There's a first time for everything, like paying to use the bathroom in Venice

Today was quite the experience as a group of us journyed to Venice. We started off this morning around 8:30am to tour Venice for the day. We got a fast train around 9am and arrived in Venice around 11am. Once we all got off of our train we had to use the rest room, little did we know we had to pay .80 euro to do so. We were all flabbergasted by this and thought it was absolutely outrageous that we had to pay to use a restroom. We still don't understand why we had to pay this fee while in Venice but also heard it was common for Northern Italy to charge this amount of money for people to use these facilities. After we all got out the the train station we began our journey to find the square Piazza San Marco. On our way we found a great deal for the nine of us to split in two groups to go on a 30 minute gondala ride. The gondala's were beautiful and the men were singing to us while they rowed. The two gondala's were near each other the whole time so we could still share the experience with the other half of our group since we were split up. We then ventured to Piazza San Marco, which we would have never be able to find it without the help of Nick's roomate, Maurizio. He was an awesome help and asked for directions to get to the square which we finally made it to after a long time of walking. The square was breath taking. Basilica di San Marco was the church that was in Venice in the square. We only waited a short time to go into the Basilica and it was amazing! However, we couldn't take any photos, but we got plently of the outside. Also while there,we went up in the bell tower which over looked all of Venice. We got the best pictures here, they're like pictures on postcards! The bells starting going while we were up top and it was a little loud. The 8 euro we paid to go to the top of this tower was worth it and even more. On our way out we grabbed something to eat before we left to get on our train. The place we got something to eat at was strange because the prices differed whether you were getting the food to go or if you were sitting outside to eat. We got our bill and were shocked and didn't understand why there was a huge difference in the cost of the meal for what we thought it should have been and what it said on the receipt. We tried to ask the guy who worked there what was up with it and he had no explaination. I guess we'll have to be more careful about that next time were out. We are going to Florence and Pisa tomorrow so until then ciao!!!!!!!

-Becky-