Vennice Day 2

Us on the way over to Murano


Guy is going to blow glass




One of the store's displays on Murano.


Breadsticks anyone?



Kelsea, me and Darrin on our never-ending boat detour.




Our Gondolier


Cool Picture, sorry, hard to see


Rialto bridge


We started the day by taking a private boat to Murano. We got to see a glass factory and a demonstration on 2 ways of doing glass, blown and just modeling it. It was way cool. The whole island (very tiny) is full of glass shops and there is anything you can imagine. On our way back, we took the wrong water bus so we had a 3 hour detour, yep. We then went to the Dogma Palace (or something like that) it was interesting but disappointing. We went on a Gondola ride. Sherrie was freaking out she thought we were going to tip over, so as to play a joke, the gondolier rocked the boat really hard. It was hilarious. It was a pretty cool ride. We then ate at this little place and I got the Pesto Pasta and it was the best I have ever had. It had lemon and mint flavor to it and I was in heaven! We split up for a little bit and I stopped by an opera house and this tenor was singing this song, and I can't think of the name, but it was the most beautiful Italian opera I have heard. it was flowing out the windows, so I got me some of the most delicious gelato I had had and sat and listened to opera. What a fantastic day. I Love Venice!!!

Venice day one

St. Marks


Gondolas

Me and Winnie


Alley way






We got to Venice and then we hurried up to wait, yet again. We waited a couple of hours for our train. We weren't actually staying in Venice, but in a city about a 30 min train ride from Venice. We got off the train and we were so excited. Our hotel was right next to the train station. So we all cart our luggage over there and walk into this extremely nice hotel. We were all like, this is where we are staying? So, Darrin goes to check us in, and they have no record of our reservations. We had reservations at Holiday Inn Express, not the regular Holiday Inn. So we walked at least a half mile toting our luggage through this residential area. Now we had just come from rainy Paris, and we land in hot Venice. By the time we all made it to the hotel, we were all dripping is sweat. Eventually we made it back to Venice and had a wonderful time. I love Venice!!! I love being so close to the water and I couldn't help but think of the Italian Job. We met a member who was selling his paintings. He called us brother and sisters and invited us to church, but we weren't going to be there so we were disappointed. He then gave us hugs and air kisses; it was so funny because Zach was a little surprised to have that happen!

Train to Venice

Arranging our luggage in tiny places






Us in the morning (we did not sleep well)

We took a night train to Venice. I was with Darrin, Carolyn, Kelsea, Winnie, and Maryam. Let me just say that it is not fun sleeping on a train. The novelty wore off really fast. The seats flipped down so there were 6 beds. I even took a sleeping pill, but it only helped a little. During the night we went through the Alps. I could tell that we were so I looked out the window but it was so pitch black you couldn't see anything, what a shame.

Louvre and Kong

This cylinder is the elevator from the outside entrance into the museum. We rode on it, way fun.









Coming out of the metro, this is what you see






Nike



Nike, I was so excited to see this statue




Looking at the pyramid from outside, this is the entrance to the Louvre



Maryam was so tired, so we got a wheel chair for her. When Winnie went to check out another statue, I wheeled Maryam around and she fell asleep, so of course we had to take a picture!




Me and Winnie




Kong



Kelsea and Maryam at Kong


Us at Kong, they put pictures on the Ghost chair. Creative idea

The Louvre was awesome, however there were so many people and if you want to get to another wing, you have to go to the main courtyard to get there. The Louvre is one of the oldest museums, and I M Pei designed the courtyard and the pyramids. Some people hate it, but when you are there, it just fits. I think it is fantastic. The Louvre houses the Mona Lisa. A lot of people were disappointed because it is about 20" x 17" (that is just a guess) but, I knew what to expect and it was cool to see. We then met up with Darrin, Carolyn, and Kelsea to eat at Kong. I had this delicious fruit salad with some weird but yummy dressing. Then we had to get some last minute shopping in before we left Paris, and it was last minute, we were running down the streets of Paris to get to a metro station to get back to the hotel in time before we left for Venice.

Versailles

King's Chapel

Hall of Mirrors

Our tour guide, Pierre

Side of Versailles

Cool outside courtyard, look at the awesome floor and marble pillars. I love how the floor pattern draws you to the other end.

Marie Antoinette's private house

Today was an interesting day. Our tour guide Pierre came and picked us up at the hotel. He is is old, smelly, perverted, dramatic man. He treated us like we were in kindergarten. It was funny at first, but as the day wore on it started try on my nerves. He would always say,"Ladies, prepare yourselves!" He was really pushy and made us push our way to the front of every room. He got in a few arguments with other tour guides and ushers. Versailles was so huge, I think it would take a day just to walk the house. The grounds are massive. The gardens were a little disappointing, but of course we only saw a few. Only a couple of the fountains were on. I really enjoyed Marie Antoinette's private apartments and further on were the grounds were only her ladies went. It was more wild and not so formal and the buildings were in a completely different style. I loved it. Tons of walking, a little rainy, but all in all, a pretty good day.

Musse de Orsay and Arch of Triumph

Inside of Musse de Orsay

Cool Art Nouveau Door Way

Arch of Triumph. They say if you don't come here, you haven't been to Paris

View from arch. Can you see picture frame building?

Me on top of the arch.

Today as a group we walked the the Eiffel Tower and did some sketches. We then went to the Mussee de Orsay. It is the art museum with paintings, statues, sculptures, photographs, furniture and more. It had this huge arched glass ceiling that was really cool. Then a group of us went to the arch de triumph (don't really know how to spell in in French). I think it was like 280 steps going up spiral staircases to get to the top, but it was way worth it! The view was fantastic. You could see the Eiffel Tower and just the view for miles and miles around. It was a windy and rainy day, but that is what Paris has been so far, so no suprises.