Venezia. Boat buses, and street vendors.

We arrived in Venizia at around 9:30 yesterday morning. It was hot and humid. The train ride was really pretty cool. We followed the base of the Alps almost the entire way. It is strange in Italy that there will be nice villas built into the side of these mountains, but in the foreground there is a water treatment plant, or industrial park.

I tried to get a phone when we were in Milan. I am really trying to speak the language, but a few words in the guy just told me to speak English. Lauren thinks it has something to do with the fact that I was yelling poorly pronounced, and unconjugated Italian while gesturing violently with my hands in some catastrophically humiliating charade (a french drinking game). However, I am looking at my language failure another way entirely. If I can get everyone to want to speak English (Ingles) with me, then I believe I am the net winner. Needles to say I have graduated to a level 2 tourist as I know longer speak loud and infuriatingly slow English as if everyone here is hearing impaired.

Venice is pretty cool. There just isn't anything similar anywhere I have been. It is a little bit sad that everyone always warns you about how you are going to get robbed and cursed for being American. I can't help but think that this only perpetuates any hatred, if there is any to begin with. However, after getting of the train with one hand in my pocket (and the other one giving a peace sign) and the other one covering my face to protect me from spit, I realized that maybe the world isn't such an awful place after all.

We saw the basilica in Saint Marc's Square. Pretty sick. Lots of gold. It is interesting how because Venice has no solid foundation, all of the floors are wavy and make you feel like you are completely pissed (british for drunk). We tried to get into a glass blowing tour, but we didn't make it past the door. Everything here is super expensive, but we are only in town for the day. It rained and we tried to get into an exhibit that was supposed to have Da Vinci's Virtruvian Man, but it was not on display. Instead we saw about five thousand pictures of Jesus and some guy all stuck up with arrows. There were only two pictures in the entire place that showed any skin, for a total of three breasts. What happened to the Renaissance? Where is the nudity? the love of the human form? Lauren was extremely disappointed, but she is getting better at not running away when required to communicate. I am so proud.

This morning we are off to the Cinque Terre to eat some anchovies and olive oil. Maybe I'll start getting my tan on.

ciao for now