We got into Venice at 2:30pm and set off on a vaporetto through the rain (the first of our trip!) to our 'hostel'.

When we found the square, we were met by the owner, Clara (a middle-aged Italian woman) and shown up into an apartment with three bedrooms, the other two housing three people in each. She insisted upon cash payment, despite having said she would take credit cards, and fairly abruptly explained the rules to us, before leaving us to settle in.

While spotlessly clean, it had a distinctly mismatched and shabby decor (random velvet throws on the bed, maroon satin covers on the chairs in the 'common area', wood-patterned plastic flooring which was rippling in some areas), and lacked a kitchen. Also, unlike other (much cheaper) places, we had to buy a map from her.

We set out for lunch and to orientate ourselves (G is much better at this than me), ending up in a tiny restaurant where he ordered a three course 'tourist menu' and I had a carbonara (only a bit better than the last, as it was SCRAMBLED - I must be cursed).

Afterwards, we set out for the Ponte di Rialto as everything else was closed or closing (it being a Sunday, in Europe). It was covered with tourists snapping photos and we took some of our own before continuing our walk and searching out a place for dinner.

At a little restaurant halfway between our accommodation and the bridge, we sat down to dinner, charmed by the waiter who spoke English and promised us a good meal. He definitely delivered - G had squid ink pasta to start, then pork chops; I had spaghetti and meatballs off the chef recommended menu. The only sour point of the night was asking two separate waiters to bring the bill, 10 minutes apart, and yet we still ended up walking up to the register after 30 minutes and waited for him to ring it up.

After that, we returned to our accommodation and settled in for the night, tired out by lugging our bags to and from stations, as well as on and off trains, in addition to the 4 hour journey.