The personae available to you are:
(1)     Richard,
(2)     Mareigh,
        **Unused**.
By what name shall I call you (Q to quit)?
*Richard
Welcome back, Richard!

The time in Virtual Venice is 11:01:57 on 9-MAR-94.

Station concourse.
        You are standing on the concourse of the Stazione Ferroviaria S. Lucia in Venice (Venezia), Italy. The station is a hive of activity, with people bustling hither and thither as they go about the business of buying tickets, boarding trains, getting off trains, and avoiding hordes of students straining under the weight of backpacks the size of space shuttle booster tanks. To the north of where you stand is a police office, and to the south is a tourist information centre. The platforms lie to the west, with the ticket booths to the east. Southwest, a corridor leads to the Stazione Merci, and southeast is the main pedestrian entrance/exit to the building. Overhead is a large indicator board.
*read board
The board has two detailed sections: arrivals and departures.
*read arrivals board
A TEE (Trans Europe Express) from Bologna is due at 11:05.
A locale (slow, local train) from Treviso is due at 11:12.
A rapido (1st-class express) from Milan (Milano) is due at 11:20.
A rapido from Florence (Firenze) is due at 11:32.
A diretto (slow, distance train) from Genoa (Genova) is due at 11:45.
An express from Rome (Roma) is due at 11:57.
*
Pat has just arrived.
*look at Pat
Pat is male, in his twenties. His occupation seems to be TV researcher.
*out
Fondamenta di S. Lucia.
        You find yourself on a wide, paved area running from the Fond dei Scalzi in the northeast to the frontage of the Stazione Merci in the southwest. The path runs alongside the Canal Grande, with the Stazione Ferroviaria S. Lucia to the northwest; there is a tourist information centre attached to the station to the west. North is the Chiesa degli Scalzi, and east, jutting out into the canal, is the "Ferrovia" vaporetto stop.
*vaporetto?
A vaporetto is a waterbus; it is larger than, but not as fast as, a motoscafo. Both types of waterbus use the same stops: they ply the Canal Grande, and shuttle passengers to and from the out-lying islands. They are operated by the ACTV (Azienda del Corsorzio Transporti Veneziani), and are quite a bargain considering the scenery their passengers get to see.
*ne
Fond dei Scalzi.
        This is a narrow footpath running vaguely northeast-southwest alongside the Canal Grande. Southeast, the Ponte Scalzi crosses the canal; on the opposite bank you can see an imbarcadero (gondola station). South, constructed on pontoons, is a water taxi station. The footpath continues to the northeast and southwest, with a narrow, uninviting alleyway leading away to the northwest. East is the Palazzo Calbo Grotto, and west the Chiesa degli Scalzi.
*look nw
You see the Calle Priulli detta dei Cavalletti: a long, narrow, uninviting alleyway.
*sw
Fondamenta di S. Lucia.
*exits
Northeast: Fond dei Scalzi.
Southwest: Stazione Merci.
Northwest: Stazione Ferroviaria S. Lucia.
West: Station tourist centre.
North: Chiesa degli Scalzi.
East: Ferrovia" vaporetto stop.
*chiesa?
"Chiesa" means "church". There are many chiese in Venice, with the following numbering among the most memorable: S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (I Frari); S. Maria della Salute; S. Giorgio Maggiore; Madonna dell'Orto; S. Maria dei Miracoli; S. Sebastiano; S. Nicolo dei Mendicoli; SS. Giovanni e Paolo (S. Zanipolo). The most important Venetian church is the Basilica di S. Marco, but this is not normally referred to as a chiesa as it's a cathedral.
*S.?
"S." is the abbreviation used for "San" or "Santa", ie. "Saint" in English. "SS." means "Santi", ie. "Saints".
*s
You realise just in time that the roads in Venice are made of water, and that walking into the Canal Grande would be somewhat inadvisable.
*e
"Ferrovia" vaporetto stop.
        It dawns upon you from the swaying of the boards beneath your feet that this vaporetto stop is actually little more than a creaky raft with old tyres tied onto it to dissuade it from damaging the canalside. An algae-strewn perspex covering to the west serves the dual purpose of connecting the vaporetto stop to civilisation (the Fondamenta di S. Lucia) and of preventing it from floating off down the Canal Grande and out into the open sea. There is a timetable attached to a post here.
*read timetable
The timetable gives details for services 1, 2, 4 and 5.
*seek assistance
A helpful, English-speaking local notices you are having difficulty.
The local asks "May I be of assistance?"
*"I want to get to the Campanile
The local asks "Are you in a hurry?"
*"no
The local says "You can either walk all the way or take a vaporetto some of the way."
*"which vaporetto?
The local says "From here, take motoscafo service 2 to the "S. Marco Vallaressa" vaporetto stop. The journey should take no more than 20 minutes. Go north from there to the Calle Vallaressa, then turn east along the Salizzada S. Moise. Cross the Calle dell'Ascension, and pass through an arcade and the Ala Napoleonica to the Piazza S. Marco. The campanile is in the Piazza S. Marco. The walk will take around 5 minutes."
*"thank you
The local says "You're welcome."
The local disappears into the crowd.
*wait for service 2
Presently, motoscafo service 2 arrives.
*board motoscafo
You don't have a ticket!
*ticket?
You can buy a ticket from the driver of a vaporetto or motoscafo; the ticket costs L.500 and is valid for one journey only. Booklets of tickets can be purchased from shops such as newsagents and post offices, or from tourist information offices.
*buy ticket
The driver takes L.500 and gives you a ticket.
*board motoscafo
You find yourself a seat on motoscafo service 2.
*
Motoscafo service 2 leaves the "Ferrovia" vaporetto stop and heads southwest.
*look
You are seated on motoscafo service 2 as it travels southwest down the Canal Grande towards the "Piazzale Roma" vaporetto stop. Through the murky windows you can see the Stazione Ferroviaria S. Lucia to the northwest, and the Palazzo Diedo to the southeast.
*wait
Presently, motoscafo service 2 arrives at the "Piazzale Roma" vaporetto stop.
*wait
Presently, motoscafo service 2 leaves the "Piazzale Roma" vaporetto stop and heads east along the Canal Grande.
*wait
Presently, motoscafo service 2 passes under a bridge and enters the Rio Nuovo, heading south.
*look
You are seated on motoscafo service 2 as it travels south down the Rio Nuovo. Through the murky windows you can see the Giardino Papadopoli to the east, and the Piazzale Roma to the west.
*wait until next stop
Presently, motoscafo service 2 passes the Rio dei Tre Ponti and turns east along the Rio Nuovo. It passes the Rio di S. Margherita and enters the Rio Foscari, heading east. It enters the Canal Grande, heading south towards the "S. Samuele" vaporetto stop. It arrives at the "S. Samuele" vaporetto stop.
*look
You are seated on motoscafo service 2 as it waits at the "S. Samuele" vaporetto stop. Through the murky windows you can see the Campo San Samuele to the east, and the Ca'Rezzonico and Rio di S. Barnaba to the west.
*wait until San Marco stop
Presently, motoscafo service 2 leaves the "S. Samuele" vaporetto stop and heads south along the Canal Grande towards the "Accademia" vaporetto stop. It arrives at the "Accademia" vaporetto stop. It leaves the "Accademia" vaporetto stop and heads under the Ponte dell'Accademia east along the Canal Grande towards the "S. Maria del Giglio" vaporetto stop. It arrives at the "S. Maria del Giglio" vaporetto stop. It leaves the "S. Maria del Giglio" vaporetto stop and heads east along the Canal Grande towards the "S. Marco Vallaressa" vaporetto stop. It arrives at the "S. Marco Vallaressa" vaporetto stop.
*get off boat
You disembark from motoscafo service 2.
S. Marco Vallaressa" vaporetto stop.
        You are standing rather unsteadily on a rickety platform held in position by a mass of blackened, ancient, wooden poles. A precarious walkway leads north to the Calle Vallaressa and the comparative safety of dry land. There is a timetable attached to an elegant, triform lamp-post here. Motoscafo service 2 is waiting on the Canal Grande.
*get timetable
The timetable is protected behind scratched, dull, visitor-proof glass.
*get pole
It appears that your superhuman powers have momentarily deserted you.
*n
Calle Vallaressa.
        This is a pleasant, scenic little path running from the busy Salizzada S. Moise in the north to the "S. Marco Vallaressa" vaporetto stop in the south. There are openings to the southeast and southwest leading to walks alongside the Canal Grande. To the west is the Ridotto.
*Ridotto?
Yes, Ridotto. Go inside if you want to know what it is.
*n
Salizzada S. Moise.
        This is a very crowded thoroughfare linking the Campo S. Moise to the west with the Calle dell'Ascension to the east. Small shops selling intricate pieces of glass at extortionate prices abound. Southeast is the Calle Vallaressa, and northeast the Frezzeria; south is the Calle del Ridotto. The whole southwestern section of the street is taken up by the side walls of the Chiesa di S. Moise.
*e
Calle dell'Ascension.
        This is a narrow street (aren't they all?) running alongside the buildings that comprise the western side of the Piazza S. Marco; two arcades, to the east and southeast, provide access to the piazza. People are streaming into the street from the Salizzada S. Moise to the southwest and the Bocca di Piazza to the northwest. At its northern end, the street butts onto the Calle S. Selvadego. West is a post office.
*se
Arcade.
        You are struggling through a throng of people as they pass between the Piazza S. Marco to the east and the Calle dell'Ascension to the west. There is a well-patronised tourist information office to the south. The buildings under which this arcade passes are tall and time-worn, but with a beauty and grace that age has enhanced, rather than diminished. Imperial stairs to the north lead up into the Museo Correr.
*e
Ala Napoleonica.
        This is a covered walkway running north/south along the inside edge of the Piazza S. Marco. East, it opens up through marble pillars onto the piazza itself. Southwest and west are arcades which link through to the Calle dell'Ascension; there are also lots of interesting little shops there selling everything from expensive tourist junk to very expensive tourist junk. At the north end, the cloisterly effect is preserved as the path angles northeast to become the Procuratie Vecchie; at the south end, it turns east to become the Procuratie Nuove.
*e
Western side of Piazza S. Marco.
        You are standing at the western side of the breathtakingly beautiful Piazza S. Marco. Although awash with people and pigeons, the ornate grandeur of the architecture cannot fail but to impress you. The piazza is trapezoidal in shape, with the Ala Napoleonica to the west, Procuratie Nuove to the south, and Procuratie Vecchie running diagonally away to the north. The eastern edge of the piazza is entirely taken up by the dazzlingly exotic facade of the Basilica S. Marco - one of the most incredible buildings the world has ever seen (apparently).
*
An unsavoury-looking street hawker approaches you.
*"Go away.
The street hawker scowls at you, then approaches someone more gullible instead.
*e
Centre of Piazza S. Marco.
        This is the central portion of the Piazza S. Marco, where tourists negotiate the spaces between the vast arrays of unoccupied chairs laid out between competing coffee houses on the northern and southern fringes of the square. West, the piazza narrows, and your eyes are thus drawn east to the glorious beauty of the Basilica S. Marco. The cathedral's imposing bell tower (the Campanile) stands some way in front of it, over to the right.
*coffee houses?
The two most famous coffee houses in Venice are Quadri's and Florian's in the Piazza S. Marco. Traditionally, Venetians patronise only Florian's, as in the days when Venice was under Austrian control Quadri's used to serve the enemy. In reality, no Venetian would be insane enough to drink at either, since although the coffee is merely hideously expensive, when the establishment's resident orchestra strikes up the price increases to near-mortgage levels. Naturally, the orchestra begins to play the instant anyone is foolish enough to attract the attention of a waiter.
*
Your feet are getting wet.
*look down
The ground is unevenly paved with trachyte (volcanic rock) strips some 250 years old, sloping slightly downwards towards the Basilica S. Marco. There are large drains dotted around, although water appears to be rising up through them rather than adhering to the elsewhere-customary practice of running away.
*e
Eastern side of Pizza S. Marco.
        You are standing in several inches of water at the eastern side of the Piazza S. Marco. West, the piazza continues, and south it opens onto a smaller area, the Piazzetta, beyond which you can see the Bacino di S. Marco. The scene is dominated by the mysterious oriental beauty of the Basilica S. Marco to the east, and its accompanying campanile towering in the southwest. North is the Torre dell'Orologio, and northeast another small square, the Piazzetta dei Leoncini. In the middle of this part of the piazza, just in front of the basilica, stand three tall poles with flags dangling from them.
*look up
        The Basilica S. Marco is built in a bizarre conglomoration of styles, featuring lots of pillars that don't match one another. A balcony running along the top is studded with tourists looking out wondering where all the water is coming from; above them are some splendid, semi-circular mosaics, and four copper horses with gold leaf peeling off them.
        The majestic Campanile di S. Marco tapers as it rises, and is topped with a green elongated pyramid bearing a golden figure the subject of which you can't quite make out from here. This green bit appears to be the third roof in the history of the campanile, with at least two lower sections looking as though they were originally meant to form the top of the building. Tourists are looking out through arched openings, wondering where all the water is coming from below.
        The three flagpoles are reddish-brown. The middle one has the Italian flag draped limply against it, and the other two carry forlorn Venetian flags that would perhaps look more impressive if there was more than still air to carry them. All three flagpoles have golden Venetian lions at the very top.
        The Torre dell'Orologio has a large, zodiacal dial, above which is a statue sitting between the time displayed (digitally!) in roman and arabic numerals. Above this is a large statue of a Venetian lion against a starry background, and at the very top stand a pair of large, green statues of Moors holding large, green mallets with which they intend to hit a large, green bell. Tourists alongside them are stroking the statues' exposed and impressive examples of manhood, while looking down into the piazza wondering where all the water there is coming from.
        Pigeons are sitting on every conceivable landing place.
*sw
Ground floor of Campanile S. Marco.
        The usually enormous queue having dispersed because of the water, you find yourself standing adjacent to a lift and a ticket office at the base of the imposing Camanile S. Marco.
*take lift
You don't have a ticket!
*buy ticket
The surly ticket-seller takes L.4,000 and gives you a ticket.
*L.4000 for a ticket?
You can buy a ticket from the ticket office; the ticket costs an exhorbitant L.4,000, but is probably worth it for the view you get from the top.
*take lift
Presently, the lift arrives and disgorges those tourists who feel they have had their L.4,000 worth of view. You enter the lift, and a minute later are deposited at the top of the Campanile. Top floor of Campanile S. Marco.
        A justly-celebrated view greets you eyes! Out to the south beckons the small island of S. Giorgio Maggiore, beyond which lie the lidi which shelter Venice from the Adriatic - itself just visible in the hazy sunshine. East and northeast are the lagoon islands, and from the north, curving round to the west, is the mainland. On the far, far horizon you can make out the snow-capped peaks of the Alps.
        Venice itself stretches compactly before you, although from here the canals are hard to pick out. You can easily see the haphazardly arranged domes of the Basilica S. Marco, which contrast pleasingly with the delicate, pink and white brickwork of the adjacent Palazzo Ducale. People at the top of the Torre dell'Orologio look up at you with envy, wishing that they had paid the extra and come up here for their view instead. Down below, tourists scurry around the magnificent Piazza S. Marco and the Piazzetta. You wonder where all the water there is coming from.
Pat is here.
*hello Pat
Pat says "Hello Richard. Nice view...".
*"how did you get here so quickly?"
Pat says "I just typed GO TO CAMPANILE.".
*blush
OK, Richard blushes.
*
Pat asks "What did you do, take a vaporetta?"
*nod
OK, Richard nods.
*
Pat laughs.
*sigh
OK, Richard sighs.
*
Pat says "Listen, I'm a TV researcher for a major networked breakfast television show,"
*
Pat says "and I'm looking for people willing to come onto the programme and talk about"
*
Pat says "their experiences in virtually real worlds."
*"Gosh, is that the time? Sorry, I must dash.
*quit
Cheerio!

Your Virtual Venice session lasted 13 real minutes, 28 virtual minutes.