We've Finally arrived!!!

We are finally here..... what an amazing place!!! I wish I could bring you all here to peek through my own lens. As Joel said, yes, Rome is not the city of my dreams, but Venice on the other hand...... WOW! So, quaint and beautiful. I love getting lost through the back streets and stumbling upon hidden boutiques....(hence Joel's credit card. :-) ) ...... We are enjoying the food and easy travel. It is mighty HOT! But, drinking lots of water and eating Gelato keeps us cool. I don't know if we will be able to post any pictures at this point.... I only have 3 minutes of internet access left. But, maybe at another stop we will have the opportunity. WE love you all and think of you often. Ciao!

Day 3 Update (Joel)

Hi everyone! It's been a little trickier than we figured to get on the intertubes. We're taking a brief pit stop at an internet joint to sign on. I'll give you a super quick rundown on what we've seen and done so far...

Arrived in Rome early Thursday afternoon. The airport is pretty far out (30 min train ride), and we nearly passed out on the way in it was so hot. Rome is an impossibly busy metropolis, and dirtier than pretty much anywhere else I've been on earth. Not without its charms, mind you. We only stayed the night after seeing the Spanish Steps and walking around a bunch.

Here we are in Venice. Wonderful place, it's like a giant maze. We have a very nice, basic little room. Today we hit the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Cathedral. Yesterday Leanna got the gondola ride she wanted...and it was great! The sounds you may hear are the tortured screams of my credit card echoing across the Adriatic. Infer what you will. :) Now to Leanna's version...