The calm befarr the starm!

Captain’s Log: 06 June 2010

I woke up this morning at 12:30 AM and haven’t slept since then. This meant I lay awake listening to Coldplay and Paramore. At about 5 am I decided I would call my family and say hello. The morning air was lovely. My hostel room is so stuffy. Also when you fall asleep fully clothed you tend not be very cool. Heather was also awake around 5 so we decided to hit the town and look for some breakfast. Getting lost yesterday really gave me an appetite—especially since I hadn’t eaten since 5 the day before. Walking around aimlessly again we happened upon a snack bar. I pointed at a Panini and say ‘that’ and the sales clerk gave it to me. I have no idea what I was masticating with my mighty mandibles, but it was good. The meat had a sour taste to it which was rather strong, but tasted lovely with a morning coke. After eating and many consultations with a pocket map we stepped into St. Marco’s Basilica.

It was astonishing. I have seen it before, but that was 4 years ago and I was way more tired. Well perhaps equally as tired. I also saw it at midday when thousands of people gather around and clamor to get inside. This morning, however, it was empty. You could hear the sound of the brooms shop keepers were sweeping. You could hear the pigeons cooing and chirping at each other. A seagull was eating some left over stale bread, surrounded by a horde of enclosing pigeons. It had to assert its dominance more than once. I don’t understand why the pigeons act like they are hungry. In a few hours they would be feasting on the many crumbs left by hurried tourists. We also got to see some children holding bird seed in their hands. They quickly became human perches. A boy’s older sister was rather brave and let two or three land on her at once. The boy was less successful because he had a habit of trying to catch/kill the birds as they got near. Later, much to his delight, one too many birds landed on his sister and she got scared and asked for help. Whoever said “never mix business with pleasure” should have seen this kid scare those birds away. He was delighted at the chance to be a good brother and teach those dang birds a lesson. Not only did he charge and swipe at them, but he let out a battle cry that echoed across the empty square. It was hilarious.

Done watching out of shape people jog by and vendors begin setting up we went back to our rooms to refill our water bottles. With full canteens and fresh legs we began trekking through Venice once again. We are becoming much more adept at finding our destinations. What took us 2 hours yesterday takes us 30 minutes today. Soon we will be like Assassin’s Creed 2 and we will be jumping from roof top to roof top reigning down death from above. Well, I might be. Heather is a woman and thus lacks any physical ability. Also she has no sense of direction lols. We found our way back to St. Marco’s Basilica around noon to find that there were maybe 3000 people. It was a completely different atmosphere. Loud and busy. The church bells would ring incessantly and the heat made you feel rather uncomfortable. It was hard to believe that hours before I was people watching in one of the quietest spots in Venice. Now I was shoving my way through trying to find space enough to breathe.

As the day moved on the hunger Kraken attempted to sink my ship, but I was too quick for him. A ristorante was just around the corner and everything on the menu looked exquisite. I ordered al Pollo pizza, which is pizza with grilled chicken on it. It was marvelous. I really haven’t had pizza on this trip since this late lunch. T to the A to the S – T – E –Y mmm that was tastey!

After the Kraken was sent back to the depths, we went back to wandering. Walking through the narrow shaded streets was awesome. Escaping the sun every moment we got did lead us down the wrong path more than once though. Ironically when we got lost we had to venture from the shadows and see which direction the sun was shining so we could find out which way is North. Then we would slink back to the shadows like that Edward Cullen fellow and try and find our way back to the Hostel. We did come across a lovely couple from Seattle. I saw them taking pictures of each other and I offered to take a picture of the both of them. When they gave me their camera I ran away, it was awesome. JK. They told us they were from Seattle and as I was saying I am from Texas, they smiled and said “we know.” Judgmental sons of guns they are! Psh! Just cause I said y’all, don’t mean I from Texaas! Anyway they told us where we should head next and we followed their advice. It was an adventure type of day, filled with exploring.

Exhausted from my long day, I have decided to chill at my hostel for the rest of the evening and read. My window is open and the sounds from the local restaurants are causing my eyes to become heavy. The sound and smell of the city is like a spell. It is enveloping my limbs and tempting me to embrace deep slumber. I am ready to give in no doubt, but I am trying my best to stay awake. I need to sleep the whole night through so I can enjoy the Venezian evenings not just the mornings.

To all my friends and especially my family I miss you and am slightly home sick. Hopefully, once I meet up with my other classmates I will start to feel better.

More to come.

End Transmission.