Part 2-Day Eight Venice, Italy-***A side note here: Up to this point, Tim and I had first class Euro Rail passes that treated us very well.For some reason on this section Tim thought that in an effort to save a few Dollars, we should ride 2nd class. There is a true difference in how you are treated and the comfort level when it comes to 1st and second class.

We also befriended two Seattle natives on the platform who like our idea of wine on the train and desired to open their newly purchased bottles. They did not have an opener, a major problem for them. We agreed to meet later for drinks and storytelling, promising that we would bring a bottle opener. Tim coerced Gigi into letting us borrow his opener once the train got going. We then headed 5 cars down the line to 1st class in search of our Seattle friends. Visiting with anyone who would talk to us along the way, we took our time attracting the interest of the other conductors. We finally found our Seattle friends but upon our arrival to their cabin we were asked for our tickets and then told to leave first class. Arguing that we had 1st class global rail passes did not help and having others try to argue our point only made tensions worse. The conductor threatened to stop the train and remove us unless we returned to our cabin. Off we went, running back to cabin in 2nd class with the conductor following closely behind. Tim ultimately attempted a return trip to pick up the opener so that we could return it to Gigi which resulted in Tim racing back down the train past our cabin from a second chase. We visited with our French roommates, a mother and teenage son and after Tim spilled red wine all over the compartment we headed to sleep.