Venice

Okay so Yesterday we took an early train that took 3 hours to get to Venice. We had to take a water taxi to get to a hotel in Venice Proper where we had lunch and locked up our carry-ons. We visited Doges' Palace, Bridge of Sighs, the prison, and St. Mark's Square with the working clock/bell tower. We rode on a gondola while musicians serenaded the whole group in a large break in the narrow canals. Val, you would have freaked at the birds in St. Mark's Square. They were flying onto people's arms, shoulders, backs, legs, and even heads. I took a picture of a random guy so that you could see what I was talking about. I told Jacques and Kathy that you probably wouldn't even be able to walk through the square, but only walk around. Hahaha! We are actually staying at a very nice hotel on the island of Lido so we had to get our carry-ons from the other hotel and take another water taxi to get to our beach resort. Kathy was not too pleased about all the boat riding, but she has been a great sport!! Our hotel is right on the water so Jacques, Kathy, and I went for a dip in the Adriatic before a casual dinner at yet another sinfully delicious restaurant. I had Gilthead (a kind of fish), which was extremely salty, but I wanted to try something new! Jacques ordered donkey (yes I said donkey) meat with noodles, which was nothing compared to when he ordered tripe (a cow's 4th stomach). We took the free shuttle boat from our hotel to Venice Proper in order to see St. Mark's Square lit up at night and hear the competing musicians at restaurants from both sides of the square. We had world famous bellini's at Harry's bar, and traveled back to our beautiful hotel for some sleep. This morning, Kathy and I took the first shuttle boat out to Venice to do some shopping and have drinks in St. Marks Square. Jacques went to Murano at one of the glass making factories and had a fabulous time. Jacques, Kathy, and I ended up on the same shuttle boat back to our hotel and went to a casual eatery on the beach for lunch. We walked along the beach, hung out by the pool, and ate even more gelato. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner at 7 pm with the rest of the tour group and I have to leave at 5am tomorrow morning in order to get on a water taxi to Venice and catch my flight to Rome. My flight to Greece should make it there by 2pm tomorrow, where I will meet up with Mom. If Greece is as good as Italy, I might just stay! Haha! I will miss traveling with Jacques and Kathy because we have had a blast and yes, Paul, they are cool.