We actually arrived in Sacile after long numerous train rides exhausted from it all, but so excited to be in Italy! Sacile was a quaint Italian town with a picturesque view of a small town square with a meadow, church, and small river twisting and turning like a melody. We had some local cuisine with wine, friends, and a great scenic view. I loved it! Then we were off to Venice on another train, and it has to be said they are definitely not as nice as the Deutsch Bahn.
We adventured some throughout the Venice area and finally ended up in San Marcos Square, a place of so much history expressed in architecture, art, and music. We actually sat at one of the cafes had a snack and drink actively participated in the battling orchestras, and yet again I caught myself acting like a school girl abroad; outright giddy about the experience.
Saturday morning we woke up to school children outside the house, which was poetic and then not so much since we all wanted to sleep in a little but more. We were off to Venice again with one goal in mind, a gondola tour through the famous canals of Venice. We accomplished that goal and then some with our various choices in venician glass souvenirs for our friends and family. That evening we had a true girls night out and put on our dresses and heels for dinner the Italian way. Pasta, salad, wine, gelato, pictures, and laughter filled the evening.
Waking up the next morning was even more fun, with a great run in Sacile and then attending mass with Charlet in the quaint old beautiful church. We then loaded up our stuff and headed off one last time to Venice. We went to the island of Murano to visit the glass blowing which was so amazing and then of course shop so more. I privately went into one of the churches there and tried to take in all I've been blessed with in my life. We later met up with some more of our classmates and shared stories of the adventures we had in Italy over pizza on the steps in front of the train station. Little did we know the adventures were just beginning.
I will give the abbreviated version of the train trip from Hades. Monsoon in the Venice train station, with a power outage in the restrooms. Then the Italian strike forces 4 times the normal amount of people onto our train, but with no a/c, a crazy eyed German booger man in our cabin, and uncomfortable seats none of us were getting any sleep anyways. Then in between dozing off we are awoken by an unhappy trainman that informed us we went through the "Sound of Music" land and my friend had an extra fee. We finally arrive in Munich run to our next train, only to tear my duffle rollie bag and all I can do is laugh. We are stuck in the next train station for a couple of hours,then step on our train only to be bombarded by rude Chinese people, yelling and complaining and unhapreserved removed from our reserved seats. We finally get to Arnhem, 17 hours after arriving and departing from the Venice mestra only for me to find out all the lifts are out of order. Luckily some lovely Dutchman helpped me with my luggage. Took us a while to find our stupid bus, then go uphill in the chilly mist, to get to our hotel that seemed kind of hidden in the woods.
But we could all say, mission accomplished! It wasn't pretty, but we got there, early, and with only minor scrapes and a lot of life lessons under our belts.
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