A Tale of Two Cities

Au revoir, Paris!  Buongiorno, Venice!

After a 6:30 (A.M.!) meeting time to count heads and load suitcases onto our autobus, we set off for the Orly airport that would lead us to Venice today.  Easy-peasy day, right?  Just sitting on buses and and boats today.... Except a few of our kiddoes missed their wake-up call and threw all their stuff into suitcases and gathered themselves together within fifteen minutes.... Which put us a bit behind, but no worries!  We got to the airport with no traffic issues (mostly because it is Sunday and all true Parisiens are off in the countryside somewhere, escaping us tourists and all the crowds and heat) and made our plane with no problems.  After getting through VERY thorough customs, we were on our way.  The plane ride was probably lovely.  Smooth.  Picturesque.  I cannot report on this, because as soon as the engines started up, I was fast asleep (6:30 meeting time!).  A few z's later, and I'm in a whole new world!!  We took a water taxi to our hotel--a ride I found relaxing and refreshing,  but which put some of the kids to sleep (did I mention we all left Paris at 6:30? A.M.?).

A whole new world wherein I do not speak the language--but I do eat the food.  So far, I've had pizza, lasagna, chicken, salad, bread, and gelato.  Almost two gelatos, but milk and I are currently in a complicated relationship.  So, pistacchio gelato, you and I have a date tomorrow.

So we're actually staying on an island near to Venice--Lido.  Look it up on Google.  And then book a flight IMMEDIATELY.  This place is divine.  Tropical but thoroughly Italian; there's a beach AND pizza.  You won't be sorry.  The beach is perfect--I meant to go down, dabble my (newly pedicured lilac) toes in the Mediterranean, take pics, and head back to the hotel for a nap.  But the sand and salt and sun were too inviting, so I took my nap on the beach instead and loved every minute of it.  We  came back, showered off the salty sandy Mediterranean and headed to dinner.  After dinner a short walk, a chat with Cathy on Michaelann's balcony terrace, a group check of facebook, and a winding down of the day.

Tomorrow will see us in Venice; we'll tour the hopefully dry St. Mark's Square, see the lace-making and glass-blowing workshops, and ride in a gondola.  All while eating gelato, I sincerely hope.

Good night, dear friends and family!!  A special good night to my dad on this Father's Day!! I love you moster!!

P.S.  I can't get my phone to hook up to the wifi, mia mama; will try again tomorrow!