Venezia, and road to Salzburg

I stayed in Venezia for 3 days in total, and if I had more time I could have stayed more. I was actually in Caorle/St.Marguerita, a beach area on the Adriatic Coast, east of Venice, where my aunt had rented a house for the summer. Very nice, not much to worry, time to relax and play with my little cousin - not so little anymore, already 12, almost 13! Finally I managed to jump in the water, sleep and eat well. And surprisingly, I had a full lesson of Italian!! I didn't plan to (re)learn so much of Italian in such short time. I can say that my level moved from "basic" to "intermediate" these days!!

One day was of course dedicated to Venezia itself. And a nice time together with my cousin, who joined me for the day. A wonder of the world perhaps, it's umbealivable that "she" was totally built on water, over 500 years ago. Arriving by train to St.Lucia and walking the streets it's impressive. Of course, you need to search for the less traveled streets and stay away from the mass of tourists. Piazza San Marco: an ocean of people under a massive square... sometimes I get more attracted to look at people than old buildings :)

Yesterday morning my adventure restarted, after some days of rest. The destination, hopefully Salzburg in Austria, 450km north. I got a ride from my aunt to the beginning of the autostrada, where I should begin. Bad place, local traffic, fast cars. I stuck there for 2 hours, wondering if I should return and get the train. It was also quite late (11h). Luckily, a couple coming from Geneve on their way to bike in Croacia picked me up at around 1pm. A nice Audi with two bikes on the roof, they could me take near Udine. But while I celebrated this "move" I got distracted and missed the last "area de servizio", and had to stop almost in Trieste!! Again luckily, at least there was a passage underground to reach the other side, and I had to go back. I was in the border with Slovenia by 3pm... I got again stuck for over 2 hours, when I met the first hitchhikers in Italy so far, a couple of Polish in their vacations (first Croacia, then Spain, then back to Warsaw), eveything on autostop!! They had guitars and even volleyball... they were going to Milano and they managed to find a Polish truck driver going to Verona, in less than 5 minutes! I was happy for them but sad that I missed the chance to chat with other travelers... they gave me some paper and a marker, so I did mine again. Another hour had passed and an Italian guy, with the help of the gas station worker, offered me a ride for 2 stops, until near Udine (remember, I was 100km in the wrong way...).

We spoke only Italian on the car and I was very proud of myself! He confessed that he wished he had the courage to travel like me and he even took me further, north of Udine. Nice guy. There I could see the mountains, the sun starting to fall at 5.30pm, and I even considered spending the night in those woods, very nice location, I wouldn't mind. But when things are meant to be they simply happen, so in 5minutes I was in a German car, a couple returning from vacations, straight to Salzburg!! We had a 2.5hours trip through the Alps, one of the most beautiful roads I crossed in Europe, and I managed to check in at a cheap hostel in Salzburg, take a shower, eat my last sandwiches and go for a walk. Nice town, I wish I had some partner for some partying here, it sounds like a good place to have fun!

I still don't have a place to stay in Prague, so I'm considering stoping in Bohemia (southern part of Czech Republic) for the day and then taking a night train to Praha. I still have another 400km to go today. Tomorrow morning I drive a car to Germany and then back to Netherlands. Friday night is party time back in A'dam!! Hopefully :))

That's all for now!!
(my thoughts and reflections will come later, once I'm home again...)