I took the EuroStar first class to Venice today, mainly before the damn machine sold me an InterCity ticket for a train I couldn’t get to, ug. The weather has dropped significantly in temperature, and I so haven’t packed correctly for this and am consequently freezing my arse off. Venice is both what I expected and also not what I excepted. Outside the main tourist areas, the place is quiet and the streets bare. You’re left wondering if anyone still lives here. The island that I am staying on, Giudecca, has may “for lease” signs, it brings new meaning to the phrase “death in Venice”. Tonight’s sunset was red with fork lightening out over the Lido—it was quite spectacular as you can see in the photos (image #9). My hostel room was empty when I arrived, 16 beds, 15 vacant, however later in the evening a large group of guys from Canada arrived.