Found on the Riva degli Schiavoni

Some time ago (while I was still languishing in Dismal Swamp, waiting, waiting, etc.,) I saw something on Facebook that made me sit up and pay attention. If you know me, you know it must have been on the scale of a blast of TNT, or the sound of a cork being eased out of a bottle of Prosecco.

Anyhow, it involved something carved into some of the Istrian stone along the Riva just near the Ponte de la Paglia, and which alluded to a place where people could board public transport to the train station, and not be required to use a gondola.

So, off I went, nose to grindstone/pavimento to see if I could find this piece of past history. I must have looked a tad eccentric, perhaps.

I found it! I tried to take photos, I tried to do a panoramic shot, I used a wide-angle lens. None of them worked. I retreated to my lair to do some thinking.

Hah! I know what, I’ll capture it as a movie. Starring Johnnny, maybe!

Look, here it is, with sound effects and everything. (Please look, I spent an outlandish amount of time to bring this to you.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y2TEKSbYZM

And then, darned if I didn’t find some more stuff carved into the stone a little further down the Riva.

Here’s one of them, you’ll find it near the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop. Just look at the date on it!

A young fellow told me this referred to the size and number of boats that could be moored at this stretch of the Riva.

And, another:

This says: Fine di stazio dei abitanti del ….. brazzai di li lina

And, one more:

This one says: Stazio di cuna di Pirano

Just when we think Venice cannot possibly hold more surprises, she reveals a few more.

And, I hope someone can translate the words for us.