Day fourteen-sixteen: Monza/Milan, Italy

During the planning stages, we couldn't seem to fit enough in to our trip. We had bought tickets to fly over, we might as well try to fit everything possible right?! Next thing we know, we had added four locations and almost a week on top of our original plans. What where you thinking!? You might ask. Well let us explain... we have no idea. 

As much research and as many Rick Steves travel books we had read through, we were bound to still make our own mistakes and learn from them. Trains leave on time (to the second), you must check your bags days ahead of time when flying, you will get charged at least 2€ to sit down somewhere to eat (even if your baguette only cost you 1.50€). These are just a few examples. We didn't take into account that we would eventually get tired. Yes, you might say but you're young and you're in Europe! How could you waste this amazing opportunity?! We want to keep it real, people. After four different countries and seven different cities in fourteen days, you WILL be tired. At this point we needed a vacation from our vacation. 

As we were laying around in our comfortable air-conditioned room our last night in Venice, planning out our journey into Florence in less than twelve hours, we realized this was the last thing we wanted to be doing. We were completely beat. There wasn't a molecule in us that was eager to pack up our backpacks and head a third of the way down Italy.

We immediately started brainstorming as we had already booked a train ticket and three nights in Florence. I sent my uncle an email explaining the situation and asked if we could come stay with him (he lives only a fifteen minue train ride from Milan in a town called Monza) for a few days for a little R&R so we could enjoy the rest of our trip. This was going to make our arrival at his place a week earlier than expected. Within half an hour we were booking train tickets to Milan Central Station to head to Monza for three days. That's what family is for. 

We were ecstatic to know we had some rest and relaxation ahead of us. The universe, of course, first wanted to make us work for this a little more. Our train to Milan was delayed by thirty minutes which means we were bound to miss our connecting train to Monza. Yay… time for another one of our infamous backpack runs through the train station! 

We waved goodbye to the caboose of our train as we ran up to the platform. Literally missed it by less than a minute. At least it wasn't our fault this time? We spent the next hour sitting at the McDonald's until we could catch the next train. 

My uncle was waiting for us at the platform in Monza, it was so nice to see him and Spartaco. They were incredibly welcoming and hospitable.

That first night we had a wonderful dinner and wine at home with the uncles then headed out for a nice walk through downtown Monza and had some famous Granita. Very typical dessert/snack here in Italy. Frozen treat heaven! 

Our entire stay we ate like queens and did not have to worry about a thing, they were both two steps ahead of us at all times. Tio Rinaldo even made an appointment for us to get the pedicures we've been dying to get all trip! 

We never appreciated the nail salons in America (with the little Asian ladies who talk smack about how bad your feet look or how your legs aren't shaved) more until now. We miss them. We'll be sure to tell them when we get back. Oh yeah, and don't expect massage chairs if you're ever in Italy. Either way our pedicures ruled.

Beautiful walkway at the local hospital, wish we had these at he hospitals we work at!

We even took a dip at their pool. So refreshing after all the heat we've been experiencing! (believe it or not, it has been about ten degrees hotter than in Florida!) 

Our last day, we headed into Milan to admire the Italian women (the way they strut the streets downtown wearing their stilletos is an art form) and all the window displays. Touched more Prada and Burberry than ever before.

More gelato

Most expensive street in Milan

The Galleria: world's oldest shopping mall

Spinning on Torino's Bull at the Galleria for good luck

Our stay in Monza was just what we needed. We so are lucky and overwhelmingly grateful to have family be there with open arms. We cannot wait to come back and spend some more time with the Tios in a week (our original arrival date). 

Moral of the story: love your family and be flexible to chage things around if need be. 

Next stop, Rome!

Cheers. 

Day thirteen: Venice, Italy

This post is being published five days late. We apologize for being so behind, we've been a little tied up (yes, yes, such a hard life we live).

We wanted to take a trip to one of the surrounding islands. Our hotel offered free transportation over to the island of Murano every morning at 10 a.m. Water transport isn't exactly cheap around here (7€ per person each way) so we took advantage of this. Murano is a short 1.5km water ride away from Venice, it's famous for its beautiful glass making. They took us over via private water taxi which usually costs about 100€ per hour! The ride over was beautiful.

We were ecstatic to find out that we also got a little special preview! These are master glass-blowers, or maestros, they are extremely talented at what they do. 

That man made this glass sculpture in a matter of three or four minutes. This was nothing compared to what we saw next... Unfortunately we weren't able to take any pictures at our next stop. We were taken upstairs to a private show room, our jaws dropped to the floor! All one of a kind pieces ranging from 1,000€ to well over 500,000€ some chandeliers weren't even priced. We made sure to keep our hands to ourselves. It was glass heaven on earth. 

We explored the island walking in to pretty much every store to admire the glass work.

We headed back to Venice and took a very long siesta. After we finally dragged ourselves out of bed, we did a little exploring of Venice at night. Just as beautiful!

Not really sure how we're not 500lbs yet. 

Goodnight, Venice.

Cheers.

Day twelve: Venice, Italy

Note to self: if you ever book an overnight train again, pay the difference for a sleeper or couchette.. Do NOT settle for the cheap seats (not even that cheap). 

We figured we would ge the most out of our time by booking an eight hour overnight train from Munich to Venice. We were in a seated compartment with six seats all facing each other. This fabulous idea resulted in kankles (swollen ankles) and little to no sleep. No need to focus on how terrible that was because we are finally in Italy! Time to enjoy Venice! 

These babies fixed all our problems as soon as we arrived in Venice. Handle Italian espresso with caution.

Obviously focusing very hard. It was time to figure out yet another type of public transportation, water taxis. Now that's a different monster!

Pictures do it no justice. Venice looks like a movie scene. The apartments and little alley ways  are quaint and gorgeous.

Venice will be our first hotel stay all trip,

therefore we were ecstatic upon arrival at Hotel Belle Arti. We finally made it at around 10 a.m. My uncle was generous enough to help us find this place. Belle Arti was so cute that we just wanted to hang around all day! 

We couldn't check in until 1:30 p.m. So we stored our luggage at the hotel and headed out to explore the island. We did a lot of window shopping and some real shopping at the local H&M (need to get ready for Milan and Paris!). The thing to do in Venice is to get up early to roam the streets in the morning before everywhere gets packed. When we decided it was time to get away from all the crowds and fill our bellies, we sat down at a table outside of a cute restaurant. 

First Italian meal, yes please! Insalata caprese, pizza, and a 1/2 liter of house white wine. Heaven.

After spending a cute amount of money on that we decided it was time to get to a market to buy snacks for later or else we would go broke.

Obviously we had to buy these "juice boxes".

It was wonderful to finally be able to get dressed and feel girly again! We've been a sweaty stinky mess up until now. That's unacceptable in Italy, we had to dress the part.

Been waiting two whole weeks to eat Italian gelato. Well worth the wait!

Saint Mark's Basilica, gorgeous. 

Saint Mark's Campanile.

 

We had to chase pigeons away to get this shot. Didn't help that street merchants kept coming up to us with handfuls of rice. We DO NOT want to feed the birds, ever. Ew.

We ended our day back at the courtyard of our awesome hotel. We did a little bit of planning while enjoying some good Italian wine we got at the market. 

Cheers!