Jake took the train last weekend from Vicenza to Venice! It was 4 Euros for the ticket and took about an hour to get there. There are no cars in Venice and the train drops you off right in the city. He took lots of pictures and rode in a gondola. Have a look at some of the pictures below that he took. 

The famous Rialto bridge taken while on the Grand Canal. 

Random waterway in Venice taken while Jake rode in the gondola. 

Nice 

Gorgeous buildings are everywhere! 

I am pretty sure this is the Doge's palace. Jake isn't sure. He took lots of pictures. I recognize the 4 horses on the top. I think the original horses are inside protected from the elements and I think these are bronze replicas you see here. 

Cassanova lived here! I wonder what went on inside those walls. Ooo-la-la! 

Picture was taken during Jake's gondola ride. He passed this canal side restaurant. 

It looks like Venice is filled with beautiful buildings. 

Picture of the Bridge of Sighs that Jake took while on a gondola ride. The Bridge of Sighs connects to the prison and supposedly as the prisoners walk through it is the last view of Venice the prisoners get, at least while incarcerated. 

Pidgeons are everywhere! Jake said he got hit by a huge glop of bird splat on his leg. They sell bird seed to tourists for this "fun" experience.  

This is my 734th posting to this blog

Hi everyone! I know it has been a long time since I've updated, as usual things have been busy but unusually busy this time! We're getting ready for the move from Germany to Italy and have so much to do and little time off work to get it done. Jake has been living in Italy and found a home for us and is getting a jump on getting us settled. He came up to Germany this weekend to help me get some things accomplished here before the movers come on Monday. Soooo, since the movers will be taking the computer and I will still be in Germany for an additional 3 weeks; I thought I'd post to the blog now. Below are some photos that Jake took of the house he found in Italy. So you guys have seen as much as I have now! Apparently the house has enough rooms that upstairs will be a bedroom for Ann-Marie and one for us, plus a den/office type room that we can tuck an extra single bed for visitors. Two bathrooms, one upstairs and one down. Then as you will see Brandon's room is downstairs and has it's own entrance to the room. It has garages and it seems like lots of storage space which is good! But my favorite thing about it is that we will not have to live on top of other people and side by side with them like we do in this 3rd floor apartment here in Germany. I like having some privacy and being away from town a bit. It will be nice to just let the dog outside in the fenced in yard to run around and play while I cook dinner or whatever, rather than walk him on his leash 4 times per day. And it will be great to do our laundry right in our house rather than take it up and down 4 flights of stairs. Ok, well have a look at the pics of our place and expect that this will be my last post for about a month.

This pic is of the garages and Jake took the picture while standing in sort of a 'carport' thing. Behind Jake is Brandon's bedroom and above Jake is a storage room with the stairs you see on the right going up to the storage room. The storage room is open to the elements....sort of like a loft? 

The house from the outside. 

The stairway  

Here is our bedroom. It is upstairs with a very small balcony as you see here.  

This will be Brandon's room. Has an independant entrance/exit. I think it is the biggest in the house! 

Empty kitchen. Only comes with the cabinets you see here plus the kitchen sink.  

Empty living room 

A fireplace. When you walk in the front door, this is to the right and the living room is straight ahead. At least that is my perception of it based on the pictures and what Jake said. 

A picture of the downstairs bathroom. Yes that is a bidet you see. There is one upstairs too.  

Here is a pic of our house in Italy- in the distance! I love it that we are not in row houses or an apartment.  

Here is Ann-Marie in one of her German drindle dresses. We bought it a few sizes big so that she can wear it for a few years!