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LOGISTICS: GETTING THERE This section describes logistics to complex transportation problems. Venice Upon arrival at Piazzale Roma, park the motorcycle and then find a place to store your camping gear and things you don't need. Parking: Municipal Park - Venice, Piazzale Roma - 2300 covered attended places for cars and 200 for motorcycles - Open 24 hours - Ticket: 18.59 Euros every 24 hours. [An Italian friend advises: "What I know there is storage, right on the side of the restaurant-bar w/the awning , close to a tabacchi store (cigarettes place). There you can store stuff overnight or I guess for a few days.] Next, buy a vaporetto ticket (maybe one for 3 days). [I found an "Orange Venice Card" that gives you vaparetto, toilets, buses, and museums: Orange Venice Card: 26 Euro (1 day), 42 Euro (3 days), 58 Euro (7 days)]. More info at Venice Word. Take the vaparetto all the way to the Piazza San Marco stop. When you walk down the gangplank, look for a porter with a strange little wheelbarrow contraption. Hire him to show you the way to the hotel. If you don't see a porter, continue into the P. San Marco and cross all the way and go through the arch under the Torre dell'Orelogie or clock tower. You can't miss it. The Duomo will be on your right as you face the clock tower (not to be confused with the campanile bell tower). At the first street, turn right and go about 2 blocks and look down the street to your left. You should see the Hotel Panada sign. There used to be a sign posted on the side of a building right there at that corner that had an arrow pointing the way, but I don't know if it is still there. If you can't find it, stop in any of the shops right there and ask. It's right across the street from Do Forni (my favorite restaurant in the world! -- expensive but worth it). Here is an excerpt from my Venice Notes about arriving in Venezia via ARRIVAL BY CAR: If you arrive by car, park it in a long term parking garage at the Piazzale Roma and then take a vaporetto to whichever stop is nearest your hotel. When you disembark the vaporetto, look for a porter, facchino. They are usually standing with what looks like a wheelbarrow at the major stops. Show him the address of your hotel and he will lead the way. Upon arriving at your hotel, ask the desk clerk to help you with payment and tip for the porter. If there isn’t a porter in sight, you can proceed on your own. Just show anyone around you the address of your hotel, smile and say "dové?" They will point in a direction - go that way and ask again whenever necessary. Venetians are very helpful and friendly and truly understand how confusing their city’s addresses and directions can be. Venetian addresses are indeed difficult. In most cases it is better for someone to either show you on a map or draw you a map. Don't worry about getting lost. You are on a series of 118 tiny islands, and you will find signs posted on various buildings along the calli pointing the way to the major areas of Piazza S. Marco, the L'Accademia or the Pont Rialto. Be sure to pick up a card from your hotel with their name, address and directions on how to find it again. Brindisi to Patra Croatia's Inter-Island Ferries The ferry system in Croatia seems to be run by the Jadrolinija office (Obala Stjepan Radiaa 40, tel. 41 80 00, fax 41 81 11. Open 08:00 - 14:00, Tue 08:00 - 14:00, 19:00 - 23:00, Sat 08:00 - 14:00, 19:00 - 20:00, Sun 08:00 - 10:00, 17:00 - 18:30.) From In Your Pocket: Crossing the Croatian border is relatively hassle-free if you have an EU, American or Canadian passport. Driving along the narrow corridor that is their coastal highway isn't. Expect large busses to slow down traffic, cars passing on blind curves and absolutely beautiful scenery, which isn't hindered by a large shoulder. Finding parking near the old town in summer is nightmarish so you are best off leaving your wheels at your hotel. |
