Adam and I just returned from a parents only trip to Europe to celebrate our 5 yr anniversary. We have been together close to ten years now and since
I met this guy, he has been obsessed with Greece. He has always wanted to go but we couldn’t swing it for our honeymoon. So we started putting aside 5
years ago each month to make this trip happen. Honestly, I really didn’t believe it would. It was expensive and I knew in projecting our “baby producing
future” I’d likely have a baby under one and breastfeeding. Well last year came, and it was never so clear in my life that we don’t live forever, so freaking
do it. The kids stayed with my folks for the week and a half we were gone and absolutely had a ball. Nori had been asking all the time leading up to the
trip, “When you going on a plane to stay on a big boat in Greece? I want to stay at Nonni and Poppi’s when you leave.” Leaving them was a mixture of
“YESSSSSSSSSSSS!” and “Awww, I already miss you.” I was ready for some kidless/uninterrupted adult fun. (I say that as if we drink and party. We
don’t. At all. Ever.) Adam texted them pics periodically so Nori could excitedly kiss our faces on my mom’s phone. Cute. I decided to do multiple blog
posts since there is quite a bit I wanted to share. People have asked for stories too, so if you don’t want to be bored, just scroll the pics.
This was our second time to Venice and the local islands together. In college I studied abroad and when Adam visited me, we went for a long weekend.
It was nice to be back in a different frame of mind, with a Canon Mark III and not a digital Rebel. (The difference between the camera then and now was
about 4k with lens!) Our hotel was on the block behind St. Marks Basilica, which is the hotspot on the island. Upon checking in the concierge says,
“Ahhhh! Bongiorno! You are the peaceful peoples! Welcome! Welcome!!” Pace means “peace” in Italian. 
We figured that out last time when we saw
rainbow PACE flags hanging out of every other window. (That was when I knew it was destiny for us to be married. 
) Our hotel was typical old
Europe. Back in college old hotels and their “inviting charm” appealed to me. This time since we were spending a lot more money, I sarcastically and
lovingly say to Venetians: Damn Venezia with your hardass beds, limp pillows and 1ft x 1ft shower. Clearly they don’t shower with their spouses. Could
have been a 3 stooges performance. Elbows hitting walls, crusty curtain and water pouring all over the floor. It was uber sweet when we opened
our shutters and heard live Venetian music from the square.
We only brought one camera body and a few lenses, so I shot with the big dawg and Adam mostly shot with his iPhone and film Hasselblad.
This is the shot he was taking with his phone! Like I told you in yesterday’s post, he’s good at Iphoneography.
Damn Venizia and it’s labyrinth, finding ourselves in someone’s “backyard” dead end at every wrong turn. Actually, most of Greece enjoyed the maze
concept in street planning too. “Oops! Ran into the Grand Canal again!” Thankfully we loved every bit of the texture and aged beauty! I kept saying how
glad I was that we were alone because anyone else with us would’ve been so bothered by how often we stopped to document.
St. Mark’s square. This is where it’s at, yo. And by that I mean, where there are hundreds of tourists feeding nasty pigeons like they were an
endangered specie. This shot does it no justice.
Damn Europeans and their lack of ice, small portions and dressing-less salads. We were always hungry and thirsty! It was like $5 for
a drink that was the size of double shot glass.
Burano Island.
This is about a 45 minute waterbus ride from Venice. It’s seriously the most colorful place I’ve ever been. My first time there 8 yrs ago, I think I
peed my pants when we pulled up.
There are a series of small canals running through. Such a fascinating way of life.
Adam’s iPhone shot of his Hasselblad. Ha! Maybe one day we will see his films pics?
My friend Gail shared this SO TRUE quote with me, “The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for
the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” -Bill Bryson
Two shots from Adam’s phone. On the left I was taking the shot above. Tell me how it doesn’t weird people out to have their pic taken IN THEIR
HOME by strangers all day. Could you imagine a bus dropping off a bunch of people in your neighborhood and taking pics of your house, much
less you hanging out your laundry?? Really a strange concept when you think about it. But I suppose if it wasn’t for us creepers on their island,
they would have no income from shops and restaurants!
I’d love to live such a simple life. 
Isn’t it hilarious to think about hanging our laundry through town like this? “Oh my! You see Melanie got some new panties! I can’t even believe
they aren’t white! What a hussie!!” (Said in the tone of a Orange County housewife.)
HAHA. I loved how well he matched. Maybe a school?
The shops either sold scarves, masks or necklaces. Or if you were lucky, all three!
Well that was our first days before the cruise picked us up on the mainland off Venice. Did I happen to mention how fearful I was for us as I checked
my email one last time in the States? The newest email was from my insurance agent telling me she sent me our most up to date life insurance
policies and needed our sigs to see they are fully in place. Ermmmmm. Not cool to read before boarding a long ass flight and huge boat floating
around the Mediterranean.
I thought being phone and internet-less were going to be ridic hard for me knowing I’d come home to countless messages of all sorts. I worked insane
hours to wrap up as much as I could before I left so I wouldn’t have to work AT ALL while gone. (THAT was hard for me. To fully relax guilt free.) I
also had Brittany be my social media replacement for the week. She posted as me on FB linking the blogs I scheduled while gone. I don’t like to
advertise when I’m away so I didn’t want people to find my fb absent strange. Call me paranoid.
There is much more to share. In the meantime enjoy your long weekend! Olivia turns two on Labor day! I can’t even believe it!
Heart, Melanie and Adam.
CocaCola addiction. Waiting for shuttle. 16 hrs into traveling home. 19 hrs and home. Wtg for ride.
