Italy Day Two

Our group is not difficult to spot--there are several EF backpacks being sported--but when we walk as a crowd through a terminal, for example, it helps to have tall leaders whom everyone can clearly see. (Thank you Jacob and Anthony.) It's entertaining to see 17- and 18- year olds reduced to excited children so easily: How many of us can we squeeze into one room? How does this vending machine work? Will it take US coins? (No!) What are we doing when we get there? When is lunch? What do I do if I lost my boarding pass? (Not a hypothetical question) What is the age limit to get a tattoo in Italy? Why does it cost a euro to go to the bathroom?

Surrounding St. Mark's Square in Venice are high-priced, expensive stores serving a vast array of wealthy tourists from around the world. There is also an extensive cohort of North African salesmen offering similar goods to those walking the cobblestone streets. Outside the Gucci stores are lines of men selling purses. In the past, they sold high-powered laser pointers, key chains, hair braids, and anything else a tourist with money in their pocket might be lured to purchase. A traveler needs souvenirs, right? So what does it say about our society that the number one item being hocked by street vendors in Europe today is a selfie stick??!

The exchange rate for euros was the most favorable in twelve years according to the Wall Street Journal. Students were purchasing .96 euros for a dollar at the airport. That's a few more cups of chocolate calda before the week is through!

The tour guides find it amusing that we are labeling one bus "purple" and the other "gold." Even more hilarious is that one of our tour busses is actually purple! (Actually, students are arguing whether it is lavender or magenta...either way, it was the Gold bus for today!) That will be rectified starting tomorrow morning. Venice was chilly today and promises to be cool again tomorrow. You will see Italia hoodies and jackets in pictures going forward! The light was good for pictures and students perused the shops, but a half day to shop and explore tomorrow will be the prime time to purchase our first round of souvenirs.  For tonight's dinner, students had pasta with marinara sauce. Many of them thought that was the extent of the entire meal, not realizing that in Italy the antipasti is the appetizer. We also had turkey, vegetables, and a dessert. For three of our students, getting to dinner meant practicing orienteering. Mr. Neighbors went to the hotel to lead them to dinner but the concierge had already set them out the door with a map! Fortunately, they found it even before Mr. Neighbors made it back across the square, but they discovered some new paths on the scenic route to their destination. (It's okay--we still believe in you Camden and Martin!)