Oh Venice is just beautiful! This to me is the true Italia and I am very pleased to say the people here are friendlier!

It took a pleasant 30 minute cruise from the mainland to get here and it was well worth it. Had to do a gondola ride which was really enjoyable, although my cold masked the smell from the canals (it does smell bad...) but who cares, the aesthetic pleasures outweigh the practicalities!

There were orchestras in the main squares playing beautiful music as we shopped and walked around and got lost - but its hard to get lost really, everythings leads back to St Mark's Cathedral. Stunning building. I really wanted a Venetian mask but didn't get one which I regret, so i'll have to go back!

Went to see a glass blowing demostration which was pretty cool. Only time i've ever seen (and will ever see) a man blowing a horse. That's not my quote by the way, it was the guide's!! I treated myself to some cut glass earings which are gorgeous.

The boat ride back was just as nice and enhanced by the thunder storm we could see in the distance, well the lightening anyway.

Love Venice and gelatti was gorgeous!