Venice

[Viajante]

We're going to be in Venice for about 3 days. How much Italian will I need to know? Is English commonly spoken there? I speak another romance language (Portuguese) but I am not sure how much help that will be in talking to Italians. I really don't want to look and feel like a stupid American who doesn't know how to communicate with the locals.

I had a funny experience in Paris where I ordered andouillete (sp?), even though I had no idea what it was since the menu was in French and the waitress spoke no English. I was being adventurous. When I took one bite and discovered that it was tripe, and from a pig no less (I hate pork!), I didn't eat any more. The restaurant owner came over to me and was unhappy that I did not appreciate this French delicacy. Then he chewed out our waitress for not explaining to me what I was ordering. The entire thing was embarassing for me, and I left the poor waitress an extra tip to compensate. Luckily, this was the only bad experience we had in Paris, everywhere else we had no problem getting around speaking English and some basic French.

For most of the other cities we are going to, speaking English shouldn't be a big problem. But I wonder about Venice...

[LHR02]

You'll have no trouble in Venice either....I surely do not speak Italian and had not one problem. This is such a huge tourist spot, trust me, anyone and everyone you may have to communicate with will speak English. ;D If you'll be there 3 days, take one morning, leave your hostel or hotel, turn one way or another and just start walking, following the crowds. Venice was the ultimate wander/get lost/just explore city I have ever been in. One fabulous town indeed!

ging

[BARATIER]

I speak yet another romance language: Spanish; and I found out that Italians who didn't speak English, would understand me when I spoke to them in Spanish and I did understood then back as well; and I know Portuguese is similar to Spanish.

But like Ginger said, Venice is a very touristy town and you'll have no problem finding someone who speaks Enlgish..

My two cents

;D
Bara

[Viajante]

Thanks! It's good to know the language barrier shouldn't be too bad, And I think I'll follow your advice Ging and just wander around the city one day. No use in trying to keep your bearings when it's almost impossible.

[LHR02]

One of my favorite memories of my trip.....first day in Venice, started following the morning crowd. Wandering down these tiny 'lanes' that you almost had to turn sideways to pass another....believe me, some of the 'strrets' in Venice are a wonder. Anyway, just walking along, no idea where we were heading and BAM......stepped through an archway at the end of this street and there, in front of me in all it's glory was St. Marks Square. Makes me smile as I write this. ;D But even without St. Mark's adventure, just walk.....every street in Venice ends in a beautiful plaza or square or park.....no need for a map, most of the damn streets don't have any sort of sign anyway....although you will often see directional arrows pointing toward St. Mark's or the Grand Canal or whatever. They don't necessrily lead you to said place, but hey, as I said the fun is just exploring. Get your bearings/hostel site via the grand canal and you can always find your way back. All canals lead to the Grand, and from there you are never lost.

One last thought.....compared to most, Venice is so quiet.....no cars or buses. From there I went to land of buzzing bee motorbikes Florence and my first thought there was....it's so noisy! ;D

Ride the water taxi around one day, or morning......and do try and make time to go out to Burano/Murano/Tortello......all of these supplied the 'Venice' of video/books/movies........

Ah Italy! I envy you your trip!

ging

[Kim]

One of my favorite memories is kind of the same..

We were wandering at dusk and the sun was setting on all these small canals, no one in site. We were sort of lost but enjoying it. It was around dinner time and the area was kind of residental so you could here the clinking of someone cooking in a kitchen and the TV out a window of someone elses window, someone calling to someone in Italian...that to me is the real Venice, it's magical!

Kim