Allison's Wonderland

Our last morning in Venice couldn't have been more perfect. Jen and I were exhausted the night before (just view the terrible picture) but we were ready to hit the town again bright and early in the morning. The sun was shining the birds were chirping and no sign of Creeper Creeps. :) We were all packed and ready to go. Fortunately for us we packed light and since checkout was at 11 and our train was leaving at 11:50 we decided to carry all of our crap with us. We each only had a back pack so it wasn't too awful. Our breakfast consisted of the usual and we had a nice little table mate who was Austrian and a Photographer. He spoke pretty decent English so I figured I'd try and make a friend. He was very kind, and he also talked just like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Austrians. :)

Jen and I checked out of the hotel and headed to the water taxis. We definitely made sure to hop on Route 1 this time in order to go the entire way down the canal to San Marco's Square. We're learning little travelers. Once I got on the boat there was this Indian man sitting in the front of the boat by himself were Jen and I were. The minute we got there he asked my name, where I was from, what I was doing in Venice, where I was staying...etc. He. Creeped. Me. Out. Strangers don't normally do that. You work your way into a conversation. Ya gotta be suave! He then wanted me to take a picture with him, or of him, or something. I tried to ignore because I wanted to see the sights of the canal from the canal! I thought he was going to go all the way to San Marco's but thank goodness he didn't. WHEW!



Once we got off the boat we headed straight for the bell tower. Yesterday the line was out the wazoo but Jen and I got there around 9 and didn't have to wait hardly at all. We paid the 8 Euros to go to the top and in the mean time we met a lovely couple from Stratford-Upon-Avon. If you don't know where that is, it is the supposed home of Mr. William Shakespeare in the exotic country of the United Kingdom. So cool! I loved their little British accents. The view from the top was absolutely breath taking and I would pay the 8 Euros all over again to see that view. That was the absolute end of my money though. I think I may have had 40 cents. I don't like being without cash, but what's a girl to do? Jen and I did't have much time to spend in San Marco's as we had to catch our train to Milano, from Milano to Savona, and then Savona to Mondovi. It cost us about 56 Euro but thankfully we paid for that yesterday. I knew I was going to run out of money! We had to switch trains twice.Yuck. I was paranoid we would miss the first one and then that would throw the whole day off. The Milan train station was absolutely gigantic. I'm surprised we didn't get lost, but I really am getting better at this traveling thing. We video recorded fake commercials to past the time on the train, and let me say we got some gems. Renato was kind enough to pick us up from the train station, otherwise who knows how we would've gotten home.



My last day with Jen, my friend Anne picked us up and we went and saw the sights of Mondovi. The sights of Mondovi can probably take you two hours tops so it was perfect. We of course had to stop and get a coffee and brioche. We also went to the upper town of Mondovi where there's a gorgeous view. Anne and Jen got yelled at because they went in this church that was under obvious renovation. I think they're just rule breakers. I stayed outside like a good girl, but the guy that yelled at them kind of yelled at me too even though I wasn't doing anything wrong. Afterwards, we got some shopping done in Mondovicino which is pretty much an Outlet mall. Jen bought a shirt which was a good souvenir. We also visited the Lindt Outlet which is always a sweet treat. I don't think any of us actually bought anything, but whatever. The smell is good anyway. We got lunch at a little cafe and then it was time to say bye to Jen. Poor little thing, we had to drop her off at the train station at 4:00 when her flight didn't leave until 7:15 am the next Friday morning. There was no other way of getting her there, so she had to sit in the airport locked inside for awhile. I was kind of worried about her, but she made it out okay. She's a tough little cookie. It was a wonderful visit and I still can't believe that she actually came!!! It was so good to see a familiar face in such an unfamiliar world! :)