Fabulous Weekend...continued

I had a lovely weekend!
Thursday night we took it easy which was nice. Then friday I got up at 9:30 and went to Bar di Gino with Jenny and Mallory and chatted over coffee. When we were finishing another group of Wake students came in and i went over and chatted with them. I wasn't ready to go back to the house and start doing work so i decided to walk with Brenden, Caitlin, Alex and Mike. I thought we were just going to Strada Nuova but it turns out they were also hoping to rent a boat...and someone actually did rent us a boat.

We cruised around the lagoon to the mouth of the Grand Canal and then down the Grand Canal...it's amazing how everything looks so different from a boat. After that we went back to the lagoon and found a little island you can only get to by boat. We pulled up and docked the boat at this little trattoria. Brendan went and ordered a couple different kinds of pasta and we sat outside and all shared the pastas and a bottle of wine. It was really nice and very authentic since it's very difficult for tourists to get to. After that we returned the boat...4 hours on the boat and a fabulous lunch for only 26 euros.

Friday night we went out to a local bar, the same one we go to every night but for some reason it was extraordinarily busy with crazy people, just watching the people was amusing. Then at about 12:30am my friend suggested going to Bologna the next day and I jumped at the chance...I had just read John Grisham's The Broker right before I came to Venice and it took place in Bologna, it didn'tlook like I was going to have the opportunity to go until Brad suggested it. So we figured if we were going to try and catch a train we should probably turn in for the night.

We didn't end up getting the early start we had planned, we made it in time for the 10:30 train but it was soldout so we waited for the 11. By 1pm we were in Bologna and we were starving. Bologna is known for it's food...specifically it's tortellini and bolognese sauce...so we all had tortellini bolognese...

After lunch we walked to the main Piazza...where they happened to be having a foosball tournament or something. So Jenny and Brad played foosball...I tried but i'm dismal. After that we went in to the main Basilica. It's huge! They tried to make it bigger than St. Peter's in Rome but the pope got made and made them redirect funds...but it's still pretty huge.

After the basilica we climbed a tower...all 500 steps (up and down)...for a beautiful view of the city. After the climb we were in some serious need of liquids (and chairs)...so we stopped and grabbed some drinks before checking out another church. After the final church we headed back to the train station and took the 6:55pm train back to Venice.

We didn't get into Venice until 9pm and again we were starving so Jenny and I went to San Trovaso for dinner. After dinner and went back and showered and changed and met friends at Santa Margarita for drinks. It was pretty relaxed and fun.

This morning I woke up earlier than I thought I would and then Jenny and I went and grabbed coffee and then went shopping. But apparently there was some kind of running event...and it went through all of the main calle and ponte between the accademia and rialto on both sides of the canal...but the calle weren't closed so you had runners and tourists and venetians all trying to squeeze through these little paths, not enjoyable! We got back early, about 1pm and I've just been doing work all day, not exactly the most enjoyable but necessary...