We crossed the Austrian border into Italia yesterday. It was a beautiful drive through the Dolomites and lower Italian alps. Making great time our tour guide decided to stop in Verona to have a good look at Romeo and Juliet's house and to have our hand at some good luck. Verona was a cute little town where we able to have our first sample at Italian gelato. Juliet's house was a surefire tourist trap probably started by someone who, low on money, decided to make a few dollars by claiming the house was that of lady Juliet. Nonetheless, Kirsten and I rubbed Juliet's breasts for some luck on love. After leaving Verona, we headed into Venezia. But so worn out from the hangovers and white water rafting we spent the evening playing poker with our Nashville buddies, Josh and Dan. After a few hours listening to music and playing poker I called it quits after losing a wopping $5. The next morning we woke up and headed into Venezia. The water was dirty, grey, and filled with garbage and the skies were cloudy with rain or smog--I haven't really figured that out yet. We got our first glimpse of San Marco's square and of all the pigeons that have impeccable aim for tourists heads and made our way to the Murano glass factory. After making a few purchases we headed to a lace factory where we discovered that hand-made lace is a rarity. Kirsten and I headed to the chemist for some supplies and continued our venture throughout Venice. However, tired and really bored, we bought a few bottles of bellini and sat by the canals where we could watch gondolas pass and sample our drinks in peace. However, this turned into a whole Contiki party when five or six of our mates turned up to continue the festivities.... A few bottles later and after being taught some key Italian phrases (da me un bezo and che te voyo tanto bene) I found myself struggling to pay attention on our gondola ride through the canals....Little did I know that these bottles of wine would hit so hard and leave me smashing into store windows, walls, and whatever decided to jump out and bite me. Kirsten: i can fill in for the time missed. after the gondola ride we made our way through town to find a bite to eat and do some more shopping with our buddy Zahf from Vancouver. its true, the store windows did keep jumping out at kats face. it was amusing the first time, then i started to worry. anyways, when me at Zahf were looking at some killer Salvador Dali clocks, i realized my cousin had wandered off. after searching for her for a while, we decided to get some food and head back to san marco square, where we thought she may be waiting. Luckily, some girls from our group found her stumbling by the docks, and they accompanied her back to the meeting location. GOOD TIMES kat: A few hours later, worried that I had missed my group departure, I wandered aimlessly to the docks in hopes of finding my lost group....however, it was they who found me wandering through the streets of Venice singing "supercallafragilisticexpialadocious".... When everyone finally showed up we headed home-me in the front of boat in case any wine decided to make its way up my throat. **All of this is being told to me as I don't really remember all that happened in Venice, I have only seen video clips, photos, and heard the stories. ***I am sorry for anybody who I may have tried sampling my Italian phrases on.....oops.