Spring break has come and gone almost as fast as this whole semester. So, if you remember (/read my last blog post DEREK) our train from Rome to Florence was cancelled and we had to wait 5 hours for the next one. After successfully taking the train to Florence we arrived around 6 pm and missed a whole day in Florence. Jess and I walked around a little and then got dinner. The next day, our only full day, Avery came around 9 am and we walked all through Florence to the Duomo (didn’t go in … the line was about 5 hours long and we weren’t going to waste our only day waiting in line), to many different plazas (piazzas) with a lot of naked men statues and too many people. After that we decided to walk to Piazza Michelangelo, which overlooked the whole city like the Duomo does, but for free. On the way to the piazza we stopped at the best gelato place in the history of gelato places. It was called Neri something or another. I had cookies and cream and it blew my mind. Dairy Queen I love ya, but no competition. Before the Piazza, Avery, Jess and I relaxed in a pretty park in the shade because it was friekin hot. Avery didn’t feel well so we went back to the apartment and she went to her hostal. Later that night Jess and I went to get dinner. Blah Blah.
Next day, Jess, Erica and I left for Venice! It was a quick two-hour train and upon arrival we were amazed at how darn beautiful everything was. Anyone who has been to Italy always says Venice is their favorite place and aesthetically I completely 100% agree, but activity wise… not so much. We had two almost three full days here and did about everything there is to do in the first half of the first day, but regardless of the small amount of action I really did enjoy my time. Venice is probably more of a romantic getaway or a place you go when you turn 70. It reminded me of Florida and all the cute grandparents who end up down there. Jess and I ran out of things to see and places to go so accidently got on a water taxi thinking it was taking us from a nearby island Murano back to our apartment but in reality it took us around the whole entire island… took maybe an hour. We sat in the back of the boat in the fresh air and enjoyed the buildings with a group of Asian women and one man from Thailand. One of the Asian ladies asked me to take a picture of them and then said she would take a picture of Jess and I, but in reality she took maybe 15 and kept making us move to different spots on the boat, so basically we had a quick, unwanted photo-shoot. She was just so adamant on taking our pictures and then taking pictures with us. Making new friends!! Jess, Erica and I also took a gondola ride that was a very expensive way to relax, but obviously had to be done. You don’t go to Venice and not take a gondola just like you can’t go on a gondola and not Instagram a picture of it.
The main highlight of my trip to Venice (kidding but not really): feeding the pigeons in Piazza San Marco! I know “pigeons are gross” and I’m going to get bird flu and die and all that stuff, but pigeons are just as much god’s creatures as dogs or cats are! Check my Facebook for a link to 15 reasons why pigeons rock – if that doesn’t convince you, you probably don’t have a heart. Anyways, Erica and I crushed up some greasy chips and just put our hands out and the rest was history. Although sometimes they pecked at my fingers or tried to eat my fingernails, they were very gentle and soft and I wasn’t scared at all unless you count the time I had maybe 2 on my head, 3 on my arms and about 20 on my lap and surrounding me. Otherwise, those pigeons were my homies and it took a lot for me not to go back 10 more times.
Moving on from my pigeon lady tendencies, I am writing this on my flight back to Barca. Only one night separates my rents and me!!!! My mother and father are taking a red eye tonight and I will go pick them up (take the metro) at the airport tomorrow morning at 9:15 am. Who wants to bet Annette cries?
Arrivederci
Mandy
(I wrote this last night, but the rents are here now. Yay!)