This weekend I went to Venice and the trip went very smoothly. We did most of the usual tourist things like going to Piazza San Marco and we took the water bus to the Island of Murano where all the glass blowers are. The first day we were there we basically walked around the whole day. The next day we went to Murano, and on our way back we discovered this big contemporary art exhibition was going on. It turns out it was the Biennale, which is a famous art event that is held in Venice. There was this complex with all these pavillions, each for a different country. There was art on display from all over the world. Then there were also mini-exhibitions with free entrance scattered around the city, like we walked past a church with all these weird baroque instruments on display.

Since Venice is on the ocean, we ate a delicious seafood dinner. I had pasta with scallops and it was probably the best thing I've eaten in Italy. There were also these weird giant cookies everywhere that were in the shape of horses and covered in wrapped candies. I think they must be holiday cookies because I asked other friends who went to Venice if they saw them, but they hadn't.

Before we left, we went to a modern art museum, which was pretty small but had some cool art (there was a Klimt painting and some Metisse sketches) As we were trying to find it, which was not easy since Venice is like one big maze, we kept seeing all these people running around through the narrow streets dodging tourists. It turns out, there was some kind of orienteering competition. All these people were running full speed while trying to figure out maps of Venice. It seemed like it must have been the most frustrating thing ever.

Overall, I had a great time. Our cheap hotel was pretty crappy, but at least relatively clean and in a pretty good location. They screwed up our reservation and had to put us in the "annex" of Albergo Antico Capon, but they were very friendly and helpful so it worked out.

Now I am preparing for my next adventure- on Friday I leave for Budapest with my European History class. It should be really fun. My friend and I are going to the Opera for 400 Hungarian Farints (6 USD). Also, we are going to a famous hotel with natural spring water hot baths that are supposed to be healing. I am excited.

Here are some pictures from Venice:
The grand canal.
Sorry it's sideways- this the obligatory picture of a gondola
The Rialto bridge
The yellow building is the annex of Albergo Hotel Antico Capon, where I stayed
An orienteering runner trying to navigate Venice.