Europe....here I come

So, on a scale of 1 to shady, where do you rank being offered a free gondola ride for a kiss? Factor into this that gondola rides? Apparently have a set price, city-wide, of 100 Euro. Maybe 80 if you push it or they're really trying to get your business. So yeah, that's fairly creepy and no, buddy, I am not gonna call you.

Otherwise, Venice is so, so beautiful! I arrived yesterday around 1pm and just could not get over how gorgeous this place is. I could cry about it. Seriously. I'm so glad I switched my plans and came here. There are so many cute little alleys and streets to wander, dozens of picturesque little bridges. Course, my photos from here are gonna be like: canal shot, canal shot, oh yep another canal shot, oh look a bridge.....Not too original

My hostel is the worst so far (random door in an alley, loud music outside the window at night). But at least it's an all girls dorm room and I managed to sleep like the dead even w/ the noise and heat. So far today we've seen the Piazza San Marco, a TON of churches, the Rialto bridge, shopped a little, and taken the water bus down the Grand Canal. Now we're gonna get lunch and then find a gelaterie and eat our ice cream dangling our feet in the water because we are pretty much the coolest people in the world at this moment.

Anyway, better dash b/c I'm getting hungry. Tomorrow I head to Rome and I'll check in from there.

Oh my gosh you people are nuts! I miss you already! Really wishing I didn't spend only one day there but what can ya do.

Sort of skimping on this update....Vienna was rushed - we got a good day in yesterday in the museum district, checking out the Hofsburg Palace, Museum of Fine Arts, and the outside film festival at Rathesplatz...whatever that was, it was pretty! Then just chilled and shopped on the way home. I'm happy to report that I resisted the urge to buy shoes until Italy.

Then last night was craaazy, I can't believe I went out with a 5am checkout but peer pressure...it's a thing. Wombats, yes you can thank us for bringing the party to you. I want a copy of those photos! Ok, gotta rush and meet a bud for dinner so I'll report tomorrow with the Venice entry.

Ciao!

So...I am currently going on 51 hours without sleep, which isn't the most brilliant idea ever. After the late night at the Prague clubs I was too wound up to sleep for the 3 hours I had. And then last night WOULD have been an early night, had we not wandered over half the city, searching for a bar that may or may not exist, being led by an idiot American who had just arrived and figured she could find her way everywhere. Yeah, except not so much.

We did finally end up at an excellent bar that leads down into the catecombs (sp?) of Prague - room after cavernous room down stairs and tight little hallways. It was great stuff. Add in a few crazy, random Aussies, some spontaneous quarters games (note to all: Czech crowns don't work as well. And beer mugs are higher. Pass it on.), and well, the fact that it was midnight already....Danielle and I decided it would be silly to dash home for 4 hours and then try to get up for the train. So we just slept on the train...badly.

Now I am happily washing clothes at the hostel in Vienna while she naps so I'd better go figure out what we're gonna do tomorrow while sightseeing. Take care everyone! Who knows the German word for aspirin?

Well I'm finishing up three days in Prague here and to be honest? I have mixed feelings! Everything I've heard is all about how great, gorgeous, cheap, and fun this place is. Maybe it's that my first two days here were rainy and miserable. There are so many tourists (it's really unbelievable) that you can hardly walk, and all the stores seemed cheesy. I must not have ventured off the beaten path enough. Today however, it was sunny and beautiful and we did the walk across the bridge to the castle. Gorgeous!

In other news, I've found Prague to be easier to meet people than London...probably just luck of the draw, really. Sunday night those of us here at Miss Sophie's all bonded over some cheap Czech beer and then last night we recruited what seemed like the whole hostel to come out clubbing with us. Very fun. We may have walked all over creation in search of a money change before finding the club, but it is OKAY. Why? Because we eventually found it and I can now say that I have been to the biggest club in Eastern Europe. Word, and thank you.

Tomorrow Danielle and I are hoppin on the train at 6am (arrrrg) and going down to Vienna. They tell me it's only a 4 hour trip but I am skeptical Wow, I am gonna be late for happy hour.

Just kidding. But it was dumb of me to book a flight at that time. The tube doesn't run before 6am in many places, and the Heathrow Express train doesn't appear to run on Sundays. So it was either 2+ hr bus ride or cab for me. Let's guess which one I went with?

Anyway, the flight to Prague was fine, and so now I am here and ready to go walking. I'm staying at Miss Sophies hostel, which seems SUPER quiet after the Generator. But it's gorgeous and cleaner, so that's a plus. A little cloudy again today, so I'm gonna stick with indoors activities like the museums. Thrilling, I know.

Nashledanou!