We made it to Venice on Thursday after driving through the snow-capped Alps! It was a sunny June day, yet we drove through some snow showers en route! The mountains are so gorgeous. Our bus actually drove right up one of the mountains and then down again-- the most direct route from Zurich I suppose. I've got a bunch of pictures! Venice itself is incredible. Took a train to nearby town of Padua yesterday to see some of Europe's oldest churches and universities. Back in Venice, we explored St. Mark's Square at night, saw the Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, and many, many other churches. Spent plenty of time wandering aimlessly around the countless side streets, canals, and back alleys, enjoying the beauty that surrounded us. There's so many different types of architecture here, everything from Gothic to Neoclassical and Romantic. Enjoyed Vivaldi concert in a church last night. Today a group of us splurged on a private gondola ride along the Grand Canal and some side canals. Our gondalier sang to us-- truly the quintessential Venice experience. We also got involved in a heated soccer match with some local boys, saw the police arrest a guy for selling Prada knock-offs, enjoyed accordion music in an outdoor cafe, and so much more. Been eating ravioli, lasagna, and pizza galore. Possibly my favorite part about Italy so far, however, is the gelato ice cream-- a huge delicious scoop for 1 euro. It's an essential after-meal indulgence. It comes in every flavor imaginable, from pineapple to Nutella. E benissimo! My total picture count is up to about 400-500 so far. Not bad for a week and a half! Leaving for Rome on Monday. Our schedule there is jam-packed, but I'll try to update if possible. Until next time...