Becoming Tourists

Today was largely a day for all to experience Venice as most people do; as tourists. The day started off with cappacinos and conversations, as most days do here in Venice, before leading into the main focus of the day. After cappacinos the class met our tour guide for what would be a "free tour" through the city. Most, myself included, did not know what to expect from a free tour; after about five minutes, I was hooked. The tour was amazing. As opposed to your average tour, looking at the cities most visited sites, promoting tourism, etc. this tour focused on things such as how to navigate around the city, how the layout of the city was determined and why, historical information about churches/buildings/Venice/etc., and, of course, most importantly, how to choose the best Venetian food to eat. After the tour was complete, a brief discussion of engineering aspects of the city occurred, and students broke off into groups to prepare for the weekends endevors. This weekends trips include a trip to the Italian countryside, a trip to the beach, and, for some, a trip to Rome.

Ciao!