Careful, Those Venetians Aren't Blind

Ahhhh, Venice....a colorful maze of carefully constructed canals, narrow streets, and more bridgework than a Florida Bingo parlor. Loaded with tourists - despite the very real possibility that it might sink - Venice was nevertheless a worthwhile stop. Though from the train you might as well be cruising the Robert Moses causeway of Long Island, Venice quickly becomes unique in almost every way. Consider this: the "bus" system is an armada of roving boats; St. Mark's square might be the only place on earth you could lay on your back, swing your arms and legs, and artfully create a pigeon angel; and if your taxi springs a leak you may drown. How cool is that??? Truth be told there wasn't really much to "see" in Venice. It was enjoyable to just wander around, taking in the people, the buildings, the canals, and the architecture. And no, I didn't ride on a Gondola. In addition to the unreasonable cost, to be frank, it's kind of pathetic to take a romantic Gondola ride by yourself. The oarsman were cute but not THAT cute. Still, I enjoyed the breeze in my face while riding the public transport, the smell of the sea air, and the taste of my final Italian gelato (sniff!) and I chugged away from Italy to my next desination: Vienna.