Venezia (Venice, Italy): Traghetto-ing in San Polo Quarter
Gondola rides in Venice are steep; they start at approximately €90 for 30-45 minutes and interestingly the prices go up when the sun sets down. Is it because people think it is more romantic to paddle along the canals during sunset?
Anyway, I am not really keen on doing the gondola ride thing, maybe because, okay I am just theorizing here—firstly, I live in the Netherlands and canals here are as normal as breathing, and secondly, it’s just a boat. In the Philippines we have similar boats sans the fancy design and black glossy paint that we call ‘bancas’ (outrigger canoes with wings).
Traghetto Experience
Nevertheless, we were tired from walking and were ready to go back to our hotel in San Marco or sit in a nice café terrace and sip some lekker espresso and cappuccino—there doesn’t seem to be nice piazzas in San Polo, but we didn’t want to trace back our footsteps. The big question: What is the best and fastest way to get to San Marco? Taking the vaporetto was an option but I’ve also read that there are traghetti (singular: traghetto) that crosses the canal. A traghetto is a public gondola taxi with the main function of shuttling passengers from one embankment to the other (just right across!).
Blondine was a bit reluctant about the idea. She doesn’t like boats, small boats in particular, it makes her uneasy, but I managed to convince her that it will be her quickest gondola ride ever and it’s going to be the quickest way back to our hotel as well.
Now, this is the traghetto service in San Toma, San Polo Quarters:
A family (tourists like us) excitedly board the traghetto, and so Blondine and I quickly jumped on board as well making sure we both don't fall off the boat. You know, I am not very confident with my swimming skills.
And so we sailed! Ahoy! Albeit quickly, hehe.
In less than 5 minutes we have left San Polo and were disembarking in San Marco. That was fast. We’ve successfully crossed the Grand Canal! The experience may not be the same as the plush gondola ride with a singing gondolier, but still, we did cross the canal in a gondola, just stripped off from its luxury, haha.
Fare was €0,50 per person. Cheap, fun and cool, huh. You should try when in Venice.
San Polo Quarter in Venice
This quarter of Venice is tamer and cheaper. There were still tourists getting lost in this area but not as crammed as in San Marco.
Travel Period: April 2010
Destination: Venice (Veneto), Italy
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Anyway, I am not really keen on doing the gondola ride thing, maybe because, okay I am just theorizing here—firstly, I live in the Netherlands and canals here are as normal as breathing, and secondly, it’s just a boat. In the Philippines we have similar boats sans the fancy design and black glossy paint that we call ‘bancas’ (outrigger canoes with wings).
This is by the way the gondola service, not the traghetto in Rival del Vin, San Polo. Traghetto's are gondolas but they are not pimped up like the one in the picture and the sailoe does not wear a bee (striped black and white) costume.
Traghetto Experience
Nevertheless, we were tired from walking and were ready to go back to our hotel in San Marco or sit in a nice café terrace and sip some lekker espresso and cappuccino—there doesn’t seem to be nice piazzas in San Polo, but we didn’t want to trace back our footsteps. The big question: What is the best and fastest way to get to San Marco? Taking the vaporetto was an option but I’ve also read that there are traghetti (singular: traghetto) that crosses the canal. A traghetto is a public gondola taxi with the main function of shuttling passengers from one embankment to the other (just right across!).
Blondine was a bit reluctant about the idea. She doesn’t like boats, small boats in particular, it makes her uneasy, but I managed to convince her that it will be her quickest gondola ride ever and it’s going to be the quickest way back to our hotel as well.
Now, this is the traghetto service in San Toma, San Polo Quarters:
A family (tourists like us) excitedly board the traghetto, and so Blondine and I quickly jumped on board as well making sure we both don't fall off the boat. You know, I am not very confident with my swimming skills.
And so we sailed! Ahoy! Albeit quickly, hehe.
Blondine and moi crossing over the Grand Canal from San Polo to San Marco. Picture, picture of course, haha.
In less than 5 minutes we have left San Polo and were disembarking in San Marco. That was fast. We’ve successfully crossed the Grand Canal! The experience may not be the same as the plush gondola ride with a singing gondolier, but still, we did cross the canal in a gondola, just stripped off from its luxury, haha.
Fare was €0,50 per person. Cheap, fun and cool, huh. You should try when in Venice.
San Polo Quarter in Venice
This quarter of Venice is tamer and cheaper. There were still tourists getting lost in this area but not as crammed as in San Marco.
A Venetian mask mannequin in Campo San Toma - eww, it's giving me the creeps haha. The Chiesa di Sant’ Aponal in Campo San Aponal, San Polo.
Venetian delicacies. I’m not the sweet tooth type so this is a pass for me. The cashier was actually laughing at me when I took these fotos, he thinks its weird—what’s in those sweets that makes it so special to take fotos of? Well, its food and culture.
Laundry on Calle del Todeschini in San Polo.
Destination: Venice (Veneto), Italy
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
