Well America I am home and back from a FANTASTIC weekend in Venice!!!!! I would go back in a second! Definitely going to be a long blog just a little pre-warning but with lots of humor!
Thursday night I finally got to skype with my Twin Kaitlan J for once and get caught up on her life! So glad to finally talk to her! Now I found out she got accepted into nursing school J good job to my twin that is for sure!
Well Friday, left for the train station and got into Venice at about 12 or so. We really didn’t have precise directions on how to get to where we were staying, but Haleigh was able to ask the bus station what bus to take. After doing a full round of sitting on the bus because we didn’t know what stop to get off at, the nice lady in front of us helped us out and got the bus driver to stop where we needed to. Amy, Briana, and Haleigh found my comment about what I think of when I think of masks absolutely hysterical.
I looked at them all on the bus and was like you know what I think of when I think of masks? I think of a big open field of all these people with cloaks and masks on walking around with tents and then the dark lord coming to burn them all down. (Like in Harry Potter!!) Yes that is what I think of. They found it hilarious, but I was like for real, that’s how it is.
We finally got to the little bed and breakfast we were staying at. It was so cute! It literally was a 2 room B&B, but the other people apparently weren’t checking in until Saturday so Friday night we had it all to ourselves! So we dropped our stuff off and then decided to get some lunch because we were all starving and stopped by this kebab and pizza place. All of us got their version of the kebab, which honestly tasted like a mix of a Mexican burrito (oh how I miss qdoba!) and then the sauce on it tasted like ranch dressing (oh how I miss salads!). It was good though, but I will def. have to go get a real kebab soon because that one just didn’t compare to Florence kebabs! Amy however got the cheeseburger. My brother literally could have done a challenge with how big that thing was. The bun was huge, but so good, and then lots of lettuce, tomato, and ketchup with 2 really good burger patties. So good, but so large! Considering Amy is dying for some ranch dressing as much as I would do anything for a bottle of KC Masterpiece, she was a tad bit upset she didn’t get the kebab! HAHA
But then we made it back to around the train station and decided that Friday we would do an island and then Saturday make it to Carnivale. So we caught the water taxi and headed to Merona, which is known for its glass blowing.
Side note- Yes mom and Kelly, I went to see the glass. However, sadly, unlike the time I went with my mom and my cousin to the botanical gardens in STL to see the glass, I only went because they bribed me with Amaghetti’s afterwards which def. made it worth going to. This time I didn’t have to be bribed but I definitely would have liked to go to Amaghetti’s afterwards. HAHA
But the water taxi was so cool, but so cold! We got to see a lot of Venice and finally made it to the island to explore. However, we are pretty convinced we saw an ice cream boat on the water- which was hilarious! We went into a lot of the shops and they had some really cute, expensive obviously stuff. I of course was attracted to anything orange or bright blue J. Haha We stayed on the island for a bit and then decided to head back for dinner because it was so cold. This time we literally forgot to pay attention to what number water taxi we got on though L so we were on the thing for over an hour before we had to ask where to get off at! Whoopsies! But we made it back and found this cute little side restaurant. I got a margarita pizza (oh how I miss margaritas!), it was very good of course! Sadly Venice doesn’t have much of a night-life and due to the TOTALLY FREEZING weather, we decided to just go back to the B&B and play cards and then go to bed.
We were better at getting ourselves back to the B&B this time around and played some cards and went to bed! Didn’t sleep too well even in that comfy bed, but thankfully I had wifi on my phone to help me get through most of the night’s frustrations.
Then Saturday morning I couldn’t get myself to fall back asleep when my alarm went off at 6, so I got up and got ready. Amy and everyone else had been saying how I never wear my hair down, so I decided with my extra time I would straighten my hair. It has been so long since I have done that, that’s for sure!!
Side note news- I was going to bring 2 bottles of wine with me for the weekend to help me make it though Carnivale without passing out in fear, but walked out without the wine opener. DANGIT.
So after they all woke up, I decided I would replace my wine with expresso shots. Never had I done those before! But actually I used the expresso maker and used coffee because the B&B didn’t have expresso powder. They had these little grapefruit juice boxes I had mistakenly, but so worth it, left in the freezer for too long and chased the shots of “coffee” with the frozen juice. LMAO it was so funny. But then also, I must add—had a croissant with nutella that I had placed in the microwave (MISS THOSE TOO MUCH!!) for a few seconds……..SO GOOD. Ughh nutella is like a new obsession. Nutella here is nothing like it is in the states! But anyways.. had to leave a little time for all those coffee shots to kick in and boy when they did later-- I was like HELLO! We made it to the bus stop to go back to the train station and I had to mentally prep myself for the masks. I lucked out with them wanting to go to an island on Friday and didn’t have to really face all of the masks J, but Saturday I could no longer avoid the scary things L.
We made it out of the bus and saw this sunglasses stand. I was stupid and left my sunglasses in the car before my flight so I have been living without sunglasses, but this weekend I was like my sunglasses will be my mask. HAHA! Worked out though! I am in love with the things, wish they were orange, but I settled for yellow! HAHA! I got to act like I was at the fleamarket and bargained the price of course! I’m such a pro by now at that.
Then the masks began after that…………. I just don’t get it. WHY does anyone have to walk around with the ALL WHITE masks? If anything add some color to it please. If there is one dreadful nightmare I always have it’s that I will wake up one morning with a guy in a mask over me ready to kill me L. There were the full masks, the half masks, the masks that only cover the eyes, etc. Masks of all kinds and colors. ALL THERE TO SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF ME L!
We needed to get to San Marco, which was where the actual Carnivale really was. It took forever to get there, but we ended up stopping at a few little squares to check things out. We found this cute little ice rink they had- there was a kid dressed up like Buzz from Toy Story which was so funny. There was a lot more people dressed up in Halloween costumes besides the Venetians who were in their extravagant gowns and suits. Some were funny and some I just wanted to cry seeing.
Then we made it to this large area of all shopping places for masks, food, souvenirs, etc. IT WAS JAM PACKED! No one lied when they said it was going to be a MASS MOB of a ton of people. Of course Haleigh, Amy, and Briana HAD to get masks and of course I had to go around to all the shops and face my fear. They all 3 got masks, luckily only the ones that covered their eyes because I don’t think I could have allowed them to get a full mask without me screaming. I may sound like a child, but sorry after so many nightmares of masks being involved, I have a fear comparable to my hatred of spiders.
Then we trekked it over to San Marco, which took FOREVER because people don’t know how to walk over here. With my walking mentality, it gets me very frustrated when people stop in the middle of the already narrow walkways to look at things or talk to people, so I had to push around people. SO annoying. Finally we made it and OMG it was so crowded and def. took many photos. There was the cutest child dressed up in an animal costume of some sort right as we were walking towards the center and lots of people dressed up totally extravagantly and it was so neat looking minus the ones with the scary masks. I absolutely wanted to knock the masks off anyone walking around with the masks with large noses on them. UGHH so scary. Some of the time they would warn me not to look left, right, etc. and I would look down while they guided me along. Such good friends they are J I was so thankful of course! But we walked around San Marco for a bit and then decided to get lunch at this cute little shop on the side. They had a Hard Rock Café, which was really neat that we found on the side. But then we made our way back into the area and happened to find a bunch of people who had gone through SAI for the trip to Venice and Ainsley, who I went to Salzburg/Vienna with, ended up branching off and just going with us because their tour was so boring. We all walked around for a bit and then decided to go tour the Doge’s palace nearby. It was so neat and I only wanted to go so I could see the prisons and chambers cause I love that stuff, aka why I want to go to Sicily. But anyways, we weren’t really allowed to take photos, but HELLO no flash on the camera and a little blockage by my friends, I sniped some photos for everyone to see! J It was so big and I would never have wanted to live in a place that big because I would have a constant fear someone is hiding out in another room watching me. L But the prisons were neat and the paintings, sculptures, etc. were cool to see and after reading the explanations, it helped us all realize the significance of everything. I still have to research why the place caught on fire so long ago.
Then we made it back into the square and kept taking photos of all the cool people and then decided to wander off and find ourselves a GONDOLA ride J and we needed to find Ainsley a mask! During the time Ainsley was looking for a mask, Haleigh and I ventured off to find a quick snack. Haleigh got this rice cake thing stuffed with cheese and it was so good! But then when we were walking back, of course the weirdos all dressed up had to be nearby. This girl with hair in front of her face and a white sheet on looked like the girl from the ring and came up to me with the VHS labeled The Ring. GRRRRRR I was so mad, I ran off. But then Haleigh and Ainsley went back to this mask place while Briana, Amy, and I stood around and ended up talking to these American boys who were really nice. Then Ainsley found herself a mask and we began our walk to find a gondola ride!! We walked by their outdoor market, but it was closed and then finally found a gondola ride to take nearby off to the side. We wanted to take one of the rides off to the side since we already had been on the water taxi on the Grand Canal, so we wanted to go around the narrow “streets” or whatever. It was AWESOME! We all got into the gondola and Briana had started to tape a video and ended up asking the kind sir we had as our guide what his name was………we all wanted to fall out of the boat laughing. His response was “Casanova Sex Machine of Venice”……..omg it was so funny though and plus he sang to all of us too! It was about a half hour ride and so worth it! Venice is absolutely gorgeous and I would go back in a second.
After that we kept walking back towards the train station to find some dinner. We were trying to wait it out a bit and not eat so early, but we kept walking into bakeries so we decided to go eat dinner. Once again I got the margarita pizza…… totally yummy! Amy got the 3 course special for fish instead of meat and the first course was literally this black squid pasta. It was so salty and turned her mouth black. It was kind of funny but it didn’t taste as horrible as it looked! Haha
After that we wanted to go out with these American guys Amy, Briana, and I had talked to earlier, but once again Venice doesn’t have much of a night life and Amy and Briana weren’t feeling good esp. because it was so cold, so we decided we would go back again because we didn’t feel like walking all the way back to San Marco to meet up with the guys. We all had decided before dinner what to get for desert and I was so set on what I of course called cannelloni, meaning canoli. However, Ainsley got it before me and warned me it wasn’t canoli. It was like a whip cream center and that is NOT okay with me. So I ended up getting some gelato even in that freezing cold weather J! HAHA! I cannot wait to eat canoli for breakfast, lunch, and dinner when I go to Sicily J!
After that we tried to go see if we could book our train tickets back for the next day, but that failed. So then Ainsley went back with her roommates to where they were and Amy, Haleigh, Briana, and I went back to the B&B and played cards and what not. I ended up calling Julie from my work to see how she was doing (geez it felt so good to use my whiteberry again!) and so glad to talk to her since it had been so long (I know you’ll read this eventually, so I just wanted to say glad you answered and I didn’t get your voicemail J.) I ended up trying to go to bed a little early since I didn’t sleep much the night before. Well I probably fell asleep about 11 and then woke up at 2 because I drank too much water before bed. It literally took me about 10 minutes to get myself to go out the door to the bathroom. I had in my head that the other people staying in the room next to us were going to be sitting on the red couch in the kitchen with masks on ready to kill me. Finally I did get up, locked them all in the room, ran to the bathroom, and then quickly locked myself back into the bedroom. Total fail at falling back to sleep quickly. Played on my phone for a bit, turned on my iPod, etc. but totally couldn’t fall back asleep till probably after about 3:30. WHY? Oh maybe because then I got in my head that when I woke up at 6 the people would be sitting in their masks ready to kill me again. Plus, I was still seeing all of the masks from the day in my head. Such an imagination I have right?
Woke up at 6, couldn’t fall back asleep once again, so I got all my strength built up to walk out of the room. So I got ready, had my nutella croissant again, prepped my long email to my lovely roommate Seigs that I miss so much (how are you still putting up with me after all this BTW?? HAHA), and made it through the daydreams of people walking around in masks. Took advantage of the good water pressure in the shower considering our water pressure in our apartment STINKS, but so sad all that hard work of straightening my hair had to go away. It is going to be SO LONG by the time I get home and I will definitely have to dye all this gray hair out of it when I get home. HMMM I wonder where all the grey hair is coming from (Seigs you know that one J)! HAHA
But anyways, they all woke up and I totally failed at making my coffee shots this time around sadly. I must have put too much coffee in the thing or something. But I did get to have my semi frozen juice again J. Made me so happy J! But then we all got ready to go check out and make our way back to the train station to book our train back. We checked out and the lady who I guess ran the place was so nice and we def. enjoyed our stay. Must I add, we don’t think the people in the other room ever came, so I was worried for nothing! HAHA
We hopped on the bus at our usual stop and then the next stop like 438979248 people got on and we TOTALLY failed at fire code regulations. GEEZ I could not move and my back hurt so bad of course because of the way I was standing with my book bag. I was so frustrated because the ride lasted forever it seemed like. LUCKILY we finally made it to the train station and checked out train times. We were so fortunate we made that out first stop because basically anything after 1:30 I think was booked. So we ended up taking the 12:30 train back. We had about an hour to kill and that was not enough time to get back to San Marco for the Carnivale esp. with our bags this time, so we just walked around and grabbed lunch and looked for the T-shirts Amy and Briana wanted. The big day of Carnivale was yesterday apparently, but we were happier with actually getting a train back instead of being stuck in Venice. Plus the weather was cold, cloudy, and supposed to rain. We had such good weather Saturday, so we were okay with just seeing everyone in their costumes Saturday, of course I was J. There were people around the train station dressed up and there was a family walking in front of us at one point in their pretty costumes, but then the dad turned around and I saw his mask and wanted to scream DO NOT TURN AROUND AGAIN! Haha.
But then we made it to the train after finally figuring out what platform we actually needed to be at came on the screen. It was luckily a short ride back and we got back into Florence about 2:30. It was raining unfortunately so I came back and did my laundry and since I am running out of internet for the month, I went down to the coffee shop after dinner and got a cappuccino and used their wifi to add my photos to my computer, catch up with my friends from home, and download SVU J. Then I came home and got to skype for a bit and discuss my silly life with my mother and father. It was a nice chat of course!
Then I finally went to bed and made it through the night luckily and woke up and went back to bed. I hate Monday morning wake up calls. So then I finally got up and got the call from Haleigh that our special events project due this morning wasn’t working so I had to book it to school and then finally we got everything printed and legitly ran to class! We made it though!
Then I had Italian and AHHH I GOT A 38 out of 40 on my quiz! YAYA! Considering at first when I saw the numbers, I thought it was 38 out of 110 from what it looked like! But yay for my grade considering I thought I got so many more wrong!! J
Then I booked it up to the other part of town and worked out. I ate so much this weekend, definitely felt good to work out again!!
Then I booked it back across town, in my shorts, def. got some weird looks, and made it to Customer Relations class. Then I came back here to eat dinner, I was starving. Eating at 10:30 am cause I was bored in class was not my best idea. I walked by school after I worked out and of course had to smell the deliciousness being cooked in one of the classes inside L.
Now I am sitting here writing this………………
Well what else is there to add? Sorry this is so long but technically it’s 4 days put into 1. J
I love how every weekend I always say AHH I cannot wait for next weekend! Thursday a bunch of us are going to go out for dinner and margaritas again and then out before some of the others leave for the Rome & Tivoli trip that. AND FRIDAY IS the parmesan and balsamic vinegar factories in Parma and Modena!!!!! I cannot wait! And then we are all planning to possibly go to Assisi on Saturday!
This weekend was so much fun and I am so glad we all went! I def. would go back in a second! I am despising how fast time is flying over here but I still have so long to go thankfully! I am absolutely loving it here, but yes America I miss you too for many reasons! I told Haleigh I would probably pay her Mom 20$ to bring me a bottle of KC Masterpiece, sadly I probably would. HAHA
Nikki is coming OH SO SOON and I cannot freeking wait to see her and spend the week exploring Florence with her! Dublin flight is going to be booked oh so soon and now I found out Tricia and her friends will be there too, so that worked out well! I could cry at how excited I am! Souvenirs are already being planned. I am so getting a jacket-- that is for sure!!
Hmmmmmmmm…… Mid-terms are coming soon…….. Really soon and I am in shock at how soon.
But anyways, I will leave it at this for now J more to come tomorrow of course esp. because we are baking the croissants and danishes in baking tomorrow J!!!!!!! Hello dinner J!!
Love and miss you all and hope you all had as good of a weekend as I had!
And Krob- did you really think I would forget! TOMORROW MARCH 1! My best friend Katie Robert finally turns 21!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH! Wish I was there of course to help celebrate but don’t worry! You know I will be ready to re-celebrate when I get home J!!
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