#KindnessCounts

THIS POST WAS FOR MONDAY MAY 16! Enjoy! :D Cinque Terre. 12 hour day in five fishing village s. Hiking. And I was the one who wanted to be signed up for this...Oh dear. Scared Chris and energetic Adrienne wake up Monday morning ready to go! We got on our bus and our tour guide, Douglass, tells us that the bus ride to the first fishing village, Manarola, will take us about two hours to drive to get there. On the way, Douglass tells us that once we would arrive in Manarola village, we will take a train to Cornigulia, the second fishing village. And it's then that he tells us there's 382 steps to get to the restaurant where we will be eating lunch. Oh yeah, you heard me. 382. STAIRS. And he also warned us, if we struggle with the stairs, he would advise those to take the train to the third village, instead of the 2 mile, over 1,000 stair hike. Um, WOW. So, I climbed the stairs and I conquered it. Since I had hurt my ankle weeks ago, I haven't been able to work ou...

Preface: This post was for Sunday, May 15! Have fun reading--so I'm so behind due to internet or lack thereof! I haven't been to church in a long time. In a really long time. I haven't been to Mass in an even longer amount of time. But today, we went. And we didn't go just anywhere--we went to the Duomo for mass at 9 AM. And it was, like Italy, just beautiful. Although the entire service was in Italian, I was comforted by the preists voice and his graceful inflections within his language. The stained glass windows, the marble floors, the gorgeous statues--it was a wonderful way to visit such a special and historic place. Very peaceful and centering. We then reluctantly made our way to do everyone's favorite chore (NOT)...laundry. An interesting experience to say the least. Chris, who thought the token machine was a change machine, because you have to have these bizarre tokens to do laundry (not change...), put in a 20 and received instead, 20 Euros worth l...

Today, I thought I was going to write all about Michelangelo Blondarroti. I thought I was going to write about all of the art history I learned yesterday, about his life, about how was actually trained in fresco painting and self taught in stone cutting, about all of the pieces he created throughout his life. I thought I was going to write about how enlightening it all was, how much I retained and wanted to tell others, and everything that I jotted down in my journal, looking like a little college student, during the entire length of the three and a half tour. But I'm not going to because it doesn't matter. And you know why it doesn't matter? Because yesterday, Chris and I saw the David . We saw the David and it was... Well, the moment was speechless. Just...no words can describe those... And I got teary as Chris cried. It was at the end of the tour and we went to the Accademia, a center that was built when Italy began to create buildings for the public, such a...

So, funny story. I'm not meant own a Vespa. Damn. Yeah. So those of you who were able to talk to me before I left for this trip, know that riding a Vespa is on my bucket list. And yes, at twenty five years old, I have formulated a sort of bucket list that, well, is only getting longer and longer as I get older. (Btw, I'm now putting on there: Return to Italy being able to speak a least basic Italian...another story for a later date...) Anyway, riding a Vespa is on my bucket list. I succeeded. Don't get me wrong, I rode a Vespa and it was in Italy no less. Wait. Let me back track. So, yesterday we were supposed to go to Cinque Terre. Yes, when I left you all in my last post, that was the plan. Vespa touring was for Monday. Long story short, Chris and I arrived fifteen minutes early at the meeting place for the hiking Cinque Terre tour. We saw no one who looked like they were in such a group, so we grabbed McDonalds (interesting in Italy, I might add, but like ev...

Arrivederci. We'll see you later is what that means in Italian. We'll see you later. That's what I had to say to myself and to Venice today as we parted ways. Chris and I got up mega early today to get ready, do final packing, and have one more glorious breakfast with Mama and Fabio. They got up an hour earlier just to make breakfast for us since we had to be at the boat to took us to the train station at 8 AM. As I was sitting there, eating my now favorite breakfast--(unsugarized and no sodium) granola ceral with strawberries on top, half a croissant, and a small roll with Nutella (that I tell myself every morning that I'm not going to eat but do because this particular bread is out of this world), I'm starting to watch Mama scurry back and forth. She's in her element here at the B&B, Chris points out, taking care of a different kind of family. I watch as she goes to pick up large water bottles to take to the kitchen. Suddenly, I notice that she h...

Forgive me for the delay in posts my friends. I have had very little internet access and when it has been possible-I'm of course no where near a computer. So, I have posted a few days late but taken my time each day to write as to not forget a single drop of the adventure. :) Yesterday was our last full day in Venice, Wednesday May 11th. Although we are sad to know it's the last day, we want to enjoy it to the fullest. So we begin our day early yet again, with again, a breakfast provided by Fabio and his mother. Breakfast. Who knew I could make myself become so crazy about breakfast? What has the United States done to me? I know what the states has deprived me of. NUTELLA. Damn America. Anyhoo, we return our blonde blue eyed passionate book binding man, Alexandro. I am so impressed with people over here and their remarkable memory--and they don't just remember you as a person--often, they'll even remember your name. Introduce yourself to me and I forget your na...

PREFACE:  Internet is EXPENSIVE in Italy.  So, finally, I have found a free wi-fi spot and am eating breakfast here as I type and post a million blogs that I have written in the past and just haven't been able to post.  I'm sooooo behind.  Enjoy! This morning, Chris and I get up early. We have many plans today because we know today it's our last full day in Venice and although I'm beyond excited for the rest of the trip, Chris and I could both easily spend a month in Venice. The way the city moves, the people converse-it's so special to me. Nothing like anywhere else. We see Fabio's jolly face when we come out of our room this morning and we tell him immediately how sad we are that we are leaving. "You sad? But why? Going home...it's nice. And you can always come back." He's right. We sure can come back. DONE. Anyway, while I type today , Chris and I savor another breakfast. Granola with fresh strawberries, coffee Americano (with v...