Sunday, July 17 - Venezia!

Buongiorno Tutti! We began our exciting adventure of the day with a bright and early start. Even though the breakfast buffet doesn’t open until seven-thirty, the hotel staff was nice enough to open it for us at seven so we could be on our way. The bus ride to Venice was a quiet one, as everyone took the opportunity to get a few extra hours of sleep. With our mouths hung open and our eyes tightly shut, Mr. Mastrandrea couldn’t help but take photos of our priceless faces as we slept. After the bus ride, we hopped on to a fairly large wooden boat to take us to the city of Venezia. As we glided along the water, we looked out to see small, historic buildings of every colour, lined with yellow lanterns along the edge of the water. When the boat came to a stop, we made our way to the main piazza, which was hustling and bustling with activity. Street vendors were interspersed all over the square, selling items that ranged from t-shirts and masks to accessories and much more. We were then split into two groups, and our tour of Venice began. Both tour guides showed us all around the city, explaining the history of each structure we passed. As the tour progressed, we gained insight on historical monuments, churches, and many other pieces of architecture. One of the many interesting things we were able to see was a plaque recognizing the first woman to ever receive a doctorate degree. After the tour we were already feeling very comfortable with finding our way around this new city. Luckily for us, we were given five full hours to explore the city of Venice in groups. The streets of Venice were long and narrow, with shallow water running beneath them. The forty bridges of the city each had a magnificent view overlooking the gondolas and the ancient city. After admiring the view, many of us ate lunch either in a restaurant or along the water. There were gelato stands on almost every street, perfect for the hot, sunny day. Many of the students spent their hours shopping, especially for the Venetian masks and stunning Murano glass. Gondola rides were also greatly enjoyed, as we drifted through the narrow canals while our boat drivers serenaded us with song. We slowly began our trip back to the hotel, stopping for dinner at a restaurant nearby. Just as fast as the day had begun, it was coming to an end. After a long, rewarding day, we were all more than happy to go straight to bed. Buona Notte!

Rebecca Solway