Italy | Travel Gracefully

City Night Line (CNL) trains are operated by Deutsche Bahn. A wise option by saving the daylight hours and allowing you to rest up, especially if you’ve travelled throughout this region previously.

A three-bed compartment at 55.00 Euro per person is ideal for families. However, you still need to use one day on your Eurail Pass. But the great benefit of departing after 7:00 pm at night you will be able to record the time and use the following day for further travel.
Note: Prices are based on low season and adjustments are made for high season levels. An early reservation is highly recommended.

Second-class seating is comfortable and as little as 12.00 Euro offers value. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if airlines could offer a seat like this? Especially some of those long-haul flights with seating fit for a contortionist …

A couchette with beds for six passengers can be as little as 27.50 Euro per person.

And private facilities for a double will be approximately 75.00 Euro per person. A first-class Pass may only be used to book these cabins. Compulsory reservations are required for all CNL trains. A big thank you to my Conductor Edward who, once had his passengers settled and tickets checked was kind enough to allow me a site inspection of this particular night train. Note to Deutsche Bahn: Keep an eye on this young man as he is a polished professional with a passion for his work.

I’d made an earlier assertion Avignon’s Saint Bénézet bridge was perhaps the most photographed bridge, however I’d forgotten about the Rialto Bridge in Venice.

The only way home? I wouldn’t want to do this after a big night out …

But then again, you might consider a Gondola ride – very romantic but can be quite costly and here’s a guide for you.
•Gondola fares are standard and set officially and the minimum fares for a standard gondola ride is approximately 80 Euro but rates can go higher.
•A standard gondola ride is 40 minutes so if you negotiate for a lower fare, you’ll end up with a shorter ride.
•Gondola fares are higher at night.
•Gondolas hold six people and can be shared without affecting the fee so you can save money by sharing a tariff with several people.
• If you book a gondola ride through a hotel or agency, there’s likely to be an additional fee built in to the price.

Water Taxi, be it private or shared public is the cheapest and fastest way to make your way around.

20 Euro will allow you to have 24 hours access of water taxis, local buses and the train which shuttles between Maestro and St Lucia Stations – about every 10 minutes. The ticket is activated upon the first time you use it.

Although the island of Venice itself is not famous for glass blowing, the island of Murano, just north of the city is world renowned for glass making.

Nearby Burano’s main claim to fame is its centuries-old lacemaking tradition.

The Carnival of Venice is an annual festival and ends with the Christian celebration of Lent and is famed for its elaborate masks.

Walking around Piazza San Marco whereby there’s no shortage of cafes and restaurants.

St Mark’s Basilica, the whole of the west façade with its great arches and marble decoration cannot be missed.

At 5:30 pm Sunday evening there was a free concert given with the Cathedral’s organ being played with some of Bach’s compositions to a captivated audience.