Our flight to Venice or so called Venezia in Italian language was delayed for 3 hours. We arrived at Marco Polo Airport at midnight and realised that there were no luggage being carried together with passengers. The night became chaotic as everyone needed to lodge reports at the lost and found counter. It was worsen when there were only two inefficient officers to attend us. The pink pants American uncle was the antagonist character in this drama. He looked smart and influential. He dared to tell it out loud that Alitalia would be bankrupt, so does Italy. With bad treatment and management by the airport and airlines, he deserved to say that. Supposed Alitalia should inform the passengers about the luggage status so people would expect and be ready with all documents to report before hand. When such thing happened, Alitalia should be backed up with a plan to accommodate all passengers problem so things would be smooth and easy for both sides.
While queuing up to lodge reports regarding the luggage, we met a cute newlywed couple Yoshi and Yumi. They just got married for one day and this already happened at the beginning of their honeymoon trip. If the pink pants uncle could express his anger to the lost and found attendants, Yoshi preferred to be neutral and steady. Maybe it is because of language barrier. I like Yoshi's style when he handled this matter in no stress in front of the wife.
Outside the airport, again, another drama was directed. Since it was midnight, all people cut the queue to get a taxi. Lucky Anmar was there and we moved into the car quickly to secure the service. The fare to PLUS Camping Jolly was 50 euro and the journey took around 20 minutes. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the guard named Mustapha. No one had the energy to stay up. As soon as we finished settling down and performed prayers, everyone laid on the bed without changing into any clothes...
Though that, we were still excited to continue our vacation. We all woke up early and got ready to Venice with the same clothes. Ammar bought a 2 euro bottle of shower gel from the cooperative shop and we shared it. Towel? We only used the bed sheet as towel. That was a good invention though. The one that was not used could even be used as praying cloth.
Camping Jolly is quite well known as providing good services to guests. We told Raina who could speak 5 languages to expect our luggage from the airport and she kindly helped us to track them with telephone inquiry. At least, we knew that she was dependable and we could lessen the burden of being anxious.
We bought a return bus ticket to transfer us back and forth to the island. It costs only €4 and they fetch us directly to Tronchetta. From Tronchetta, we boarded a train that costs €1 per trip to Piazza de la Roma. From there, we purchased a day pass for water bus service for 12 hours access. With map given at the tourist information centre, we firstly went to Rialto Bridge via the Grand Canal. The journey gave us magnificent sight of floating buildings of the island and canals to connect people from an island to the other.
We coincidentally met Yumi and Yoshi and took a picture together on Rialto Bridge. That was the first time we actually talked to them. As us, they still wore the same clothes as last night and had not yet received any updates about the luggage.
Done with that area, we were off to see glass making factory at Murano island. There was a demonstration on how to make glass ornaments and everyone was fascinated by the show as the glass maker actually exhaled air into the glass to make it hollow. Of course all are done while the glass is still hot and melted.
I wore exactly the same attire as in Rome. If someone told me I looked colourful in Colloseum, at St Marco Square, there was another woman who gave a similar compliment that I looked wonderful. She even took a picture of me and of course I grabbed Atikah and Aqiedah to be in the photo. When I think of it again, she must somehow thinks that we were wearing any sort of costume like people wear animal costume to attract people. Hurmmm...
Though we left some euros in our luggage, that did not stop us to shop. We bought some souvenirs at the square before gondola riding session. Another problem rose when we did not have a printed voucher to show as our proof of purchase. At first, the men did not allow us to ride the gondola and even asked us to go by any mean to get the paper ticket. Fortunately the female manager came and accepted us as passengers. She let us on board and we cruised through the canals for 35 minutes, exactly right before the rainfall. Moral of the story, never judge a European to be totally fluent in English. Same as Malaysians, some can at least have basic understanding of simple English and some are totally out of it.
As the rain falling, we cruised back to Santa Lucia train station for late lunch. We were so desperate to have new clothes and bargained four t-shirts for €25 at a stall selling Venezia souvenirs. The seller had once lived in Klang, Malaysia for 7 years so he spoke to us in Malay. Also, as we needed to charge all electronic devices, we bought a multicharger from an aunt who had unwell manner for a price of €13.50, which we returned to her on the next day as it was malfunction.
To stock up our food, we bought breads, chocolate spreads and juices, and to brush teeth, we bought toothbrushes and a tub of toothpaste. Just wonder if we could not get the luggage at any time soon, we still need to at least brush our teeth properly, right?
As per return ticket, we headed back to Jolly with the bus provided. At Jolly, the atmosphere was lively. There is a bar and swimming pool for guests to chill at. Once we finished showering and praying, we went to the main counter to print all needed documents to continue our so called vacation. According to the person on duty, there was no update from Alitalia and all they could say were those luggage were still in Rome for sure. We comforted each other by eating ice creams while waiting for camera batteries to be charged. Remember that I said the purchased multicharger was malfunction, right? Atikah and Ammar went around to see if anyone got the same kind of charger that fitted. Luckily there was an uncle who got stranded like us having the same SONY charger. But his luggage would be taken by the wife in Rome as there was no problem for him.
What to expect yet for tomorrow, we still did not know. As soon as we returned the charger, we fall asleep as there were nothing happened tomorrow.
