Today was a bit of a disaster, there is no way about it, we end up traveling for 12 hrs, leaving early in the morning (8:30), we head out for Venice, but traffic is bad, and then we are stopped by some corrupt Italian police, who delay us for over 1 hr on the highway. They demand to see lots of paperwork, and make up different kinds of fines - adding up to a mere 2000 euro which you are expected to pay on the spot, whilst having collected our passports (I am sweating) we sit in silence while we wait to see what happens. Lucky our guide & bus driver are no fools, and with limited Italian, and much hand wavering we are on our way - with our passports back in hand.

It is a long drive on the bus, its also hot - once again, I shouldn't complain its summer but its 40, and I felt like I was melting. We are behind schedule but must stick to strict European guidelines about our driver needing a break so we pull into Verona. This is where Juliets balcony from Juilets letters is filmed, and is a beautiful Italian town, it is a pity it is such a quick visit, it is well worth a visit and I think we will be back. The streets are lined with trees, and beautiful cobble stones, and the city centre is buys with people ducking in and out of shops - I take it all in with some hazelnut gelato, I deserve it after the long day.

We get to Venice - well half an hour outside of Venice, at 8.30,it is a late dinner and into bed, to get ready for a big day tomorrow - gondola ride here I come.