So - I have Venice up next in the travel log...so here goes!
We left for Venice VERY QUICKLY after getting home from Poland - two days later. We got into Venice pretty late, around ten I believe. We had to take a bus to get onto the actual island of Venice...we saw SO many pizza places on that ride. It was fair to say we had quite the pizza craving when we got there! We had quite vague directions to our hostel (i.e. go up to the bridge and veer right [and there were a LOT of bridges])...but somehow we managed to find it. We were pretty damn proud when we got 
there - as we even took a water taxi to find it! Water taxis are there actual taxis - and are way better than a gondola ride (in my opinion.) We checked into our hostel, met the two Brazilian girls who were sharing the room with us (yes, they were gorgeous, I know you were wondering) and went to find PIZZA! We didn't have to go far - it was across the street! He was just closing up for the night, but we complemented how nice the pizza looked and how hungry we were. It worked! The pizza slices were HUGE (see above left!) and my favorite part, he drizzled olive oil on top! AHHHHH it was SO good! Carolyn 
and I then went to go wait for our travel partners - Ben and Ryan (Canada) who were coming from there trip to Budapest. We ended up getting the end of the main canal right as their water taxi went by. MAN were they surprised to see us yelling and waving. It was great. :) We met them at the stop, and showed them the way to the hostel (as we were OBVIOUSLY experts now!). We all headed to bed early, to prepare for the great FULL day of Venice the next day! (Picture above right = HEELLLLOOOOooooo Venice!)
The next day was perfect,
weather wise. The forecast predicted storms, so we were SUPER pumped about the sunshine! We wanted to just roam through the streets of Venice, and we didn't have any destination in particular. We stopped on the Rialto bridge first - one of the main bridges that connects the two sides on either side of the large, main canal. We got some great pictures on the bridge (above left)! We saw plenty of street vendors and stores selling the beautiful, eleborate Venetian masks (see right) and Murano blown glass. I wanted to go in every single store! (I wasn't allowed to though, which was probably good.) We made our to San Marco's Piazza (see left) and took LOTS of pictures. The whole piazza 
is surrounded by gorgeous buildings and the architecture just blows you away. And, right next to the piazza is a WONDERFUL view of the other islands close by. We were just overwhelmed with all the picture opportunities! No worries, we regained our composure and rose to the challenge! Our first gelato stop of the trip occured next - and yes, it was delicious. OBVIOUSLY! :) We did more wandering (the theme for the day) and ended up back at the main waterfront. At this point, Ben wanted to find Harry's Bar, which is the place the 'Bellini' drink originated - he was told to find it from his dad. It wasn't far, and the interior was as you'd imagine. Very simple, but classy. The bartenders wore white tuxes, and the probably have their 'regular' customers who come see them everyday. Bellini's were super spendy, so just Ben got one. The bartender was very kind though, and poured the other three of us each a little glassful. It is a DELICIOUS drink! Champagne and peach puree. (SO GOOD!) (see right)
From there we wandered on, through more little back roads and over countless bridges. Then we all were starving for some REAL food...we found a great looking food stand, and had these pizza-like-rollup/sandwiches (confusing right?) and some Prosecco to wash it down (see above left)! I had never had Prosecco before (it's Italian champagne) and it was VERY cheap. We sat next to the canal while we ate/drank/chatted. Post-lunch we all wanted a little gondola action...but as a true gondola ride was SPENDY (about 80 euros total for all of us) we went the cheap route - the gondola that just crosses the canal. It was 0.50 euros and takes about 2.5 minutes. PERFECT! We were pumped and took photos and videos throughout our brief ride (picture above right). That was all the gondola action I needed! We then continued with the day's theme (yes...WANDERING) and happended upon a street called Gregorio (see above). It was photographed in honor of Greg (come on, you know me!) and there's another story that will be documented in the Top Ten. (Get pumped.)
We wandered on...and saw many neat shops. My favorite was full of carved wood pieces, that looked like normal clothing! They even had the 'rippling in the wind' effect going on...it was so neat to look at up close (see way above)! We then happened upon another Prosecco stand...so of COURSE we had another glass! We sat on a
bridge overlooking the canal...sipping it as the sun added to my freckle collection. It was truly my favorite part of the trip (see right)! A gelato stop was soon after that (yes, I know, number 2 of the day...I am not ashamed.) and more pictures. We crossed another one of the large bridges that connects the sides of the 
main canal - and it provided a GREAT background for pictures (see left). We then found a little park-like area outside of a gorgeous building (see right) - which we found out was just a normal office building. I would LOVE to work in a building like that - eat my lunch in the garden right outside...and maybe enjoy some post-work Prosecco. WOW - that would be the life!!!
We ended up back at Piazza San Marco (see left)...where we located a coffee shop for some much needed caffeine. A true cappuccino was enjoyed and it WAS great (see below left). The perfect amount of milk/coffee combo. (I just realized how much we ate/drank this day...wow...). We sat and people watched and pidgeon watched (both hilarious). At this point, Ben had met up with a friend who was also in Venice, so Ryan, Carolyn and I were killing time until dinner. We went back to the shopping streets, 
and did a healthy amount of window shopping/judging (you assess the styles in the window and give 
your opinion...try it sometime! VERY fun!) before we came to this perfect little canal/bridge spot. The walls of the buildings were a peach, and with the late afternoon sun, the water in the canal just looked beautiful. We took advantage and took some great pictures - some of the best of the trip! Then we made our way back towards the hostel, to check in with Ben, and got some cannolis on the way (below right). Yes, yes, more food. Judge away. They 
were awesome. :)
Ben ended up staying with his friend for dinner, so the three of us hunted down a cheap but tasty dinner spot. We found the perfect location, under a tent in the middle of a plaza. It was starting to sprinkle, and this way we could stay outside but stay dry. I felt the need to try the spaghetti, because Italy's got to do it the best I figured (below right), and they did well! We shared some house wine and chatted for hours (see left). By the time we left, it was dark and raining a bit more. My sad, sad umbrella (a few prongs were no longer able to do their job) so we did a bit of umbrella 
shopping for me...and took in a few more of the back streets of Venice before heading back to the hostel with wet shoes and wet pants' hems. We saw the canal was flooding in some areas, as we walked home. Guess even a little rain, mixed with the tides, can really do some damage! Yikes!We had a wonderful time in Venice...one of my true favorites in Europe. The mixture of fantastic weather, delicious food, some lovely shopping opportunities and of course, great friends, made the day really memorable. I was stoked for Rome the next day though! Our train left in the mid morning and we arrived in Rome in the early afternoon. The ride went fast (...because, YES, I napped!) and before we knew it, bye bye canals, HELLLOOOOO gladiators!
Roma is coming soon! Stay tuned! (I may need to get some more coffee...it's now 3:40AM. Little over 3 hours until check in. Little under 7 until flight time.)
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