i am happy because i found an american style keyboard!

Currently in Venice, Italy and I feel as though we have stepped into another time period. There are no cars here, just skinny boats cruising along through all the canals. I have heard that there are busses somewhere but i have yet to see them. The houses look like something out of a movie and it feels surreal to walk along the seemingly endless cobblestone streets.
Today was cold, wet, and miserable. After a rather unappetizing breakfast, we decided to head off to San Marco square, which just so happened to be on the other side of Venice. Of course we got lost and were wandering around aimlessly but we got help from a man who turned out to be from Galiano Island (feels so good to hear perfect english!). Once back on track we were okay but it was SO cold so we made a pit stop in an old, empty catholic chruch. The church was not much warmer then outside but it was a shelter from the wind. The church was beautiful and empty (except for a man praying in the back row) so we sat at the front and wrote and drew in our journals.
San Marco square was gross. This is the square famous for all the pigeons... and there were So many pigeons. They were everywhere...even on top of peoples heads (i am not kidding!). I don't like birds to begin with so i found the whole ordeal to be rather disgusting. At this point we were starving and after snapping a few pictures, we decided to go find somewhere to eat. And of course we end up eating at the grossest place in all of Venice. EVERYTHING came out of a box and was put in the microwave and then on a plate and then served to you. There wasn't even a kitchen. We didn't realize this until after we had ordered eather so we were stuck with this god awful radiation charged food. How awful. Ben would have died there.I didn't eat much and we all walked away feeling so turned off. It was so bad i felt like standing in front of the restraunt and telling people to go somewhere else. The crazy thing is that the whole restaurant was packed with people. I don't get it at all!! So gross...
Walking back was way easier then we expected. We walked for 15 minutes and found ourselves on framiliar turff... just in time because i think we were all on the verge of breaking down. We shopped around for beautiful masks, and i ended up buying a wonderful pair of flats. MUM, you will be so jealous! They are these beautiful woven leather flats from that italian shoe brand that starts with a P. YOU KNOW THE ONE MUM, and frick they are so original and i honestly have been waiting for something different like that!! Now even though the weather is miserable and i am practically starving, i feel better. Nothing like some good retail therepy.
Tomorrow we are going to Florence. I cannot wait. We are staying at a bed and breakfast 6km outside of Florence. It is beautiful... the house looks like something from under the tuscan sun. It will be nice to be outside of the city. Tomorrow is also Andrea's birthday and i am taking her out for dinner.
Miss you all terribley, hopefully I can write again soon!
Lots of love, J
p.s: the bread here is HORRIBLE! i almost cannot believe it. We have searched high and low and have found nothing but this awful plastic tasting bread!!! I miss the French bread!