This is where this little story gets interesting. We arrived in Venice in the same unprepared fashion as Salzburg - this time we at least had a checklist of places to call. With our luck, however, all the places were pretty much booked forcing us to resort back to the overpriced travel agents.
As we waited in line we met this random guy who was traveling alone through Europe (in hindsight, sketchy sign #1). He was a dork no doubt, but seemed like a nice guy - definitely not a killer. Thus, we decided that the three of us would room together for our one night in Venice to cut the cost of our already-overpriced stay at Albergo Adua.
It wasn't until a few hours later - after we were settled in and ready to explore - that we realized what a mistake befriending this kid would be. Or, let me rephrase that, that I realized it would be. (Michelle is a little more sympathetic, more tolorable than I).
For two days, this kid followed us day and night. "Are you guys going to get something to eat? Are you heading down to Placa de Saint Marco?" Although I was ready to scream at this freak to leave us alone, Michelle was there with open arms. Argh!
I don't mean to sound like an asshole, but this kid was over-the-line annoying. He was boring, constantly raved about his travels in eastern europe (trying to convince us to abandon our Rome-Barcelona-Paris itinerary to head to Budapest), and worst of all, spoke in baby-talk.
"OOOhhhh - what a cute little doggie!"
"Uh-oh! Did you drop your little pen?"
"Oooohh - what a cute little place!"
He wasn't feminine or anything, just babyish. Dorky. Annoying. Drove me crazy. One day I have to spend in Venice and this kid is walking on my heels.
I tried to ditch him myself. I tried to convince Michelle to ditch him. No luck. He followed us around all day and all night. It came to the point where I wouldn't/couldn't talk to this kid because whatever I said he'd respond in baby speak (which drives me absolutely crazy).
At one point in the evening as he and Michelle talked and I walked ten steps behind, I actually contemplated the consequences of pushing him into one of the canals, grabbing Michelle and making a dash for it. Would he have been hurt? Is that water even clean enough to swim in? What if he can't swim? Would be pull me in, or would the element of surprise catch him too off-guard? Call me sick, but this kid drove me absolutely crazy.
To this day (and throughout the end of the trip), Michelle still can't understand why this kid drove me so crazy. She didn't like him either, she's was just too humanitarian to toss him in the canal. This marked the start of the "Why Not to Travel Europe With Your Cousin" saga.
Go to Venice. The city is amazing. There's not one car (you can't even imagine such imagery until you actually see it). Gondola tours are great. The Zelda labyrinth-like layout out the city is amazing. Bar S. Lucia Snack, the little Irish pub across from Albergo Adua is amazing (Guinness and Murphy's at the same place - awesome!). Just make sure not to pick up any tag alongs. Or throw them in the canal if you do.
Next - on to Rome.