Pictures!!!

Basically I the pictures that I have from Rome have beaten me home. So these few from Venice and Ljubljana will have to do for now. There really isn't anything that special about the flower pictures that are contained in this album. Basically I was walking to grab a bite to eat one evening (Just have to love kebabs!!!) and was also putting off the studying I should have been doing for my final exam the next day. Oh well!! So I started taking pictures along the way to get the kebab. Turns out that some of them are pretty neat. So I got bored again, and started playing with some software on my computer. Turns out that with minimal changes some of them really are neat. Anyway I am bored and rambling again.

Long story short, but posting that many pictures on this site takes absolutely forever. So click on the enclosed link for viewing.

I may post them during this week that I currently have off for Spring Break, but in all probability I will just add the new pictures from this weeks travels into that sort of album as well..

Enjoy!!

Ring

So quite a while ago I was going to let you all know that when Doug came over he proposed. Turns out my computer was pretty much retarded that day so I wasn't able to upload a picture of the ring, but it is on facebook. So I figured that I would post the picture when we got to Rome and found an internet connection. Apparently that wasn't meant to be. (Explanation below) Right now I do not have any pictures to share as I believe my memory card from my camera got swapped at some point with Doug's so there are no Rome picts from me. Although I must say that I did get some really good ones of the Vatican and one decent one of the ever so boring Coloseum before both Doug and I's cameras decided that they wanted more batteries. Oh well...so you will get to see pictures from that adventure either when I get home, or get a computer so Doug can send them to me via messenger. It may be awhile.

So long story short, but the first day we were in Rome we ventured around the city in our little rental car (the Panda). That was literally the type of car we had, it was kinda crazy. This one was actually silver to much surprise (wow...I really need to get better at telling you what I mean before making some comment that means nothing to most unless you have heard about our first rental "Panda") Long story about short about the car, the first rental we had we were told was silver...so we were in the lot looking for a silver Fiat. Turns out it was more of a metalic brown/gold color. But we were finally able to locate it. Anyways...back to Rome.

So we spent the day looking at the Vatican on our limited amount of sleep, took a nap, then ventured back out amongst the crazy scooter drivers to try to find the Coloseum. After many attempts and very narrow rodes we decided that we would be safer heading back towards the hotel, then grabbing a bite to eat once we were parked. (Rome is super confusing when driving in!!!) On the way back we passed a restaurant that wasn't close to the tour attractions with a parking space halfway close, so we pulled in. Much to our enjoyment, we had an excellent meal and finally were not charged an arm and leg for it. Then back to the Golden Tulip Hotel.

Now the Golden Tulip wasn't as bad as its name sounded. I found it online and was able to make cheap reservations and in dollars non the less so I booked it. Turns out it is a 4 Star Hotel. And super nice, but...it had its quirks when we returned after our first day in Rome. As normal our hotel room had been cleaned, but items were missing. Both Doug and I had our laptops out when we left that morning, but they were not there when we returned. Both bags had also been gone through and the PSP that was in his was also absent. After the police finally came we had the sheer pleasure to watch them search everything and take finger prints. It was entertaining to say the least.

The next day our plans had changed. We found the embassy and then went to file a police report with the non-English speaking police officer.

Venice (sans Doug) My train arrived at 7:16am, his plane at 4:40pm…

 
I hopped out of the train to find the entire Bulgarian Rugby team getting off of it.  Got to love European transportation!!

 

 
Pretty much the first thing that I saw when I walked out of the train station.  Water was everywhere, people were everywhere, and boats were everywhere.

 

I believe that this is one of the what seems like millions of churches in Venice.  I was trying to find where I was on the map, but to my surprise there were churches everywhere on it.  That didn’t help much.  So I just wandered around a few of the streets trying to figure out a location on the map.  With a whopping 2.5-3 hours of sleep I pretty much went down one road and came back numerous times.  Stopping for an absolutely amazing glass of cappuccino on the way.  It was amazing until I got the bill and realized just how high priced Venice really is!!!

 

This was the modern bridge that I saw that allowed Venice’s many inhabitants and visitors to get to the massive bus station.  The bus system was somewhat different from Ljubljana and was quite interesting to figure out.

 

Another one of the waterway or streets if you would like to call them.  The buildings along all of them were cute and just fit the town of this lovely city.

 

 
Three of the Bulgarian Rugby players.  I think I may have made their day by taking their picture, or they simply thought I was weird.  Who knows?!?

 

 
One of the bigger churches in Venice. It was absolutely beautiful, but again I was unable to locate it on the wonderful map that I bought.

 

 
Another waterway/street in Venice.

 

 
The fish market was an absolutely amazing sight.  There were numerous little stands set up in the most random locations filled with fish and other sea creatures.

 

 
Another bridge in Venice that allowed foot traffic to cross.

 

 

I am not sure exactly what this tower is, but I found it interesting and different from some of the other ones.

 

 
The back side of the church pictured above.  I was wondering around aimlessly and stumbled across it.  Once taking this picture there was no where for me to go except the way that I came from.

   
More buildings along the water in Venice.

 

and behind window number 1???  This hotel appeared to be extremely upscale and its curtains were unique.

 
Why not take a picture of a backwards hotel sign? 


 
One of the other major foot bridges over the Grand Canal.

 

 
More interesting views while walking through the city.

 

Statues seem to be absolutely everywhere!!!

 

 
Another gorgeous waterway.

 

 

and how bout another?

 

 
a couple more examples of interesting views along my walk.

 

 

 
A few more views of bridges and waterways.

 

 
A cute little restaurant along the sidewalk that had finally put its covering up.  It practically rained the first few hours that I was there.  I had to find an umbrella immediately after getting off the train.  It is amazing how many Italians in Venice do not know English.

 

 
Not only are there Springfield’s in Europe, they know about Nebraska apparently!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

  
Charlie the Unicorn.  If you would like more information about this somewhat annoying creature—contact Jackie.

 

 





Milano glass is freakishly expensive, but very creative!!

 

 

 
The train station in Venice

 

 
People walking around the city streets.

 

 
Pigeon!!!!!!

 

 

Those funky looking boat things that Venice is known for!

 

Yet another statue…

 

…and building…

 

…and bridge!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Again the modern bridge.

 

Even more Venetian streets.