Welcome to harmony's Roundeo.

So Spencer and I had the lovely treat of being able to go to Venice just the two of us! Spencer's parents planned a trip to Europe and asked us if we wanted to do a trip for a few days while they watched the kids. We said WOW, OK! And decided on Venice and then Spencer made it all happen. And it was wonderful! It was really so nice. And it was win-win. The grandparents and grandkids got one on one time, and we got some really rare and precious one on one time!

Spencer's parents arrived (after visiting London) on Sunday night June 28th and we left Tuesday morning June 30th. We traveled by train, about 7 hours. Among the first people we saw were a bunch of missionaries, on their pday! I love that. It's so cool to see them everywhere!  We got on the vapeur (bus boat) and got to see a lot of the grand canal on our way to our hotel. After checking in we went exploring the city. Venice is shaped like a fish, it's pretty cool, and is surrounded by a bunch of small islands.  I don't think I'd really want to do this city with kids, so much walking, and so not stroller friendly with stairs and cobblestone, etc. We walked a ton. It's just a really cool place. It's great because as we read in our travel book, you don't have to do anything to be rewarded by the city. Other places you have to see this and do that, but Venice you just take in. It's beautiful and fascinating with how old it is and all the canals and tons of amazing cathedrals everywhere.  We enjoyed lots of gelato, and some other treats, and the pizza and other yummy Italian specialities you can get everywhere. We went to the Basilica of St. Marco (Mark) first, and WOW WOW WOW. That place is unbelievable. From about 30 feet up the entire walls and ceiling are covered in ornate, gold and jewel encrusted mosaics. And below that the walls are entirely made up of marble slabs cut and mounted in a very artistic way, and below that the ground is completely mosaic tiled floors as well. And then there's of course amazing paintings too. Really a sight to behold. It's overwhelming to think that human beings created all of it, and so so long ago before they had so many of the modern helps in building and creating that we have now! No pictures allowed though, sorry. We ended the day wtih a free concert in the big square, which was really fun.

We were really exhausted by day's end. And the next day we slept in, which we could do since Venice is such a chill place and we had 3 days, which is plenty of time to do it in. I said, let's try to cut down on the walking if possible today. (We had swam in the river in Geneva the day before and sadly enough this meant that I was seriously exhausted and hurting). We did take it easier this day, but exploring Venice is basically a by-foot experience. We went to an art museum, featuring art from really famous establishment Italian painters like Titian, and Giorgioni. Then we went to the lido, a famous beach, which I guess had its heyday a long time ago, and it's definitely past. The island/town reminded me a lot of Southern California, with a less impressive beach, though it was nevertheless nice to chill on the provided beach chairs and eat gelato under an umbrella, and go on a walk along the shore and gather shells, of which there were many. We ended our evening with a gondola ride! If I had ever made a "bucket list" I'm sure gondola ride with my sweetheart would have been on there, so-- CHECK! It was really cool. Gondolas are just cool! I mean its one guy with one oar on the back of a really long boat going down skinny canals and under low bridges. The way it works is that a gondola is made off balance so that when the gondolier is on it, he's able to stand on one side and be stable.

 The next day we started with the fish and produce markets and then went off to San Murano, the glass making island and got to watch a demo and go through the shop, and I actually bought a couple souvenirs. We finished off with another visit inside the Basilica, and this time we paid for a little tour around the walkways at the top and got to have a closer look at the amazing and detailed mosaics, and go out on the roof.  I think that's it. We talked to the kids and their babysitters every day and they sounded like they were having a wonderful time, but 3 days was the perfect amount of time and we were ready to go back. (I'm still breastfeeding Geneve, so I pumped the whole time so I didn't have to stop). 

So Venice is: amazing cathedrals everywhere, gondolas, canals, bridges, boats, skinny alleyways and close, crumbling buildings, often with laundry lines hanging between them, art and art museums and galleries, really cool old buildings and architecture and lots of tall bell towers, gelato and pizza and calzones, crazy cool shops of masks and costumes and puppets, glass, and other fun stuff; and warm and relaxing and romantic and beautiful!

THANKS HONEY!! You made a dream come true. Venice was amazing!

(And Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Roundy for making it possible.)