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Venice
Gondolas in a row Hello to one and all,
We are officially in Italy! Actually we got into the country on the 1st, first we were in the Cinque Terre national park. Beautiful. It is comprised of 5 little towns connected by a hiking trail, it is absolutely amazing. Picture little towns of multicoloured houses all attached with dark green shutters slapped onto a cliffside with beautiful dark blue ocean... mmmm... and blue blue sky. Wow it was amazing! We did the full 9km hike through all of the villages on our first full day there. We were hurting but very proud of ourselves afterward! The second and final day there we caught a ferry that runs through to all the towns, went to the last town Manorolo (sp), rented some beach chairs and sunbathed. So relaxing, and in the best place ever!
Then we had a full day of traveling to get to Venice, 4 trains in total. But they all connected and we got on and off like pros! It worked out very nicely. We are actually staying at a camp ground and have rented a cabin with 2 beds and a dresser for 14.50 per night. Its a little out of Venice
Venice
On the transit boat but there is a shuttle for 3.50 round trip that takes us right into the city. This place is wicked, loads of young people, but also families, a nice restaurant, little store, and a pool! We spent the late afternoon soaking up the rays this afternoon (and yesterday afternoon when we first arrived too). This morning we went into town with the soul purpose of getting lost and just wondering, we did a very good job of this! Sometimes there are signs, and then they disappear for a while, but if you keep on going in the same direction they normally show up again. Needless to say we basically made our ways around the whole city, or most of it (we think...). For to San Marcos Square, so big, so beautiful, not flooded (but I think that would be so cool to see!), so many pigeons. And you can pay 1 Euro to feed them too! They are so tame people were holding them and petting them, pretty unreal.
Needless to say it was a beautiful and great day. OH we went to the tourist office and got the Rolling Venice Card which gives us discounts on loads of things
Venice
On the transit boat from food to shopping (hehehe), also got a 3 day really discounted transit boat pass. So tomorrow we plan to validate that pass for the rest of the 3 days we are here and use it to go up and down the Grand Canal as well as out to the Islands of Murano (for glass blowing), Burano (for lace making), and... the other one.... crap I can't remember the name, but it has horses I know that! We also get discounts as students and more with the card on a Venice walking tour, so we think we will do that tomorrow and the Islands the next day.
So on the hostel front, we love it here, so nice. Met some girls on the bus in on our first day here, Kristin and Naomi from California, then today we saw them again and they had 2 Vancouverites with them! Two guys, Dan (who is almost as tall as my Dan) and Nash, and one of them used to live really close to us. So we are all getting along quite well, spent the afternoon by the pool with them and we are meeting at the bar for a drink tonight at
Venice
Dan's first pigeon experience happy hour I believe. Good times.
ummm oh, Dan wants me to mention the train to get to Italy. We changed our itinerary, like we said before to take a night train to La Spezia, to get to Cinque Terre. Well that was an experience, I mean it was good cause we have never done it before, but I can't say that I ever want to do it again... Seriously, for dan to stretch out he would have had his head out the door. there were 6 people in a room, 3 tiered bunk beds. We were on top, luckily so we could sit up...mostly.... but it was a bumpy ride, and dan couldn't stretch out at all... when he tried he was on his back and he started to snore like a mofo... so I put an end to that.... I'm mean I know.... But he was loud! and it wasn't just me I was thinking of... Sort of the same thing happened at the campsite to start with, we were in a little tent house... and again if Dan were to stretch out the door would have to be open , so we upgraded for 2 euros
Venice
My first pigeon experience... little scared! more a night, and I think this has made a huge difference in the amount of sleep we both will get. More private in a cabin too and nice and dark so sleep comes easily.
So we are thinking that that is pretty much it... We are going to check our e-mails with our remaining 8minutes and 58 seconds oh 38 seconds and then off to dinner. Love to all, Robyn and Dan
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Adrienne
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People holding and petting pidgeons?! That's so disgusting it makes me shudder. Que asco!