Atlanta Augustus Malcesine

... and shout in minimum 100 different languages. Yes, everything became usual again... <br><br>At that time we hurried to the Square, we had to manage to visit at least the Doge's Palace. <br><br>First we tried to enter San Marco church BUT the queue!!!!!!!!! It was so big, we had no time.. <br>By the way, I learnt that the first coffee shop in Europe opened exactly on this square. Venice was then the biggest trading town in Europe, so it ...

We are traveling today to Siena and won't be able to communicate for awhile so wanted to give a big shout out to our friend John Ruppe. Have a good one bro, we love you!! We also wanted to tell the Heavens above to give Mick's Grandpa Ted a kiss and hug and ask to ...

... lemon veal<br>(VERY modern bathroom). Walked past shops in via 22 Marzo to La Fenice Opera<br>House, Bacino Orseolo with lots of gondolas parked, St Mark's Sq, all the way<br>to Santa Maria Formosa where Guido grew up in Calle del Paradiso (very old).<br>Ice cream in San Lio. Walked to Rialto &amp; took vap to San Marcuola to<br>S&amp;Gs. Rested &amp; ate dinner at Pontini's ...

... me, I love to start a conversation. Anyway, we met a guy from Detroi, two other guys from Washington, a girl from Arizona, a girl from Philladelphia and then a couple from Springfield. I was in talking heaven. We came back to our room, played cards and drank Budweiser we found at a grocery store here on Lido. Then journyed back for an evening stroll in Venice which turned into another evening "FALL" FOR ME!! Yes ...

We made our first trip to Venice today after a failed attempt of getting on the wrong train and going all the way to Slovenia! We were happy that we got it right this time! And since it is January, it was a bit on the cold side. But we had fun exploring and getting lost. I had no idea Venice was so big. We must have ...

Tuesday the 25th. We had arranged to meet Jill (Pete's sister) and Ian at the hotel. Poppy their dog came too. We walked up to the cable car station and had a drink in the Extreme bar as they were early. We met our guides for the trip Peter and I didn't catch the name of the other guy. Pete was anxious to get things out of the way so we went first. Up to nearly 1800m by cable car. A walk a long the top ridge and then they set up. We got into windproof suits and ...

... A ride on a Gondola cost steve 100 euros! we haggled and managed a price of 40 euro, then decided at £35 ish we would save it for petrol, it was a great day full on very nice shops Carolyn could have sent a fortune, what with Prada, Gucci etc. cound not find a Cornetto anywhere!

... on the boat. Traveled down to San Marco. Looked at the pigeons. Passed a couple of very funny new statutes at the market that resembled Chad and Sara taking pictures several months back. At least I THOUGHT they were funny! Contemplated going to the Doge's Palace, but even at 9am, there was already a line. I noticed something VERY FUNNY on the big zodiac clock. Every sign is in its happy place EXCEPT for the Scorpio which is busting out of it's ...

So, our trip is over, but there is a lot we were unable to blog about at the end. There was a mishap with the power transformer for Rick's laptop (it blew up), so we've been unable to upload pics, etc. Here's a quickie on what we did our last week of the trip. A day in Florence with the Evett/Edwards...walking around, visiting the David at the Accademia, eating at Anita's (our favorite trattoria in Florence) and just soaking in the city along ...

... in our room (decorated in antique Venetian style with quaint shutters, beamed ceilings and an old-fashioned bed) and immediately decide to head out. The receptionist is very helpful when I ask about the Doge's Palace (we have a secret itineraries tour early tomorrow morning and I want to make sure I know where to go) and gives us a map and marks the entrances on it. We walk out to greet Venezia and make our ...