Venice, Italy   Part 1: In the last part of my European travel story you should know that I was in Liechtenstein & Switzerland. After getting back from visiting those two countries I took the train back to Innsbruck, Austria & then from there I took the ICExpress train to Verona, Italy. Did you know that Verona is where the classic love story Romeo & Juliet took place? In Verona me and McKinley had to switch to a shi-tty Italian train.                         This train was nothing like the other European trains we had been on….it seemed much older & a bit stuffy. The train ride from Austria to Verona took us 3 hours and 30 minutes…and from Verona to our destination in Venice, Italy the train ride took us an additional 1 hour and 30 minutes. Venice is where we stayed while in Italy. It was so busy and crowded around the train station when we first arrived in Venice. When I walked out of the station there was the Grand Canal…which we had to cross. I had so much stuff to carry & I could tell that getting around Venice was going to be so difficult. After walking over so many bridges with the stroller and our bags I was exhausted….I felt as though I was training for the military. You have to remember that I was traveling alone….just me and McKinley, so I had to do everything myself with very little help from others. Most the time I didn’t even get any help…..other than McKinley who would try his best to help his Mommy out by yelling at other people to please help his Mommy. It worked sometimes..haha! Most of the people who gave me a helping hand were Asians….how interesting! Of course there are so many beautiful sites to visit in Venice. One of the first places I went to see was Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) which was very beautiful. I was in awe of all of the history in front of me. The only problem was that it was so crowded and filled with tourists such as myself…..and everything seemed to be under construction or repair. It wasn’t the best time of year to go. What do I think of Venice? I love it and hate it….but mostly I love it. I didn’t like the large crowds of people & the difficulty of getting around. But I loved all of the historical sites all around us..and the beauty of the canals is unforgettable. Most of all I wished that my Husband was here in Venice with us. I missed him..and wanted him to see what we were seeing.           How can you eat Italian food without a good Italian wine?       Burano Island is a quaint little island about 1 hour away from Venice where life is slow and peaceful. The houses there are so colorful & charming. The moment I stepped off the ferry and started to walk down the cobble stone streets I knew this might be a place that I would actually love to live in. The people of Burano specialize in making beautiful lace…..and this lace is famous throughout the world for its craftsmanship. I am sure if you ever go to Venice and have the opportunity to visit Burano island you will also fall in love with it.