| Where does one begin to start when | | | | the same, birds and all. The Grande |
| discussing Italy. Well, if you intend to | | | | Canal is, well, a grand canal with |
| travel there, Rome and Venice are good | | | | incredible houses lining it and boats |
| places to start. | | | | putting up down this water way. Built on |
| Rome | | | | mudflats in a lagoon, the city doesn't |
| Perhaps you've heard of it? It goes | | | | really have much room to grow. It just |
| without saying that Rome has a rather | | | | seems paralyzed in time. |
| prominent past. Lets see, in Rome you | | | | Once you've conquered the tourist |
| will find...[deep breath]...the Vatican, | | | | attractions, it will be time to get |
| Coliseum, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, | | | | serious about Venice. The best way to do |
| Church of Saint Agnese, Trevi Fountain, | | | | this is stand in front of your hotel or |
| Spanish Steps and a guy name | | | | hostel, determine which direction the |
| Allassandro. Just making sure you're | | | | tourist attractions lie and start |
| paying attention. Indeed, Rome is filthy | | | | walking in the opposite direction. While |
| with historically significant | | | | you may feel like you're driving the |
| attractions. It seems you can't turn | | | | wrong way on a freeway for a few |
| around without bumping into something an | | | | minutes, you'll eventually start getting |
| Emperor built, captured or destroyed. | | | | into real Venice. |
| For those willing to risk potential | | | | An entirely different side of Venice |
| wrath, there are also the new Divinci | | | | will appear and you'll love it. You'll |
| Code tours, which take you to the | | | | find little cafes with locals happy to |
| locations found in the book. | | | | talk to you [and non-tourist prices]. In |
| In all serious, Rome is a city you | | | | fact, the Venetians will tend to hold |
| should visit at least once in your life. | | | | you in high regard since you're a |
| No article could ever do it justice, so | | | | tourist who is bypassing the tourist |
| I'll just stop here. | | | | areas. This, of course, will logically |
| Venice | | | | lead to a whirl of introductions to this |
| I fondly refer to Venice as the floating | | | | nephew, that son of a brother and so on. |
| city even though it is apparently | | | | Next thing you know, you'll be |
| sinking. If you've seen Venice is movies | | | | complaining about Italian politicians |
| or televisions shows, the depictions are | | | | and how things used to be better in the |
| accurate. Piazza San Marco looks exactly | | | | past. |