Venice

This morning, Elise and I didn't get our 5am wake-up call....so about 6:55, our tour guide knocked on our door and asked us where we were. Needless to say, the morning didn't go as planned, and we were extremely rushed and missed breakfast. I slept on the bus as comfortably as I could, wrote some letters, and read a bit. I am borrowing the "Diary of Anne Frank" from my friend Laura. I read it many years ago, but it is so different to read it having been to the actual annex where they stayed for 3 years-and more sad. I actually can picture what Anne is talking about this time around.

We finally arrived in Venice, Italy around 3 pm, and caught a boat to the tiny island of Murano where the famous "Murano glass" is made. I sort of knew about this glass because Sara brought a beautiful nativity scene back to my mom when she went to Italy several years ago. We got to see a demonstration and then had some time to purchase some glass pieces if we wanted to.

After the demonstration, we took another boat back to Venice and had a couple hours of free time. Venice is beautiful, but not what I imagined. Italians do not live in Venice, only tourists visit Venice. Every single part of the city is inindated with foreign shop owners, peddlers, and fellow tourists. We piddled around for a while, did some window shopping, took some pictures, and then headed back to the famous St. Mark's Square where some of the group was meeting to go on a gondola ride. I sat on the square and got to people watch, write a bunch of postcards, and wait for the rest of the group to return.

After they did, we caught another boat back to mainland Italy, checked into our hotel, showered and grabbed a quick bite at a hole-in-the-wall Italian place, and am now sitting in the lobby typing this on word so that my ONE hour of internet that I had to PAY for isn't being used. I wait up until 1:15am because that means that Daniel will be getting off work at home and we can skype. I call Mom and Dad, talk to Daniel, and then go to sleep.

We have an early day tomorrow because we are heading to Florence, which is about a 3 hour drive. Im hoping to sleep on the bus.

My blogs have been short and sweet lately, or more likely short and boring...but I have limited time. I will update pictures tomorrow when I hopefully have free internet!

I Miss home,
Kate