Lost in Venice

9.16.16 Friday

Well folks, it has been 16 days and EP and I are still finishing each other's sentences and laughing until we cry. We have our moments where we want to punch each other in the face but it's only for a hot second and most likely because we're hangry.

Today we had to disembark, we got up and double checked we had everything packed, got coffee, and visited the Windjammer Cafe for the last time with Sarah and Rachel, as well as Jose and Sven (the Dutch newlyweds that ate with R & S every night). I'll sure miss that breakfast. We had our luggage taken down for us the night before so we grabbed our other crap and off the ship we went around 845a.

EP navigated us to the hotel pretty quickly except for the last part- we ended up having to walk down a scary looking alley across from a fish market! But the place was really nice and reception was there to take our luggage until we could officially check in. The sky was pretty overcast so we decided to do laundry and the host directed us to a self serve laundromat. We grabbed our raincoats just in case and headed out. I had seen my good friend EZ use a laundromat in Deutschland so I felt confidante going and it ended up being great because directions were also in English!

At the laundromat we met a couple from Auckland, New Zealand, Pam & Alan. About 15 minutes into our conversation THEY INVITED US TO STAY WITH THEM IF WE WERE EVER IN TOWN. What?!?!?! I guess they host students frequently. We are pumped about it. We got their email address to keep in touch. #EUROTRIP2017

While our clothes were in the wash we walked around and started to follow signs for the Rialto Bridge. At this point, it was simply pouring down rain; the canals were so rough! We stopped for a slice of pizza at a tiny little place called L'Allegro Pomociccio and it was AMAZING. The chef was in all white (including hat) without a spot of sauce on him and the pizza tasted delicious. By this time we were only halfway to the bridge from the lavanderia (laundromat) so we decided to do it later since our laundry was almost done. We had to wait a bit because both dryers were being used but eventually we got everything done. We shopped the shops on the way back to the B&B (and had bought some stuff while the clothes were drying). We LOVE Venice!!!

After getting back to the B&B we were able to check in, our room was pretty! We tried to dry out a bit and I bashed my toe so hard on the bed it is now purple. I couldn't even look at it afterward, it felt like when I broke my pinky. I yelled to Erica, "Is it sideways?!?!" and we both just fell on our beds cackling like fools. 😂

We decided to brave the rain because this was our last day in Venice! It ended up sort of stopping, and then raining really hard, and then the sun came out for a hot second. Our goal was to hit the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco and finish our shopping. The bridge was nice, full of shops, and there was a great view of the Grand Canal. Eventually we got some water and a cannoli.. the 'bakeries' here all have coffee as well. Yum!

Anyway, on to Piazza San Marco! We walked all around staring at everything, it's alot to take in and very beautiful. We walked to the water and ended up watching our ship, Rhapsody of the Seas, sail off on it's next cruise! Pretty neat! Unfortunately at that point we thought to check out the inside of the Basilica and it has closed at 6p (it was now 630p). Fortunately for us though, rosary was at 645p so we strolled right in and were able to see the beautiful and ancient church as well as hear the rosary in Italian.

We finished browsing through all the shops, allthe same but very different at the same time. Truly lovely!!!! And then as we started to head back toward our B&B EP's eagle eye spotted Sarah! So we got to talk to her and Rachel for a minute and we shopped in a store together! We said our goodbyes one final time (😭) and then started back toward our B&B to get dinner!

We got VERY lost for a while and in that time VERY hungry. 😩 Eventually we were able to figure it out between the map and EP's phone. We were looking for a certain place and when we found it we realized we'd needed to make a reservation so we'd have had to wait until 930p to eat so we settled on something else down the street and it was fine. We each got a pizza and split a litre of table wine.

Got back to the B&B, showered, laughed about how close together or beds were (again) and passed right out.

Ciao!