4 Days in Venice

As you may have deduced from my deafening silence for the last few days, I have not had internet access. But where could I possibly be where I did not have access to my computer? The answer may shock you, so if you have an irritable heart condition (or bowel) I suggest you sit down because I was in Venice!

I know, it's hard to believe. Just as I'm getting used to Hédé, I run off to another glamorous country/city/dream land for 4 days. I have to say, it surprised me too. I couldn't believe my luck when my parents gave me permission to go with CIEE for a mini-vacation in Venice! But, surprising or not, this dream came true.

I should give some backround: Venice is literally my dream city. When I was in middle school, my computer class did a fake "Travel Itinerary" project for which we planned and presented a purchasable trip to a foreign land. Guess what city I picked? That's right, Venice. In our class we even made faux professional websites featuring our imaginary trip. Needless to say, mine was pretty fabulous: Bella's Venice. May I suggest that you not judge my shamelessly photoshopped picture on the About the Author page? Please? Fun Fact: in my travel itinerary I mentioned Saint Mark's Basilica and it's grandour - while in Venice I visited this Basilica! You can't imagine my glee when we arrived! Unfortunately, there was a mix up with our reserved tour and our CIEE group was unable to see the inside of the magnificent basilica, but just admiring the exterior was enough for me.

But despite a few let-downs (failure to tour Saint Mark's is one, endless downpour on our first day is another), this trip was amazing. Throughout the trip I saw beautiful sights, ate delectable food, bought more than my fair share of touristy souvenirs, butchered the beautiful Italien language (much to the dismay of my Italien speaking peers), reconnected with old friends, and even made some new ones.

First, the 8-hour bus ride:
Though it was long, there were some good things that came out of this bus ride! By which I mean I hung out with/met some awesome people.

My new friend Jenna (from Canada!) and me 

Melinda (we met at orientation) and me being awesome...

Our first view of Venice after a sleepless night on an overcrowded bus! It was beautiful all the same...

Our voyage into the city of our dreams!
Fun Fact: in Venice, the public transport is all water related! That should be obvious, but you wouldn't believe how excited we all were when we (52 exchange students) found out that instead of buses, we took public boats! Taxis (little speed boats with yellow stripes) were so weird! Perhaps the best moment was when we saw a police boat zooming past us with sirens blaring. I'm just trying to imagine getting pulled over by a police boat for speeding...

My new friend Christine (also Canadian) posing glamorously before our first venice skyline.

Me, also looking absolutely smashing!

Inside Venice:
Finally, we made it into the city of Venice! Every night we took a boat out to the mainland where our hotel was located, but every day we returned to this magical city. From here on out, just enjoy the pictures!

Just thought I'd tease you with a picture of absolutely delicious Italien food...

This is a boat station! To board the bus-boat (as I call it) one has to buzz through a metal gate onto an enclosed dock which floats on the water! When the boat finally comes (let me tell you, it's always late! And it's always windy...) it docks and the roaring stream of passengers stream onto the boat like there's no tomorrow. It's actually pretty rabid, as there are only limited seats, and only limited indoor space (half the boat is outdoors). Needless to say, as we were young, fit children in good health, we were almost always outside... Somehow it was still fun! Even when we got lost on the first day in a downpour and had to stay outdoors as the boat was thrown carelessly about on the waves... Ohh memories!

Saint Mark's Square (and Basilica) The 8th grade me was freaking out!

Me, in front of Saint Mark's Basilica

Me, taking an artsy picture in front of... A gate of some sort? In any case, my stoic, edwardian type presence was to die for.

Within the MUVE museum that we visited, we had to turn off our cameras, but we were allowed to take pictures of the classically carved and painted ceilings! Inside the museum was a perfectly preserved historical mansion, it was breathtaking (especially the giant globes!)

 Before you look at this, please let me explain this horrific picture! You see, I had asked Melinda to take a photo of me on the streets of Venice, but just as she was taking the photo, another exchange student yelled

"Aw! A white girl selfie!" 

I found this funny, as 1) I am caucasian and also female, so technically any selfie I take would be considered a 'white girl selfie' (regardless of whether or not I made a duck face or dropped some deuces) and 2) This was not a selfie, so his comment made no sense.

Needless to say, I mimicked the infamous 'white girl selfie' pose just to spite him. Unfortunately, this happened to be the exact moment that the camera clicked... Priceless.

Once again, just going to point out that this is technically a 'white girl selfie'... 

Since we were visiting Venice during the Carnival, there was an abundance of amazing costumes floating about! Here's just one example:

My personal favorite was Sailor Moon. It was literally a dream come true! Can't you just see the magic? I am one of them now.

There was also a troop of Disney characters (mostly villians) wandering around. Obviously, this greatly intrigued my friends and me and eventually resulted in some very heated arguments concerning the messages of Disney movies...

Jenna looking absolutely gorgeous in her carnival mask!

While momentarily lost, we stumbled upon a Love Bridge, where couples (or friends/family) place locks bearing their names (it's supposed to symbolize everlasting love). This, my children, is true love. But then again, it was pretty funny when we realized that all the locks were dated 2013 or 2014, meaning that every year the city cuts off all the locks. We had a good time imagining what this means... It was also very funny when we happened upon one lock that was dated 2014-2016. What?! All I can imagine is that some couples really have their lives planned out! Or that they can see the future. Really, it's a toss up.

The Campanile bell tower on St. Mark's Square

We got to watch the "Volo dell' Angelo" or the "Flight of the Angel" This is when a woman, dressed in an elaborate Angel's costume, descends from the Campanile bell tower on a cable, signifying the opening of the Carnival!

Me, being quite the classic tourist (holding up foot-traffic like a pro!)

My friend Juo-Ning (from Japan!) and me chilling before a scrumptous 3 course Italien meal

In one restaurant, there was this poster promoting Wisconsin soccer!! I cannot express how psyched I got when I saw this...

Melinda, being her typical suave self and reclining (precariously) on a bridge overlooking the canal

Italien graffiti!

Murano:

 On our last day, we visited an Island called Murano. What was interesting about this island was that about 95% of the shops we passed were selling glass art! Apparantly, that is the island's main trade!

A mosaic depicting the glass-blowing techniques of the island

An outdoor glass sculpture

We actually got to watch a "maestro" blow/form glass! First, he blew a beautiful vase... Which he then let explode! It turns out that if one doesn't place a cooling sculpture in a special temperature, it will explode! The tour guide spoke not only Italien, but also French, English and Spanish! We were pretty impressed...

The maestro also sculpted a glass horse - right in front of us! It took him less than 5 minutes

Me, attempting a fabulous pose in front of a beautiful piece of architecture in Murano

This day, we were allowed to go out and buy our own lunches! I don't know who thought that was a good idea, but it sure was fun! Our group did not show the best restraint food-wise... Melinda ordered an espress... WOO!

Jenna showed off some kick-butt origami skills...

 Melinda's espresso was a little strong, and on the boat ride back to the mainland, she voluntarily chose to sit outside. To illistrate her complete madness, I tried to nab a photo portraying her as nuts... Did I succeed?

Goodbye Venice!

Our last activity in Venice was a cliche gondola ride! To tell the truth, it was even better than I had imagined in 8th grade when I wrote my mini Venice Travel Itinerary!

Going home: 

On the bus ride home, I picked up a little delicacy: A Kinder Egg! Also known as the Kinder Surprise, this delicious little treat is banned in the USA. Why? Well, the Kinder Egg is a thin chocolate shell enclosing a plastic egg within which hides a little prize! The prize may be a figurine, mini-puzzle, or anything else. However, in the USA it is illegal to sell a food product that contains any inedible substance, so the Kinder Egg is not allowed in the US on the grounds of it's mini prize inside. Interesting! (Yet yuuummy!)

When I got home, I realized I never took a picture of my Carnival Mask! How do you like it?

Right before we split up (sob!) at the train station, my friends and I stopped by the nearby mall in Lyon. (The awesome girl in the bottom left corner is my friend Kana from Japan!)

Like most of my other friends, Kana is an artist! The sweetie pie that she is, she drew an adorable (and extremely accurate!) portrait of me!

Obviously, we were all very sad to leave Venice. Our little group had bonded tightly (as all exchange students do) and it was melancholy to go our seperate ways again. In a way, it was like leaving home all over again. Being exhcange students, we tend to bond quickly with other people, especially other exchange students. Over just 4 days, we had managed to forge (what I hope will turn out to be) life long friendships. Maybe it's because we have our language in common (do I have to stress how much easier to relate it is in one's own language?), or maybe it's because we are interested in the same sorts of things (travel abroad, different countries/cultures/languages). Either way, we got to know eachother fast and furiously! But despite the sadness that came with leaving my Venice buddies, I have to say I am relieved to be home. It's amazing how a vacation from Hédé can actually make it feel like my home. Living in a hotel makes the Girard home just that much more homey, and struggling with Italien somehow makes French seem so much easier! I can't wait to see my exchange-student friends again, but right now, I'm just happy to be home! Somehow, this trip has not only treated me to Venice, it has also made Hédé, France, and French more natural for me. Who would have thought?