Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

I thought it would be romantic; a gondola ride on Venice's Grand Canal accompanied by a serenading, handsome gondolier in the requisite striped shirt and straw hat. However, even though the weather was predicted to be in the 40s, it was a freezing 25 degrees! Rather than the sweet sounds of 'O sole mio', there was a lot of teeth-chattering and shivering. 'Brrrr. Isn't this romantic, honey?' No handsome gondoliers either. Most were dressed in funky witch dresses (see gondola on left side of the photo) in celebration of 'Happy Epiphanies on the Befana' and 'regatta delle befane.' Begana is the Italian version of the wicked witch of the west who fills children's stockings with sweets if they've been good or coal if they've been bad. Witch or no witch. Inclement or temperate weather. We were, afterall, in Venice and cuddling up close to my sweetie is always romantic to me!