Help! Any Venetian folk?
 

Hi Guys and Girls....

Just got my roster for the Christmas Period and have found out I will be in Venice over Christmas eve/day and boxing day.... Been on the web and havent really found anything open over the Festive period. Anyone have any ideas of whats good to do over there, as I really don't want to be stuck in a hotel room on my own over the festive period..... must pack plenty of wine if thats the case.

Many thanks in advance

Cheers Hottowel x

Christmas in Venice should be a very quiet affair.
You could go to Midghnight Mass the 24th in one of the beautiful churches in town....but otherwise it will be very quiet and probably very spooky/romantic.

I hitch-hiked to Venice the Summer before I came to the US.

Apart from it being a beautiful and interesting city, what fascinated me was how well they were organised for the backpacking scene. Late in the afternoon, people started to congragate in the plaza outside the railway station, and by the early evening, it was pretty much full of backpackers.

People ate and hung out, a few played guitars and gradually, the crowd started to biv down for the night. I went to sleep, but woke up a few times during the might. It was very comforting to see the plaza was patrolled by a few police officers. It felt very safe.

About 6am, one of the policemen started blowing his whistle and the crowd woke up, packed their things and promptly dispersed to be replaced by the morning commuters. The police had to have a word with some guy who tried to wash himself in the fountain, but all in all, it was the epitome of co-operation. It's a memory that will stay with me forever, as it's rare to see humans behave so sensibly.

Of course, your visit might not run along exactly these lines, but I'm sure it'll be a good one.