Have Heels Will Travel: Venice

Friday, October 3

Breakfast at 8.30 am.

This morning,

we had another episode

of Drama Minggu Ini.

We were walking towards the

train station when we passed

by a cafe serving breafast.

We went in and sat at a table.

The cafe is run by a family

of chinese immigrants.

No no ....

that's not the drama.

After breakfast,

we continued our walk.

Soon, we realised something

was happening in our midst.

We saw quite a number of

police officers on the road.

Also, the road had been

cordoned off.

Straight ahead of us,

we saw a large gathering

of people.

I thought some kind of

parade was happening.

That's the train station

behind those people.

Bryan groaned out loud.

He gave a look of total

annoyance.

"Why? What's happening?"

I was more curious than

worried.

Ignorance is bliss.

Bryan shook his head

with sheer irritation,

"The workers are on strike.

The trains will be

cancelled today."

As we walked nearer,

we noticed some banners.

Political banners.

Bryan said,

"We won't be able to go to

Venice today with the strike.

We can go tomorrow."

But ...

... tomorrow we were supposed

to visit Murano and Burano.

We were booked to stay in

Venice for only 2 nights.

No can do.

To avoid any confusion,

we were staying in

Venice Mestre (mainland)

and we were heading for

Venice Santa Lucia (island).

It takes 10 minutes by train

to get from mainland

to island.

Anyway, we went to the end of

the demonstrators' line to

cross over to the train station.

At the station,

I saw a long line of people

queuing at the

ticketing office.

I joined the line.

There were about 20 people

in front of me.

Bryan went to check on the

big overhead screen for

train schedules and updates.

About half an hour later,

when I was ONE person away

from the girl who was

dispensing queue numbers

to those in the line,

I saw Bryan waving to me

to get out of the line.

What?

I stepped out of the line ...

reluctantly ...

and went over to where

he was standing.

He said,

"The trains are all cancelled.

We can't go today."

I tried to make sense of the

situation and found myself

answering,

"Then why are these people

lining up for?"

He shrugged.

"I was about to get the

Q number already.

Not all the trains are cancelled.

There's one going to

Venice Santa Lucia ..."

I blurted out.

Bryan frowned.

"Are you sure?"

He asked - in disbelief.

Apparently, no such info on the

overhead screen.

"Ya ya ..." I insisted,

not entirely certain.

"Okay, you go and queue,"

he said at last.

I quickly turned to rejoin

the line ...

starting from the back again,

to my dismay.

Yup,

about 20 people in front

of me.

Again.

So there.

I stood there like a solid rock ...

trying not to fume.

Darn.

So ...

That's the drama I was

referring to.

Anyway ...

Fast forward ...

My turn came at last.

The girl who was giving out

the Q numbers, pulled out a

number and handed to me.

I stared at the little

piece of paper.

O

M

G

Immediately,

I knew.

I knew ...

I knew ...

I - just - knew - that

there would be a train

for us.

The ticketing girl said :

There is a train going to

Venice SL at 10.10 am.

At platform 9.

The above photo

was taken at 9.58 am.

By the time, she issued the tickets,

accept Bryan's payment,

return his balance,

it was a few minutes

past 10 am.

Boy, did we run.

To the stairs.

Down the steps.

Through the underground.

Up the steps.

To platform No. 9.

I was out of breath

when we reached there.

My breathing had barely

normalised, when I noticed

the No. 9 on the info screen,

had changed to No. 5.

It was flashing.

I pointed that out urgently

to Bryan.

"It's No. 5. Train to Venezia SL."

Bryan looked ...

and then turned to ask

two guys who were

standing nearby.

"The ticketing-girl had said,

No. 9.

So, do we change?"

The guys said,

"Yeah, 9 changed to 5."

Time still the same :

10.10am

Omg.

No time to waste.

We started running ...

as fast as our legs

could carry us.

To the stairs.

Down the steps.

Through the underground.

Up the stairs.

To platform No. 5.

I was severely panting

by the time we arrived

at platform 5.

I plonked myself down on

a vacant seat.

The train was not there yet -

thankfully.

I was quite impressed.

Exactly how how fast were

we running?

Barely had I sat down

when Bryan suddenly

announced,

"The 10.10 train is cancelled."

Pause.

Pause some more.

Wait for it.

WHAT???

As it turned out, the train to

Venezia SL which was originally

arriving at platform 9,

was changed to platform 5 ...

and now it was cancelled!

Omg!

Justine sent a text at 9.50am

which I only saw at 10.10am.

I sent her an emoji of

pink hearts.

In her text, she said,

she had just finished training

with Dr Jason and Dr Alice.

Dr Jason?

I texted back:

Dr Jason and Dr Danielle?

(Justine is known as

Dr Danielle at work.)

Her text came in right smack

in the middle of our chaos.

Daniel Jason Phua.

Aee you trying to tell your

parents something?

We were still processing our

disappointment and confusion

when we suddenly noticed the

update on the train to

Venezia Santa Lucia.

Next train arriving :

10.30am.

Platform 13.

It was past 10.20 am.

We grabbed our bags without

a second thought,

and once again attempted

to sprint to the next platform.

To the stairs.

Down the steps.

Through the underground.

Up the stairs.

To platform No. 13.

This time,

I had a feeling it would be

The One.

Time : 10.30 am

Platform : 13

1030 13

4 4

Sigh of relief.

This was the one.