Venice and Rimini for the weekend :)

Just got to the Residence after a fun weekend in Venice and Rimini!

As I was telling Lizzy and Lanier, we've learned a lot in the past few days:

1. Do NOT take the 92 bus home from Campus Pub in Verona! Most everyone went out Thursday night (despite our 8 a.m. classes). I was planning on staying in and catching up on my Strategic Intelligence reading, but the whole "we have to make the most of our study abroad!!" element got the better of me.. There was American music, though a few months late arriving to Italy (though the Italians seemed to enjoy it, and so did I!) The bar scene over here is different from home. No one really dances, and if they do, it's kinda of a strange, jumping dance. At least that's what it's like here in Verona!

2. You must get your train ticker "authorized" before switching trains. Otherwise, you get a 44 euro fee.. thank God for being an ignorant, apologetic American girl!

3. ALWAYS lie about what you're really up to. In Venice and especially Rimini, women but especially men would come up and talk to us because (not to sound arrogant or anything, but..) we kind of stand out. In Rimini, mostly native Italians, Russians, and other Eastern Europeans vacation there. The woman who check us in to our hotel said we were the first Americans she had ever seen at her hotel! Anyways, you get the point. Men ask what you're up to.. and you should ALWAYS come up with some random story that is exactly the opposite of the truth. "Beautiful girls, are you going out to the discotequa tonight?" "Uh, no.. actually we've gotta catch our train at 7.. See ya!"


Nonetheless, it was a relaxing weekend all around. Venice was beautiful. It took awhile to find our hotel, but we really lucked out! Waterway view with high ceilings and comfy beds:

After resting for a bit, we ventured out for some dinner near the Rialto Bridge, a beautiful white bridge. Dinner was mediocre surprisingly, but sipping Bellinis and meeting Italian Navy cadets later made up for it! See Lanier Roberts' photos on facebook!

We spent all day Friday in Venice mostly walking around and looking down the many canals and passageways. We tried to go inside the main church in the Piazza San Marco, but got turned down due to our tank tops and/or strapless dresses. Oops..

Later that evening, we made our way to Rimini by train. Strangely, we found a great English pub (the first ever opened in Italy, apparently!) right on the beach. We sang aloud to all the old American songs they were playing (Eagles, Police, and the like). They even played some country songs! Yet when I went up to ask if the musician would play "Dixieland Delight" he somehow thought I was requesting "Holy Santa Maria," whatever that song is. Then I asked if he knew any American music. He said no.. Hmm..

Saturday was spent laying out and playing beach volleyball for 7+ hours. Beach volleyball is pretty big over here and definitely male-dominated, so I was a little nervous to ask to join a game. Also adding to the intimidation factor is the fact that most of the volleyball courts are adjacent to the fitness gyms located right on the beach. So basically after working out, all the "Jersey Shore"-esque dudes use volleyball as a way to relax and loosen up.

Fortunately, a short but buff guy by the name of Marco asked if I wanted to play 3 on 3 with him and his buddies. While I definitely felt out of shape compared to everyone else, I feel like I played pretty decently. I was just happy to physically active after a week sitting around studying and eating in Verona.

'twas a lil bit windy in Venice, but still beautiful!

Rimini

That's all for now.. Ciao!