Our goal was to be on the road by 9:30 or 10. I think we left at 9:45. Good job! Our next stop is Mestre, which is just 10 minutes out of Venice. Our drive from Terricciola to Mestre via the autostrada took us from Tuscany’s rolling hills, vineyards, and cypress-lined roads to the Apennine Mountains, with tunnels and viaducts offering stunning valley views. As we descended into the Po Valley, the landscape flattened into agricultural fields and transitioned into urban and industrial Mestre. The rivers were swollen and muddy all along the route, I’m hoping Venice isn’t flooded.
There is a speed limit on the Autostrada: 130 kph. If it is raining, the speed is reduced to 110 and for fog: 50. Good luck with that. I had fun puzzling out the various signs along the route. Lisa and Ty needed to work while we traveled, so they were in the back occupied. What we finally did comprehend is the speed camera system. they measure how fast you took to get from point A to B. After the introduction of this system, fatalities went down EIGHTY PERCENT! We thought each camera was taking your speed at that moment.
Our vrbo host, Carmen, was a card. She spoke very little English and we speak very little Italian (frankly, shame on us–who lives in Italy for 3 years and doesn’t speak the language?) , but we managed to get checked in. We were going to take the train into Venice, as that is what we knew. I wish I could describe her animated exclamations of horror – No! Why take the train? Take the bus! 10 minutes. Mamma mia!!
So, that’s what we did. We woke up to a gorgeous sunny day. We found the bus, and it has a tap and go – so we are set. Yep, just as Carmen described. Very easy. The bus drops you off at a bridge that leads right into Venice. We have never seen this entrance and had no idea – as the train station is just a bit further in.
We stop and have an amazing cappuccino and pastry and wind our way to the Rialto and San Marco square. We shop along the route – I don’t remember it being so hard to actually find the square – we have to finally plug in google maps. The sun is out, and so is everyone else on this beautiful spring day. We take an audio tour of San Marco square. We also decide to take the public waterbus around the island. It is line 2.
We purchase our tickets and lucky! we secure some seats outside in front. We enjoy the sights from the water. Maybe not so lucky once we head out of the protected waters – it is windy and chilly. Our tickets are good for 75 minutes. We think we are headed back to San Marco but the bus stops one stop shy. We sit there and wait. The driver finally taps on the window. Out! This is the end of the line. Oh haha. Okay. We had ten minutes to spare.
We wander over the bridge of sighs. We are in the midst of a tour group. I head off to the side to get out of the throng. The rest is kind of a mystery how such a violent injury happens from an uneven surface of maybe half of an inch? So slight! But I am walking and then in an instant – I fall and it is quick and hard. My head hit the cement. Hard. I am laying and there is the usual circle of people murmering. Is she okay?? I can tell I am not. I have done something dreadful. I lay there for a bit. Slowly but surely I am helped to my feet.
Jim and I tell Lisa and Ty to please finish exploring, have fun, eat some dinner. They know the way home, we are going to make our way back, get some ice and assess the situation. Imagine an annoying person you know who has absolutely no pain tolerance. That’s me. The return trip was no treat for either of us.
Good thing the freezer at the vrbo looks like it has never been defrosted. Jim chipped some ice out for me. Lucky for me, he has some prescription strength ibuprofen from his shoulder surgery. Who knew it was going to be for me and not for him?
The next morning I look up symptoms for a broken clavicle. I have every one of them except the grinding noise of your bones. (thank you Jesus). I am armed with an Italian translation for the doctor – we are heading into the emergency room. Lisa and Ty sign up to tour some of the Ventian islands. We head our separate ways. Grateful that we bought some travel medical insurance since we were going to be gone so long.
paleremo presto
Wow-ee! So sorry to hear about this. I’m still one of the fortunate ones to have never broken a bone but have been in situations where I was sure that I had! When I was at F.E. Warren, I was riding my road bike down a hill and my front brakes became detached and ripped my front wheel off!! I hit the pavement in a microsecond, and was sure that I had a broken clavicle, road-rash, etc, etc. It occurred on Lincoln Highway a main thoroughfare. Nope, not one motorist stopped to assist. I walked (limped) a mile and a half home with busted-up bicycle, carrying the front wheel. Boy, did it hurt! But, surprisingly no broken bones! Whereas, my son James broke his clavicle hitting a slight, uneven surface and falling from his road bike in Austin, Texas. Go figure 🤔? Hope that you continue to mend with No “lingering” pains. Enjoy the remainder and be safe.
Wow!! That is awful that no one stopped to assist! We drove to Barcis yesterday. I had Jim take some photos for you. They have definitely drawn it down for construction. It was still a beautiful drive, even though now a major portion was a big tunnel!
Yes. I forgot to mention that..the drive to Barcis was more akin to a highway road than the serpentine, cliff-hugging trip that I remember. Do you remember the road carved through the small mountain? Not the super-highway of today. Glad you enjoyed the drive.