“CoUnTrYrOaDs TaKe Me HoMe….”, the tone going in and out by 15 people sharing the same space, enjoying a modern Airbnb on the canals of Venice. A meal which consisted of Grandma Crosetto’s chunky tomato paste, Charles’s ceiling tested noodles, and Grant’s burnt Chicken Parmesan (Let’s not talk about how he bought mozzarella instead of parmesan). The first day of our free weekend in Italy has been a blast. It began with a nap that started yesterday at 6:00 p.m., which soon led to five snoozes. At 8:30 p.m. I thought it was time to set that fat 5:00 a.m. alarm. Eight and half hours later I was on a train to Venice for the first time on the trip, I had no idea what the day had in store for me.

At the arrival of Venice, I enjoyed the roaming. Glassware, we checked it out. Masks, we wore them. Gondolas, we saw weren’t cheap. Canals, we took pictures at. Now, here I am about 9:00 p.m. and I am very relaxed but full of energy. It was the first day Charles pedometer read under 10 miles. After many days of everything planned out it was nice to be able to take a city by ear. The highlight of the day had to be the dinner I spoke of earlier.

(Cheesy alert) In a city of history and beauty, it was the people that I spent it with that made the experience so enjoyable. Hotel rooms only have so much space. No way could 14 people enjoy each other’s presence between the tandem twin beds of Rome, but in this apartment we will all be able to welcome the night together.

 

So here I am, post-meal, writing a blog in between many sing alongs, happy to be where I am. Among the new friends Luke toasted too, I will have to cut this blog short to not miss out on this special moment. I hope tomorrow, Peter has more to say, but for tonight, know that Venice has treated us well. We are excited to wind down our time here in Rome and to move on our adventure through Italy.