This is me studying... can't you tell?

Sunday, October 19, 2008. Venice, just back from Florence!

SOOOO... This past weekend I went to Florence to meet up with Daddy and Tracy! I pretty much SPRINTED to the train station on Thursday because I was so excited. My train was uneventful, I finished watching my last Desperate Housewives episodes on my iPod (which was obviously necessary) instead of studying... whoops. I finally got off of the train to see Daddy and Tracy standing there in the train station waiting for me! I felt like such a grown up--I just met my parents in the train station in FLORENCE, ITALY!!! I'm a Big Girl now!!

We headed back to the hotel (VERY NICE, although Daddy didn't think it was too impressive, he just needed to remember that if it had a locked room and I didn't have to pay for sheets, it was already better than anywhere else I had stayed.) We checked in and then explored our city. Ironically enough, our street was called Elisabetta! PS I LOVE THAT NAME!! After a delightful dinner, we (after getting smidge lost...) got back to the hotel and called it a night.

Friday morning, we got up, walked all of 10 feet to the Duomo and accidentally got in the line to go up to the top of the dome. About half way up, Tracy decided that was enough for her and decended, but Daddy and I went to the TIPPY TOP! It was so cool and we had a WONDERFUL view! We finally got back down (after I befriended a lady from Alpharetta!!) and visited EVERY scarf/bag/jewelry store in Florence. It was great! Daddy was a little bored, but thats ok! We went in a few churches, and walked around A TON. We pretty much saw the city, but without going in to any of the museums etc. Then we went to a cafe where we got some internet (Daddy and Tracy didn't know if they actually had reservations for the hotel in Venice). After computer time, we went back to the hotel, showered, and found a GREAT little restaurant that was SO close to our hotel! I had the BEST pasta since I have been in Italy. It was a spinach and ricotta ravioli with walnut cream sauce. Sounds interesting, but it was DIVINE!! After dinner, we went back to the hotel, chatted for a while, then went to sleep.

Saturday morning, we had to get up early to go to the train station because Friday was a train strike and we didn't know how that would affect the next day of travel. Lucky that we did because the train's 2nd class was full, so we had to take 1st class, dang. I hate it when that happens. ;) Our train ride to Venice was uneventful if you don't count a couple making out right in front of me "eventful." We arrived in Venice and took the Vaparetto to the house. It was nice to have Daddy and Tracy there because I sometimes am jaded to the beauty of this city. Being their first time here, they were in AWE, which was so nice for me! I showed them around the house, then we headed to the Hilton where we HOPED they were staying.

The Hilton is on the Giudecca, which means it is across this little canal. The hotel has a free shuttle which is so nice! Anyway, we got to the hotel, checked in!, and got internet so we could check on the status of the Georgia/Vandy and Wake/Maryland games. Enough said about that.
After the game, we went to the Executive floor where we had i dolci! Mi piaccono! Then I hopped back on the shuttle boat to come back here! I ended up staying up until about 3 studying for my midterms tomorrow and Tuesday, and then got up early this morning to write this and 2 papers. Now I am just waiting for Daddy to skype me to tell me he is up and ready to meet up!

ALSO! David told me that Mer and Loff could stay here in the house when they come!! YESSSSS!!

Miss you all a lot lot lot.
xoxo
mckin