Venice

VENEZIA! Did somebody say something about romantic? I say expensive, crowded, and stinky canals...

Our first impression was at a restaurant where we tried to share a massive pizza. We're talkin' XXL pizza size from Pizza Pizza. It seemed as though we were being discriminated against because we were tourists, being served last, and given cracked water glasses, instead of wine glasses for the wine we ordered. When we finally got served, the waiter told us we BOTH had to order a pizza if we wanted to eat there, so we did a runner. Down the street we found a take away pizza the same size, for a few euros, and all was good.

This city though, is one of a kind, and one you have to see in person. If you get rid of all the tourists, and the shops made FOR the tourists, it is a pretty amazing place. While wandering, we heard an opera singer, and decided to follow her voice. We ended up at the end of a small canal, overlooking a few balconies, and listened for a few minutes while a woman was excerising her talent from her home. A true Italian experience.

Sick of the crowded city, we made our way to Murano, one of the islands around Venice. This place was beautiful. Very few tourists, and lots of locals to chat with. The sun was shining, and we spent the entire day wandering the small streets. We stopped in a glass blowing factory, and watched a ferrari style horse being made. Pretty amazing talent.