How I Learned to Travel Alone

The ultimate nightmare

After leaving the bar and going back to my hostel to read and get some sleep. My next trip was to take the fairy to the San Michelle cemetery in Venice. I was told by the waiter at my restaurant that it was beautiful. Always listen to the locals FYI the are all knowing.

When the Piazza San Marco has more tourists than pigeons and the No. 1 vaporetto is wallowing under the weight of its passengers on the Grand Canal, there's one place in Venice where the crowds are quiet and unobtrusive: the Isola di San Michele, a former prison island less than five minutes away by water bus.

San Michele is Venice's cemetery--a role it has borne with dignity since the early 1800s, when Napoleon's occupying forces told the Venetians to start hauling their dead across the water instead of burying them all over town.

Now I'm not a morbid person but it's the most beautiful cemetery I had ever seen at that point in my life. Well after spending a 2-3 hours I took the fairy back across.

I was officially done touring what I thought I could see in Venice. Remember it's a small island that can be walked in an hour. The only thing I never did was ride the Gondola boat. I grew up in boats, doing that just didn't seem that Interesting to me. Now a couple thing yes but I love myself enough I don't need to this.

After figuring out later that night that my next spot was going to be Paris, I mean who didn't want to see the most famous city. Or at least I thought it was. So I got my train times and time in the morning to be at the Ferry to take me on a 15 minute ride to the train station area all figured out for the morning. And literally if you need any information on anything just google. How to get to the train station, google knows everything. So I get to bed at a decent time which to me is 10pm because I have to read and post picks on Facebook to log my adventures and pictures.

So morning comes and it's around 6am. I shower and pack everything up and have some coffee and a few pastries. I decide to walk down to the ferry area early Incase I get lost. I always give myself an hour to hour and a half leeway just to be safe. It's actually very foggy that morning and visual is 10-15 feet. It's really cool, creepy and magical looking.

I get to the ferry area and I know I'm early so decide I will get my passport ready so it's in grabbing reach and my money for the ferry ready. I look in my little black side purse and my passport is not there. That's were I kept it. Panic slowly is creeping in. I unpack my whole back pack and it's NOT there. I'm thinking is it still in my locker or under my pillow maybe so I take off back to the hostel which is a 15 minute walk. My mind is racing, I know I checked my area and I was thinking did it fall out. Like literally this is not good. I mean I did email myself a copy but I need an actual passport to get back they are not gonna take a photo of it. So I'm telling myself Jennifer this is not the worse thing that can happen. I can find a passport place and worse case scenario I'm stuck in Venice for the duration of my trip. Which can't be that bad but I wanted to see Paris!!!

So I get back to the hostel and check the room it's no where! I go down to the eating area and once again go through my backpack. Nothing! I talk to some of the women and one says did you give it to the front desk at check in. I thought I can't remember doing that but maybe. It's 8:30am and the front desk doesn't open til 9am so I am waiting impatiently for someone to arrive. Finally some one shows up and I ask, "did I give you my passport at check in?". The desk person checks and sure enough I had given it to them to check in. Praise the heavens!!! I can go to Paris!! So when checking into hostels you sometimes have to give them your passport. But they can make a copy next time and take a deposit because that will be on me or locked in my locker from here on out. I make it back to the ferry just in time for it to leave. I feel like the luckiest person in the world. I pay my fee and board the ferry.

My train ride is a 10 hour trip and cost $80 from Venice to Paris. Looks like some sleeping, reading and nap time. I'm on my way to the city of Love.