I have had the most amazing new year so far. It started out with new years eve where we left Rome and headed up to Venice. Jen and Rich (tour guide and driver) decided to treat us. So they took us to Verona, home to the famed Romeo and Juliet on the way up. It was stunning. They took us up to a church above the city with stunning views down over the city of Verona. We could see the old walls and hear the bells ringing out. We then headed down into the city for a few hours to get something to eat before we headed out to the new years street party on the island of Venice. That is where I, with thousands of others, touched Juliet's boob. It is supposed to provide good luck in love, though when you consider the story, I am not sure how much luck those two had. Anyway, we did the Italian thing, which is to act like you belong and shove your way through the crowds without apologising, then you jump up on the statue, grab the boob and look at the camera to get the all important photo. Also, along with the statue, is Juliet's balcony and the walls that people leave love letters on for Juliet's secretaries to write back to.
After Verona, we headed up to Venice to quickly dump our bags and prepare for a street party. The word on the street was that it was going to be cold, so we were all bundled up. It made me smile when Sunny wore her skimpy little dress with about ten layers on underneath it and a jacket over the top so you couldn't see it anyway.
We took a boat on to the island, all rugged up, and headed into Saint Marks Square. It was pretty quiet when we first arrived around 8.30pm so Jodie and I grabbed a hot wine and went for a walk around the back streets where we stumbled across masque shops. You know me, I can't pass up a masque, so I went in and I bought one. A blue one, with sparkles and a butterfly. I then convinced Jodie to get one. When we walked back into the square the rest of the contiki group were a bit jealous and so they all went off to buy their own, and so in the end almost everyone had a masque. Go me! The best part of the night was when they give out free alcohol. Yes, free. Where does that happen? Venice, apparently. There is supposed to be some old tradition that you drink Billini (a champagne and peach schnapps mix) at 10.30pm on NYE.
Now, it was free, and everyone likes free stuff, so when I say the lines were huge, I am not exaggerating at all. But, once again, using our new European 'I deserve to be here so move out of my way' attitude, pushed us along nicely. I laughed non-stop. Never have I been so crushed. At one point, we didn't have to move, the sheer weight and push of people behind us actually pushed us forward. When we finally reached the front to get our bottles of Bilini, we had to make our way back out through a mob of people determined to get to the free booze. That was almost as fun as diving in.
We met some Italian guys who flagged me and Jodie down in our masques and started off quite well, but ended with, 'It is how you say, we like the pussy' at which we burst out laughing. They followed it up with 'Do you like the pussy or the penis?' all of this said with a thick Italian accent. We continued chatting with them for a while longer then headed back to our group.
Just before midnight we left Saint Marks Square to see the fireworks on the waterfront. We waited, and we waited and we waited. Midnight came and went without a countdown or kisses, mostly because know one seemed to know what was going on, and if it was even 2012 yet. Ah, Italians. Such a relaxed bunch. At 12.15am the fireworks were let of. Stunning.
We had to catch a ferry back to the mainland at 12.45am, so we headed along the water front, through the thriving masses of bodies. It was so much fun.
