Just came back from Amsterdam. Gazillions of thanks to Sister Myra (my senior in high school) who sincerely provided me with 5-star accommodation and full service in 5x24 hours in Haarlem, Netherlands. As promised, these are the entries about my Italy trip.

Venezia! (Venice)

Greg-Siang Leng-Apratz-Yeok Tho-Michelia on the way to Maestre Station, Venice

First scenery after stepping out from the Venezia Train Station

Masquarade!

Everyday is a carnival!

Honestly speaking, the trip in Italy was supposed to be the most awesome of all, if and only if we didn’t -by any chance- force ourselves to carry our 10 kg bags while walking here and there. However, back-pain and injured leg hurt me the most within this whole trip, which deteriorate my full-satisfaction of traveling.

You can find gondola in every corner ^o^

On the way to the famous Rialto Bridge

We spent a day in Venice. Venice is anciently unique in its own way. Being created on a series of mud banks in a lagoon, with canals in every corner of the roads, these sceneries kinda remind me of Shakespeare’s ‘Merchant of Venice’ and Cornelia Funkel’s ‘The Lord Thief’ as those stories have Venice as their settings. This is one of the perfect place for a daydreamer *pointing oneself =p*.

The main characteristic of Venice’s buldings is gothic *Apratz is screaming*. This city is a fabulous treasure of art and architecture, built in a series of islands, where there are gondolas as cars and canals as streets. Venice also reminds me of couples of beautiful cities in some Role Playing Games (how I missed playing those T_T).

St Mark Basilica from behind

The Famous St Mark Basilica

La Piazza of St Mark Basilica (Plaza in front of St Mark Basilica)

Can't stop praising the basilica from every side T_T

Hundreds of pigeons add its gorgeousness!

St Mark Basilica blends architectural and decorative styles from east and west to create one of Europe’s greatest buildings. The first basilica in the 9^th century is built to enshrine the body of St Mark. Many treasures (statues and icons) were brought to St Mark after the 4^th crusade had plundered Constantinopel in 1204.

The Grande canals

Gondolas!

Hotel above the water

Traffic jam of gondolas XD

I happened to ride a gondola with 6 of my fellow travelers, and explore Venice within canal to canal! It was breathtakingly beautiful since the rider gave us explanation about almost every building that we passed by.

Sunshineee, finally after thousand of years covered in snow XD

Ways to Ponte della Paglia

St Maria della Salute

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Famous paintings inside Santa Maria della Salute

The Altar, inside Santa Maria della Salute

This is the great baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute, standing at the entrance of the Grand Canal. Almost every church here begins with the name 'Maria', so I had difficulties to truly recognize them each =S, pardon my ignorance.

Balcony of Doge's Palace

Can you see the statue of Angel on the top? It was built in early 15th century.

Random Statue in front of Doge's Palace

The official residence of the Venetian ruler (doge) was founded in the 19th century.

It happens to be a church but i didn't remember the name >_<

My sincerest apology for my incapability to remember the names. They were unfamiliar for me (since all of the names are in Italian), and I didn't do much research about Italy before coming down here (I was over-fascinated about London and seemed to forsake Italy -and now I regret that so much >_<).

The Rialto-Bridge (don't ask me about the naming purposes since i also have no idea =S)

The famous bridge of sigh

The bridge was built in 1600 to link the palace with the state prisons. It reputedly acquired its name from the sighs of prisoners being led across it to face trials. Anyway, the (in)famous womanizer Casanova was the only person who can runaway from this water prison! Again, it's too-RPG-too-be-true T_T.

It is surprising that most Italian that we've met didn't understand English =S. So, Greg bravely settled this matter by speaking so-called Spanish to all of them (since Spanish and Italiano is almost similar XD), then Bell jokingly told that He could use his Danish when we come to Germany (but I don't think they're closely related *lol*).

Next city : Florence and Pisa, will be updated next time =).

I seriously NEED to STUDY!