“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt
Dear Universe,
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to travel to Italy. I often joke that I must have been Italian in a past life with my proclivity for pasta and parmesan, gesturing with my hands and my love of hearing the language. I have even written about Italy on this blog!
Well, here I am.
No, really. I. Am. In. Italy!
First stop on my journey: Venice.
Here is what I will remember from Venice…
Arriving. Boat ride from airport to hotel. Walking on the cobblestones. Views of water everywhere. More gondolas than I could have imagined. Bread. Caprese salads! Spaghetti—with cinnamon! Spritzers. Colorful shutters, bright flowers and balconies. Lots of laughing. Masks in every shop—in honor of Carnival we were told. Murano glass—vases, platters, plates and cups, chandeliers, earrings, bracelets, necklaces—Murano everything! An Italian play with English subtitles. Walking, walking, walking. Alleyways and bridges. More pasta, more bread, more spritzers. Friendly people everywhere. Sunshine all the time. Cool evenings. Hearing opera in Italy! San Marco Sq.—pigeons by day, landing on everyone—even a baby, and all lit up by night. More laughing. Gelato.
Venice is a city unlike anything I have seen and I won’t forget it. In one word, it’s simply picturesque.
Sometimes I stop now and then have a pinch me moment. Like right now. I am sitting on the train, on my way to Rome. Rome! Roma!
I am so grateful for the opportunity to finally see all these cities I’ve only long dreamed of. And to be sharing it with such a dear and loving friend is more than I could have asked for.
Thank you, Universe. I hope the rest of our journey is filled with as many wonderful memories like the last couple of days have brought us.
Something tells me they will be. 🙂
Grazie Mille,
A
