March 24: Excuse Me, Can We Get a Cab?
We woke up early again and headed over to the main building to meet the team for breakfast. Today was an off-day from volleyball-related activities and we were going to spend the day in Venice. Our original plan had been to meet, have breakfast, get on a bus to Pordenone and then take the train into Venice.
There was just one problem ... we didn't have a bus.
Since we were without our own form of transportation, Tim (another one of the local volleyball guides) was going to borrow a bus from one of other teams that he was hosting. Since they were playing in the tournament and wouldn't need their busses, he was planning on using those to take us to Pordenone.
Now, for a reason I'm not sure of ... that never happened. We met in the lobby at 8 and again at 10. After the second update, Dee and I finally took a break from hoofing it back across the quad to our room and visited with Regina in the main building. When the clock struck noon and we were still `bus-less', we called for cabs.
After a quick phone call, Maj Filzen had six cabs on their way to the main gate for one flat rate. Of course, we were all still back at the hotel, so the massive shuttle process began. The Harrington family had left earlier in the morning in their SUV, so we were down to our little Fiat.
A lot of the girls walked, taking the route around the flight line, while others hitched a ride with people from the base. Eventually, we all got to our waiting area just outside the main gate - much to the joy of the security force personnel. Probably to their relief as well, since they were cautiously watching our waiting vehicles. (But at least this time they didn't send for reinforcements...)
Four cabs were lined up by the pass building and two more with on their way. One of the drivers spoke English, so he started talking to Dee while we waited for the rest of the team. The conversation got off to an amusing start, when he interrupted with three simple words - "slow down, please". I hadn't thought about how fast we speak, until listening to the Italians speak to one another (and they probably don't think that they're talking all that fast either).
Finally, everyone arrived and the cab-caravan was on its way to Pordenone. Once we got to the train station, we met up with Tim, the tour guide, who was in line to get our tickets for the train. We had a little while before our train departed, so we wandered down the street in front of the station.
The town was sort of deserted, as the Monday after Easter is an official holiday in Italy (called Pasquetta). We managed to find an open bistro, so some of the girls ran in to get some lunch. It was another entertaining encounter, as a group that spoke little Italian met up with a staff that spoke little English, but bonded by speaking a little Portuguese.
I think the restaurant was more of a sit-down place, because they weren't totally sure about the `to-go' status. But they happily made the girls sandwiches, while chatting and kicking out a homeless man that wandered in. While the girls waited for their food, Dee, Regina and I headed back to the train station. To get to our platform, we had to go under a couple sets of tracks before finding the `to Venice' platform.
Soon, the train arrived and we boarded, scrambling for seats amongst the other travelers. Pulling away from the station, we settled in for our two-hour trip into the heart of Venice. The lulling motion of the train put a lot of the team to sleep, as we rode into various little towns that seemed to spring out of the rows of grape vines. (just for reference, it's not actually `grape' season, so the empty vines looked a little bit odd ... but I'm sure it's absolutely gorgeous in-season)
As the roads changed to waterways, we knew one thing ... we had finally arrived in Venice, the "City of Water"! Although much of Italy was closed for Pasquetta, the same was not true in Venice. Because it is such a tourist destination, the city remained open.
It was about 3:30 by the time we got off the train, made our way through the station and stepped outside into a bright, blue-sky day. While plans for the short time we had were being finalized, we took photos and people-watched. There were hundreds of people just lounging around the plaza that led down to the Grand Canal.
Most of the team wanted to split up into smaller groups and explore/shop/sightsee on our own, but it was decided that we had to stay together. Tim (who let me point out right now is nearly seven feet tall and makes Coach Kyle and Coach White seem short) took the lead and we began our procession away from the train station. Since everyone needed to stop for the million-and-one photo opportunities that greeted us with every step, our group slowly extended.
At this point, we really needed one of those leashes that preschool and kindergarten kids use on field trips where everyone has to hang on to it at all times. The streets in Venice are small, narrow and turn every few feet, so it didn't take too long for the back half of the group to become completely separated from the front half of the group. (And coming back to the fact that Tim is really tall ... you would think he would be easy to follow, but as soon as he makes a couple turns, you're just lost.)
Luckily for the 10 or so members of the `lost' group, Coach V was with us and had one of the few working cell phones. So, while she called Tim and tried to explain which bridge we were at, we happily waited for him to find us by taking photos of the scenery. The girls also found a gelato shop and sandwich shop, so we also waited him out by eating.
Once Tim found us, we got back with the rest of the team and continued our walk through narrow streets. Not wanting to get lost again, Dee and I stayed near the front of the group, deciding that we would have a better chance of keeping track of Tim. We ended up going down this one area that was hosting an outdoor bazaar, in addition to the numerous shops that lined both sides of the street.
Somehow, despite that much temptation to shop (especially for this team), the majority of us managed to stay together. As we cleared the area and started over a bridge, we realized that a few people - including Coach White, Coach V and Mrs. Kurtz - weren't with us.
Tim had us wait, thinking they would catch up. So, our group of about 27 stood there on the middle of this narrow bridge, sort of blocking traffic in both directions, until Tim finally told us to head out. A few more twists and turns and we stepped into St. Mark's Plaza.
With the Basilica, the Campanile, the Clocktower, the Doge's Palace and the Piazzetta, it was clearly a sight to behold and make a dent on the camera memory card with. Tim, Maj Filzen and Coach Kyle decided to turn us loose for the next hour or so. We were supposed to meet back in front of the Basilica at 6, so that we could have dinner and catch the last train back to Pordenone sometime after 8.
As many of the girls turned and made a beeline for the stores we had passed along the way, Dee and I decided to go inside St. Mark's Basilica. As we walked past the line of tourists waiting to get in, we were surprised to see the missing members of our group nearly ready to go enter the building. Somehow, they had found a shortcut and beaten us there.
Pictures weren't allowed inside the awesome structure, but that was okay. You just knew that nothing would do it justice. While entering the cathedral was free, several areas were only accessible for a fee, but even then the price wasn't too bad. Dee and I picked the first exhibit that was closest to the entrance. It was full of artifacts and enough stuff where you could spend an entire afternoon absorbing.
Unfortunately, our afternoon came to a screeching halt when the docents started herding everyone toward the door. Apparently the Basilica closes at 5. So after hardly any time at all, we were sadly forced to leave. Once outside, we met up with a few other members of our group and walked down to the water that overlooked San Giorgio Monastery and took some photos with the gondoliers.
While the remaining girls went off shopping, Dee and I wandered through the Plaza and bought postcards. We wandered into a couple shops that were located close. When we were done with the whole `shopping' experience, we found a coffee shop and waited until it was time to meet up with the team.
Finally, we regrouped at the doors of the Basilica and started our long, follow-the-leader journey to the restaurant that Tim had picked for us to eat at. Along the way, countless other restaurants tried to lure us in. Some looked adorable - heated tents located right on the canal. When we reached our destination, they led us to a reserved room in the back, where they served us salad, pizza and pasta (the usual Italian fare).
After dinner, we headed back to the train station. The trip was much easier this time around, since the streets (although pretty dark) were much less crowded. We had a little time to kill until the train left, so the girls lined up for another round of gelato, despite the cold temperatures.
Sleep overtook some of the girls on the two-hour ride back. All of the scenery that kept us occupied during the incoming ride was hidden by the night sky. Once we exited the train station in Pordenone, we were pleased to see that our cabs were lined up and waiting for us.
We loaded up and headed back to the base. Again we caused some excitement at the main gate, as two of the guards headed over to investigate who was getting dropped off by cabs right outside the gate in the middle of the night. Dee and I had been in the first cab and as soon as the first guard saw us, he just laughed and said `oh, it's just you'. Since it wasn't even the same guards from the afternoon, you know there's a memo somewhere out there about the wacky Academy volleyball team!!
Once all of the girls had arrived, we waited for the last cab that had the coaches. Since we weren't sure if they were coming right back or not, we decided to head back to the hotel around the flight line. Tyler was nominated as one of the `guides' due to her white jacket. As we were lining up to show our IDs at the gate, one of the security patrols came by in a pickup and offered a ride.
The girls told Dee and me that we could go, so we hopped in. Dee asked if he could put a few of the girls in the back of the truck, but he just laughed and said `no'. It was a very interesting ride ... Airman Tyler had propped his rifle against the seat next to him, but it kept sliding over and hitting Dee in the leg. It was all I could do not to laugh, because really ... how many times has that ever happened to you?!?
We had him drop us off at the main building so we could find out what the schedule was like for tomorrow ... and get some coffee (Dee) and hot chocolate (me). After profusely thanking Airman Tyler, we headed inside and found several of the girls had beaten us after getting a ride along the way. I don't think any of them had to walk the entire way, thanks to the people on base offering rides.
Anyways, we got a time to meet in the morning and headed across the street. Dee and I did stop by Jocelyn's room in one of the other buildings to grab a bite of the cake she had made the day before. After that, we got back to our room, turned on the TV and computer and wasted time until we decided it was truly late enough to go to sleep.
