Amore. My first night in Venice.

What happened to my heart this evening was well worth the long day of travel.  It took us a while on the bus to get from Austria to Venice but at each rest stop I could feel my body and mind preparing itself for Italy.  It may have just been the climate and temperature change, or the paninis and gelato we had for lunch, but something began to slowly happen to me as we made our way south this morning and during the afternoon.

We had to travel by boat to our hotel because the bus can't make it through the streets of Venice.  After we checked in at the Mercurio Hotel we spent and hour with our tour guide getting blissfully lost and found again in the often difficult to navigate streets of the city.  We had a family dinner together with lots of Italian wine and tiramisu for dessert (I will not be loosing any weight on this leg of the trip.)  Then we made our way out to a fleet of gondolas that were waiting to take us out to the Grand Canal.

This is where it happened folks...I had been feeling it building all evening as we walked through the dirty streets, as we past the expensive shops, as we walked into the square of St. Mark Basilica, as we ate dinner as a family, and as we got lost and then found our way again.  I could feel something strange was happening.  I can't describe it.  We got into our gondola and as I snapped the pictures and as the gondolier rowed us into the Grand Canal, I shed it.  Right there, in the murky water, I shed a years worth of trouble, and sadness, and pain.  I let go of grief, and mourning and hatred and questions.  I cried in the middle of the Grand Canal in Venice tonight as the sun went down, while being serenaded by a beautiful gondolier.  I am happy. I am at peace. I am free.  I am light.  And I did it on my own.  This is where I am supposed to be.  This is what was supposed to happen.  And I am graciously accepting and giving thanks for the cards that I've been dealt.  I'm playing with a great hand, after all, and I'm sleeping in Venice tonight.  Who knows what could be in store for me tomorrow.

                                                                             Peace, Love, and Travel,

                                                                             Reba

My first Italian gelato!! Hazelnut and chocolate hazelnut (bachio)...and yes...I ate the whole thing. 

View from one of the bridges over a canal.

He was gorgeous AND he sang!

Awe, Lawrence!  Don't fight the love!!

Love this shot!  These were the other four boats in our fleet.

They were all singing together, it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

Had to snap a few black and whites...it just seemed appropriate.

My man, Lawrence.  I know I take a lot of pictures of him...but he's just so dang CUTE!!

Jeez... What can I say?

Catching some spritzers and martinis after the ride.

The square at St. Marks tonight.

These little setups are everywhere in the square giving free concerts to whoever will listen!  I'm in love.