Venice, we hardly knew ye

subtitle: But wait, there's more!

or: the travelogue continues, quick run away!

We spent the last 2.5 days of our adventure in Venice.  We took the opportunity to teach our children about how to get a train ticket in Europe, how to read the big train departures board, and most importantly, the essential skill of dashing for the train at a full run with all of your luggage when you realize you are seated on the wrong car in the wrong seats and the train is about to depart.  All good life skills, right?

Our best look at Venice was the vaporetto ride from the train station to our hotel on our first afternoon there, which happened to be New Year's Eve.  The sun was in that magical part of the day--you know, that pre-sunset glow? We rode the Grand Canal, speechless and thankful.  We would look back later and be glad we got to see Venice that way.

And New Year's Eve? After a little exploring, some dinner, and some naps, we headed to San Marco's square for the festivities.  Very fun, that. {We were saying how funny it is that we have never gone to the Boston New Year's Eve celebration...do we have to be on a trip to be fun people? Don't answer that.}  We'll never forget how it started to snow light fluffy flakes right before midnight.  Or the sight of a crowd full of people with sparklers.  Or how, as we grasped hands and snaked through the crowds after midnight, we somehow lost Maddy and watched her striped hat bob away from us (luckily some kind people around us helped us get her back to us).  Or how one random Italian guy tried (unsuccessfully) to kiss Lauren right after midnight and G pointed at him and said firmly "Don't. Touch. My daughter." Good papa bear response.

Our only full day in Venice, New Year's Day, was unfortunately slushy and rainy and a freezing, bone-chilling cold. We did our best with what we had to work with, though, making quick jaunts out and then back in for warmth.  

The next morning we caught a boat to the airport in the fog and 22 hours later arrived home in time for G to see the Utes beat Bama last night.  There really is no place like home, even if our roof did leak a little bit in our absence.  And my pants are fitting a leettle tightly.  And our cupboards (and bank account) are bare. Totally worth the trade off.  The end.  For now.

Loveliest day

Our last full day in Florence we spent at the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. In a lovely twist of luck, it was the nicest weather day of the whole trip: sunny, blue skies, no wind.  A Room with a View, anyone?  It was a highpoint for me, spending the day wandering around with these people I love.

{On a side note, I love Room with a View.  I made Greg watch the movie when we were dating and he hated it.  What? It gave me pause...could I have a future with someone who despised all things Merchant-Ivoryish?  But then I got over it and I'm glad.  He still doesn't like "pasty-boy movies" but it turns out it doesn't really matter in the big-picture scheme of things.  That's what Girls' Nights Out are for, after all.  And he does love the actual Florence and its views, which is good.}

Florence in pictures

Yay! It's 11 p.m. but I found that the internet will let me load pictures now and suddenly I am overcome with the impulse to Load The Pictures. I think it's because this way, even if I drop my camera or computer into a million little pieces tomorrow {spit, spit...or whatever ritual wards off bad happenings}, at least I'll have a few of the images to aid my memory of this sweet adventure.

But here's the process: select a photo to load, click "upload", then go away and read a few blogs, click on a few facebook pages, check back 20 times and then VOILA finally loaded. Something to be grateful for when I return to my home, poorer and fatter but with quicker photo loading.

^Lauren with the hat she bought at the street market.  Ciao bella!

At sunset next to the Ponte Vecchio

we split up today so mostly I have photos of the girls

^Beauty multiplied: the Baptistry, the Duomo, and the clock tower 

{and blue skies today!}

^I will never weary of this view

^ or this lovely, sinful little concoction

With love from Florence, days 2 & 3 & 4

Waiter: Would you like to order wine with your dinner?

Us: No, thank you. But can we have some bottles of water?

Waiter: You sure, no wine? (incredulous)

Me: No, we're kind of boring that way.

Waiter: Oh, no, not boring. Just....(struggling for words)...not a good life!

* * *

Good times:

Uffizi museum

Accademia (and Michelangelo's David)

Walking around (it's cold here, though!) & people watching

Amazing thick drinking chocolate with cream

Shopping at the street market (a hat, some ties, a sweatshirt, a tshirt, and some glass turtles were purchased)

Fun waiters: sat down with us, chatty, teasing the kids

Great food: gnocchi, linguini with lobster, artichoke risotto

Night-time walks

Mmm...gelato

Games and laughs with kids and my parents

Running into our waiter in the center of town...we have people we know here!

* * *

Trying to be a good sport about (flexibility! positivity!):

It's unseasonably cold here! And windy! Brr.

Spotty computer connection. I must have chanced on a fantastic window of photo loading last time because it's been impossible since. Stay tuned for photos...

* * *

All in all, we're having a blast.  Hope you're enjoying the wonderful between days leading up to New Year's.

Greetings from Florence, Day 1

^Sleepy layover in Paris (2 a.m. our time)

^My favorite adventure companions (Paris airport)

We love our Florence apartment

{More info here if you're interested in coming here}

night walk across the Ponte Vecchio (Duomo in the distance)

Other memorable moments:

~Sam throwing up in the taxi 

(but first politely asked for a bag and 

Greg luckily had a ziploc just in time)

~the funny host at the restaurant

who took us under his wing 

and treated us to free drinks

~Loving the chance to brush up on

my rusty French at the airport

~pain au chocolat and fresh grapefruit juice

~explaining bidets and the two kinds of flushing

for European toilets

We told the kids that

these are our theme words for our adventure:

flexibility

&

positivity

So far so good!