"Streets flooded, please advise!"

Crash's birthday drinks. Shannon, Kate and Nat
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Today we arrived in Venice after a six hour bus ride, and were pretty buggered. It was Crash's 19th birthday today, and unfortunatley she had to spend it on the bus! We stayed close to the hotel for dinner, and a few celebratory drinks for Crash.

The next day we caught the shuttle boat across the canals to Venice. As we arrived it was pouring with rain so hard that some of the streets had filled up with water! (haha, bad joke, we know...)We dodged muddy puddles and grumpy people, and made our way to see a glass blowing demonsration. Was pretty cool, we only wish we had somewhere to put the 40,000 Euro chandelier or the 250,000 Euro ugly Marlin piece. Everything at the shop was unique and couldn't be made exactly the same again.

...spent an hour eating McDonalds in the doorway of an apartment building

Step one, pull some hot glass out of the oven
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We visited a lace making shop and were introduced to the wonderful world of lacemaking. One small piece can take eight months to make! As wages are so low for the lace workers, the government subsidises their income.

We were then free to swim around the town, but by this stage we were so cold, tired and wet that we spent an hour eating McDonalds in the doorway of an apartment building. We did eventualy make it out to a cafe, where we drank cups of melted chocolate, and wine.

In th afternoon we visitd the San Marco (Saint Marc) basillica, in Pigeon Square. We were told not to kick the flying rats, but only if their were Pigeon Police looking (seriously!). A few of us got some good shots in... Hannah tried her best to steer clear of the entire area!!!

Step two, pull some legs out of it
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The basillica was incredible, very dark and gothic. Very different to the other churches we have seen!

We went out to dinner which was a bit disappointing, the Italian food we ate didn't really live up to our expectations!