I started the European portion of my big trip in Milan, Italy.
Here are just a few photos of what I saw.

I was totally amazed at how tall the old Sienna tower was. This is in the square (or round?) where they have the famous Palio horse races.

I climbed the tower and snapped a photo of the beautiful cathedral off in the other part of the city.

I also made it to Venice. Here is St. Marks, beseiged by pigeons.