Ciao from Venezia (Venice)!

Ciao everyone!

I'm in Venice now and it's SUCH a beautiful city!!! Truly a city built on water and consequently, completely different than any other. I've been really fortunate that the weather has been gorgeous, about 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky! WHOOP!

Today I slept a bit later than usual since yesterday was exhausting with 2.5 hour flight delays and lugging my huge backpack all over the place. However, I made up for the late start by literally walking the streets of Venice for about 7 hours. Venice is a city made up of winding streets and alleys that weave in and around the Grand Canal (where you see all of the famous gondolas and water taxis), and you completely lose track of time while wandering through all of them. Surprisingly, the streets and alleys are pretty easy to navigate through!

Venice is just SO beautiful and serene and there are so many fantastic shops that it has to offer. I (once again!) had to exercise GREAT restraint to keep from buying every piece of Murano glass in sight! That stuff is GORGEOUS and it's everywhere!

I visited the famous Rialto Bridge first (see pics of the white bridge) and then of course went to St. Mark's Square. St. Mark's is REALLY cool! For one thing, it's massive and has such beautiful architecture that you just stand there for a couple of minutes in awe. The Basilica is breathtaking, particularly considering its age (built in 1094!) and the mosaics/carvings on its outer walls are interesting as well. Had a couple of hilarious "Vicki moments" with diving pigeons, trying to avoid being pooped on - HA! There are GILLIONS of pigeons in St. Mark's Square and they're not afriad of humans in the slightest bit (particularly considering the fact that street vendors sell food for tourists to give them)! They swoop down on you (some even land on your arm or shoulder - Mom you would DIE!!!) and there are feathers everywhere. Surprisingly there's not much poop around though...they do a good job of keeping it cleaned up in the Square.

I learned a VERY valuable lesson today at a cafe in St. Mark's Square though. ALWAYS as the price of a cup of coffee before you order!!! I had been walking around forever today and decided to take a break, sit down at an outdoor cafe with a nice cup of coffee, and write postcards to everyone back home. All was well until I got the bill. It was SEVEN EUROS (over $9!!) for ONE cup of coffee!!! It wasn't even a fancy cappuccino or anything like that! When the waiter showed me the bill, I of course gasped and said that he couldn't be serious. I quickly learned that he wasn't joking at all so I grumbled and paid the bill, but not after I walked into the cafe and told the manager that I thought it was really shady to take such advantage of tourists by letting them order a cup of coffee and not even show them a menu with the price. Of course he didn't care (and I knew he wouldn't), but it still made me feel better b/c there were about 5 people in line that heard me talking to him and walked out after they heard the price. HA! A few minutes later I was chatting with a family from Scotland and the husband and wife told me they had been taken for a ride in a cafe down in the Square as well and were charged 46 Euros (almost $60!) for TWO (yes....TWO) beers! GEEZ!

Anyway after my exciting day in the city, I came back to the small town outside of Venice where I'm staying and had dinner at a local restaurant. I wanted to get back here in the room though before dark, so here I am updating all of you on my adventures. Tomorrow I'm going on a tour of Venice that I booked last night. There wasn't any room in the one today, so I decided I would just do it tomorrow. I'm going to stay in the city later though so I can see it at night. I've heard it's amazing! :-)

Have to get ready for bed now, but I hope everyone is doing well back home. Many of you can expect postcards soon!

Ciao for now!

:-) V