal and potatoes and a red wine sauce that I didn’t like. Dessert was fruit and a scoop of gelato.

After I got back to the hotel with everyone I went to bed. Some of the others went out with the other Topdeck group to a pub that was a next door.

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Ferry to Venice – Day 18

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Morning on the ferry from hell. Woke up at around 730 ~ 8am. The room was steaming hot and there was no window to open or air conditioning to adjust. After going downstairs to use the toilet I came back to the room to have a quick shower. Only to realise they do not supply any soap or anything else. I did have a towel though. So I had a quick shower to rinse myself off then got dressed and went down stairs.

Eventually we were allowed into the breakfast room. However our group was not to have the breakfast the rest of the ship got. We were handed prepared rashions. An egg Croissant and maybe a biskit. Was not even allowed a hot chocolate. Tea or coffee only. No milk. I ate my Croissant. Rhian had not shown until after our breakfast time was over. But Cathi saved her and Lucy a plate each to have. Rhian only had a bun, It was soo bad she didn’t eat much. Since we had a crap breakfast, a few went to get a proper coffee she got ripped off and paid 18 euro as the guy said that she gave him a $5 instead of a $20 even others witnessed it and they contested it but still wouldn’t repay her the money. Ripped off and RUDE!!

I bought a drink at one of the bars. A Mars chocolate drink, three euro for a fun size sip of milk. You can buy beer by the gallon in europe but milk or iced coffee is a rare commodity. The rest of the day was spent walking around bored shitless and sleeping. Rhian and I did have lunch together. We had to buy it but it was ok. We had spaghetti bolognese. Was actually good and also had chocolate mousse for dessert.

Finally while sleeping the announcement was given to get out of the room as we were arriving in port. Didn’t have to tell us twice. Apparently some of the people in our group had been told to get out of their rooms earlier.

Getting off the boat was the best part of the trip so far. Could not be more happy to be off that bloody ferry. You won’t get me doing any form of a boat cruise for a very long time. The bus still had about 400kms to travel to reach Venice. We stopped for dinner at an Autogrill about half way to Venice. Everyone was happy for the food at this service stop.

The bus arrived in Venice at around 11pm. Everyone checked inn and went straight to bed.