The Journey…..we have arrived to heaven in Venice!

I opened my eyes this morning in my comfy bed and searched my daddy’s treasure chest of emails, searching for Venice. Of course the genius capabilities of gmail it turned up 3 emails to read and hear his voice and gain some knowledge of must do’s while on this trip. He wrote such a fun email to Jackie about Harry’s Bar and the Cipriani Hotel, the experience he and my mom shared at both places. Having personally have met Harry himself, of course leave it to My dad ☺️ As well his itinerary was sent to us in an email with the hotel he stayed and some other choice restaurants and wine he drank. I’m SO lucky to have this ability at my fingertips and treasure these words. Hence my desire to keep writing and sharing my memories too. Okay……than I got to read the replies some of you had already commented and got really excited for the trip to begin.

Audrey my cherished mommy picked me up after a tire scare and air check at Discount tire she was back on the road to be our chauffeur to the airport.We pick up my travelers and are on our way…..let this adventure begin!

After Automobiles, 3 planes, a bus, a train, and a water taxi we have finally arrived at our destination! A villa type 3-4 story apartment in the main City Center of San Marcos neighborhood in the heart of Venice, Italy. What a long adventure filled 24 hours worth every moment to be in this beyond beautiful country. It has been 13 years almost to the day that I took my first friend international trip with Woolley to Italy. That trip is when the travel bug bit me and my Dora days began on a search for the next adventure.

I am blessed to have been invited to join this Cohen threesome…..Tracy as you all know as my fancy friend who joined me on my first week in France 3 years ago(no worries, luggage glued to us) along with her 2 teenage daughters Tabitha & Sydney. This family is SO well traveled having been to every international destination. They are seasoned travelers and along for the ride. So far so good- we jive together well and it’s just begun.

To share some laughs from the day…..We has scored a deal and went a little out of the way to get here, starting PHX-LAX- London-Milan….When we got to LA we were hungry….we ate a yummy real American meal at KFC, LOL….YES I KNOW yucky…but truly lip smacking delish! As we are boarding the plane to London, Sydney notices she doesn’t have her suitcase, yikes….small panic. Tracy and Sydney run back to KFC while me and Tabby stand at the jetway. To describe these kids a little so far, Tabby is a worrier, gets nervous and thinks it may not be ok when things don’t go right. Me the everything will workout fine girl and her are getting along great! I taught her facts in five and I feel like we will be fast friends. Sydney is hyper observant, in a very interesting good inquisitive way. She likes to know everything….my kind of kid. She has noticed my 2 different ears, one lobe attached, one detached.I never knew this fact until I was a freshman in college, so funny she noticed, and that I’m a biter, ha ha ha. She has been dying to watch me unpack as to see what clothes I packed. We had the entire middle section row of the double decker British Airways plane, alcohol offered for free since international flight, we are served yucky food, all eat and swallow kid version and adult version meds to sleep. Our London layover is fast with just time for a Starbucks…..This will be a very different type of trip for me but is so fun! Totally random that I’m traveling through Italy with the Cohen trio. I’m pinching myself that this is where I am, I guess Jupiter being in Scorpio is turning out to have truly brought me luck this year.

Ok, back to Italy….We all sleep again on the flight to Milan as it’s still the middle of the night for us. It’s cold and rainy but so magical that we transition so smoothly out of the airport onto a bus that will transport us to the Milan Central Train Station for only 5 euros each. We all have just a carry on bag yet I still have over packed, when will I learn?! 🙂 I’m like a hawk watching my suitcase under the bus prior to leaving…. We are all energized and taking in the dreary beauty of a European city and all the architecture. We are doing so good with timing as we are 2 hours ahead of what we had anticipated. Susan Gold…..you will be glad to know I’m on Tracy schedule and not Laurie or Dora- meaning we have an agenda but not set times of commitments. Lots of ideas of what to see and do but will fly by the seat of our pants without anywhere to be…..this shall be an interesting lesson of letting go for mwah.

We get train tickets and board our 2.5 hour train to Venice. It’s gloomy and rainy out the window but we see water, quaint towns in the distance and some greenery before it gets dark. Upon arrival like clockwork we have the kindest gentleman water taxi driver who is expecting us takes us to our seaside port. I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and really see this place which is surrounding us by water. Instead of streets it’s like alleyways of water. We are next greeted by Daniella who will walk us with our individual umbrellas, while wheeling our suitcases through puddles of narrow narrow streets. Like narrow like a hallway to our home for the next 5 days. We are in awe. Our apartment in heavenly, it’s up 5 flights of pristine white steps and luxurious. Minus the fact that Tracy’s glass shower door just fell off the tracks while I’m typing…..ha we are emailing maintenance now.

We have got a quick bite at a neighborhood joint, had pizza, pasta, grilled veggies, and ended the night with our first gelato. More on food later……it was so fast as we were starving and need to unpack, shower, get settled etc.

Tomorrow’s first real day awaits……
Until next time!
Love you miss you XO