Venice & Rome

Hello!
 
So Villach didn't happen as I couldn't book a hotel or hostel for the town...apparently some choir festival has booked up the place.  So, I switched hostels (to a much quieter one) and then left EARLY Sunday morning for Venice.  All of the reports that you don't need much time in Venice is quite true.  No, I did't go into St. Mark's because it was closed on a Sunday, but the outside was quite nice.  The square beside it floods at night because of the tide and the reflections, off of the water from the lights, was quite beautiful.  I ended up staying in an over-priced hole-in-the-wall where I had to phone the guy to get in.... anyways a big confusing mess.
 
Overall impressions of Venice:
It stinks like rotting seaweed and urine (from all of the random dogs...)
It's easier to get lost here than anyplace in the world
Every little bridge looks the same
Only go there if you have a significant other to share it with, as it gets to be annoying super easily if you're single.
 
That pretty much brings us today where my train got stuck twice in tunnels on the way to Rome.  That's right.  Not once, but twice!  It ended up being over 20 minutes between the two tunnels, so even I started to get clausterphobic in there!  After arriving in Rome I quickly found a hostel... but it was super expensive!  30 Euros for a night!  Luckily I only booked it for one so I'm switching hostels tomorrow.  This evening I walked around Rome and saw the Spanish steps, a bunch of random Roman ruins, a fountain, some more ruins, and finally the Coleseum!  It is so large!  It was closed so I didn't get a chance to go in, but it was nice to just sit there and peak through the fences at how massive it is!
 
Tomorrow I'm hoping to go to Vatican City.  It sounds nice and I think I'd better go if I'm going to teach in a Catholic school this fall.  ;) By the way, on every street here you can see at least two nuns and and a priest!  They are quite nice, and are happy to help you find your way!
 
Well I'd better book hostels for Pompei now.  I hope everything is going well for you all!
Love,
Andrea

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