Okay! So I finally went back to Venezia this past weekend for the first time since October. Funny, I only live 20 minutes by train, and I hardly ever venture into Venice. My original plan was to meet one of my friends from Franklin and Marshall College for the day on Saturday and then again on Sunday. I didn't think to reserve a hotel room considering I already have a comfortable bed near by. After walking around for a couple hours I decided to stay for the night... However, I had no passport nor clothing, so I went back to Padova and then back to into Venezia (80 euro later, I was back and checking into my hotel.)

First off, I should inform you all that I am the type of person who would drop at least $50 dollars on a meal for myself and book a 4 star hotel for one night. My friend was in a Hostel, and to be honest I saw it the next day, and thought despite meeting people my age, it was too sketchy! However, the hostel was one of the top rated hostels in Venice. 50 euro per night... My 4 star was 84 euro... I think I made the right choice! Safety and comfort! Before making the spontaneous decision to spend the night in Venice, my friend and I walked around for a while, in the old Ghetto, the Rialto and San Marco. Then I went back and came back in! haha. By the time I arrived, it was already dark, so we met at the station, went to my hotel, and out to dinner after an apperitivo at Harry's Bar. We had Bellinis After that, we found a nice local restaurant, kind of hidden, and ate quite a feast! By the end of dinner I was ready to keel over and sleep, luckily I didn't fall into the canal on the way back.

That next morning, after being followed by some man for 20 minutes (I lost him by cutting corners and walking fast) However in that process I got myself lost... If you are ever lost in Venice, don't panic, just find a canal and follow it! I had a map, and still managed to get lost! Go figure, a college graduate getting lost even with a detailed map... Venice is one of those cities in which you can get lost very easily! At night, its even scarier to be lost!

However, this day was cloudy and cold, but we took a water bus up the Grand Canal and went to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Great exhibit with many famous pieces of art! Sorry mom! You would have loved it!

We basically just spent the day walking around, and took a 4:30 train back to Padova. We put down our bags and went out for a Spritz at Brek.. my new favorite place.

The next day my friend explored Padova while I was at work before leaving for Milan. This week has been great thus far. My cells are growing nicely, my pellet of RNA was prepared perfectly, and I am extracting RNA, counting and changing cells, and making a pellet of RNA again tomorrow!
I am very excited that I am getting able to do more stuff in the lab. The equations and procedures are beginning to make more sense, and I am loving it even more... Although, I still contemplate my future...But what graduate doesn't?