(Photo by Niles Rooker)

Venice, or as it’s called in Italian, Venezia, was a rude awakening. To give you a glimpse of what my time here looked like, I’ll tell you about how I plummeted into the land of gondolas. I was travelling from Bologna by train with a backpack, massive duffle bag, and a 55-pound suitcase. I was bound to fall at some point. I accepted that it was going to be inevitable. As I stepped off the train, my bags in front of me, I realized in mid air I could either drop all of my luggage or I could hang onto it and try to stick the landing. I did not stick the landing guys. I found myself being pulled by my luggage and I did a (not so graceful) tuck and tumble face first onto the platform. I heard a chorus of “Mamma Mia’s” and an angry unsuspecting victim that (unsuccessfully) caught the wrath of my fall.

All tripping aside, Venice is definitely the most beautiful place I have ever been to. Located in northeastern Italy, it is composed of 117 tiny islands connected by canals. There is a post card view from every corner of the city. People use boat taxis to get from place to place, I’ve never experienced anything like it.

Speaking of new experiences, I was walking with a group of my girl friends and I noticed a fish pedicure spa. I had read about them and had always wanted to try it. I decided I had to do it. The girls hesitantly agreed to join me. We sat with our feet in a tank while these itty bitty fish gnawed the dead skin off of our feet. It was the most bizarre sensation. It looked like something from the show, Fear Factor. We couldn’t stifle our discomfort and the squealing commenced. When I finally looked up we had gained a crowd of people outside taking our picture and watching us through the windows in disbelief. They had to be thinking, who in their right mind would do this?! Me, that’s who.

(Photo by Niles Rooker)

My final hours in Venice were spent lost at night in the pouring rain. It was absolutely miserable, yet deliriously funny due to lack of sleep. To sum up the last 48 hours; it started with a fall and ended with a storm, but everything in between was pure beauty and for that I have no complaints.

Xo,

L I V

(Photo by Niles Rooker)