So, I was awoken relatively early this day, because everyone seemed to be stirring early, and if not, it was punctuated by the radio playing around 8:00, but it was probably best this way. After rousing myself and throwing my clothes on, I resolved to go out to the city. First I met a nice French guy who was sleeping in the bunk above mine, named Jeremy, who was getting his PhD in Geography in New Delhi, India. I went downstairs, got my complimentary ‘breakfast’ which consisted of a roll, and a mug of hot chocolate, oh well, it beat paying for food, and it was a good boost for the day. There I met and sat next to Jeremy again, and his friend, whom he just met, who was from Colombia, though I did not catch his name. After eating and talking briefly with them, I was off to the city. There, I walked around, and found myself looking at some lovely glass pens, but they were €45.0, so I decided to look for a better deal. After stumbling upon the Piazza San Marco, I thought it was really cool, and decided to take a picture, although I did not know what it was at that time. I also, took a picture or two of the Big Ben poster that was there, because I thought it rather odd. I wandered around and came upon many shops and quirky parts of the city, seeing the Gondoliers, even though I was expecting it, was a little stunning, and the Gondolas were just spectacular. I thought that this was one of the most charming and enchanting cities in the world. I wanted just to go and see every odd part, and moreover have someone with me there to explore its true depths. I eventually did find another pen like the one I saw, and this was for €22.00 so I thought it to be a good deal, and it had the ink that the other one had (a point I forgot to mention), so I thought it was worth my purchase and would be the best reminder of Venice, but they also had those beautiful masks and all sorts of things like that.
I actually walked by a haberdashery but sadly it was closed, because they had some very good prices for some very nice hats. I then decided just to wander around the city, from the point of roughly Rialto or so, north, running into many canals and such a long the way, which was frustrating in a way, because they would essentially stop you dead in your tracks. I eventually actually made my way to the train station, and thought it a prudent idea to purchase my ticket to Vienna the next day. This was another pain in the purse as it cost me €70.00, this trip turning out to be a little more expensive than anticipated, but still hopefully reasonable. At the train station, I met these three Canadians who were trying to get a ticket to Florence, and talked with them in line, until they actually got the tickets and left. I then wandered around again and took some of the water buses all over and decided to explore more of Giudecca, I was trying to explore the far side from the city, but it appeared impossible to get back there. I also thought to go back to the main island and there I went up and explored the basilica of San Marco which was very impressive, and I especially loved the various coloured marble columns with the golden pediments. Just for my future reference I will say right here of the places I know I visited are the bridge of Rialto, I went down the Grand Canal, and around the entire two islands (parted by the Grand Canal) as well as many churches. After I got back to the hostel I decided to write much there, since I could find a power outlet (a rarity there to be sure). Upon sitting out in the hallway, where the plugin was, I recognised the Canadians I met at the train station, and they asked me if I ate, and although I did have a little something earlier, I thought it better to take company and joined them for food at a restaurant not very far from the hostel. After eating there, with two more Canadians we had met, we went back to the hostel, and one of they guys, who was very entertaining and whose name was Dan, (the other two Canadians being Dustin, and Sarah) showed me some card tricks, as well as playing Euchre. He was also in the Canadian army, in the infantry, and was a very witty fellow who went to college to study maths.
The other two were most fascinating, because they were just back from teaching English for a year in China. They told me all about their experiences and promised to send me information about it, as I want so badly to do the same. After all of this, Jeremy came back, and he and I talked for a while, and then eventually as the hostel in its usual way promptly shut the lights off, because I guess it was time to go to bed, as we did have a curfew (strict, eh?). So we went to bed, and thus concluded my second day in Venice.