Buongiorno!

Our two-week Italian adventure has officially begun. After a 13-hour flight into Rome, including a layover in Montreal, and a 3.5-hour train ride north, we’ve finally reached our first stop mid-Wednesday afternoon (local time), Venice.

The Floating City greeted us with a rain shower that progressed into the night, keeping many tourists either inside or away from the island. From our vapretto (water taxi) we had a good tour of the Grand Canal. The mist draped over the buildings and empty sidewalks like a worn-out bridal veil. From its decorative facade it’s not hard to imagine the beauty, optimism, and glamor of the City’s yesteryears, but on this particular rainy day, she seemed gray, nostalgic, and perhaps a bit lonely.

By the time we checked into our hotel we were exhausted and delirious. The rest of the evening was rather low key; we explored a bit of Venice’s maze-like alleyways and ate dinner at Al Giardinetto (excellent pasta, and overall a two-Yum ristorante), before ending the night with some gelato for Drew.

Tomorrow we are planning to visit the St. Mark’s Square and to learn how to row a Venetian boat.

Thanks for reading! More to come.