Now we’re getting somewhere. Not that the countries prior were anything less than impressive but this is now Italy….and this, is Venice.
We parked it at a campground to celebrate the occasion with a shower and a shave on my part. Both very much overdue at this point. We relaxed for the afternoon on our arrival day to recharge after some hefty cruisin that left us a bit more exhausted then usual. The campground was conveniently located near a bus that would whirl us away the next morning and and onto the canal filled mystery.
The illusion of Venice and its mega appeal for most that travel to the city is the fact that it seems to float within the canals and passageways that flow throughout the city. That allure and the stories we had heard set our hopes pretty high even before entering the city limits.
Fortunately, we were not to be disappointed. Within moments of leaving the bus we were immediately greeted with our first canal and in turn, swept away in the awe inspiring beauty of the surroundings that seemed to be in every direction we glanced.
From the gorgeous colors popping off the old rustic buildings that lined the canals, to the narrowest of alleyways at each turn and onto the shimmers of sunlight that peaked through the bell towers of the many cathedrals that highlighted the skyline….Venice was beautiful. I even found the obligatory striped shirt gondola guys to be an endearing part of the overall visual appeal. I think my favorite part of the city though was getting lost. I have a knack for that sort of behavior so the concept of having no idea where I was at any given moment and continuously ducking into a new alley to explore a new spot was perfect. Nicole’s internal compass that works like the sun couldn’t even keep up after a while.
After a few stopovers at the sites…..Piazza San Marco, The Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge we found a spot to commemorate the journey over some red wine and pasta. The fact that a soda was more than half a carafe of the vino spelled trouble for both of us. Regardless, we indulged generously which made our journeys thereafter a bit hazy but twice the fun as we stumbled to find the bus back through the Italian maze.
Eventually we happened upon the water taxi which I suppose normal sober people pay for but in light of our lunchtime activities we skipped that step and rode along for a half hour through the canals on a beautiful “free” tour of the city from a different angle before hopping off to catch our bus home.
What can I say? Our first real stop in Italia and I can only really sum it up in a word….bellissimo!
Ezno’s babies are next (you’ll see)…thanks for poppin in!
adam
How do you build a life around adventure and travel?Intentionally and incrementally. Most families who live this way did not leap from conventional to adventurous overnight. They built remote work capacity, paid down debt, tested longer trips, and had increasingly honest conversations about what they actually want from their lives. The leap feels bigger from outside than from inside.
What does an adventurous family lifestyle actually look like?Different for every family. For some it is long-term travel. For others it is weekend adventures close to home. What connects them is intentionality about how time is spent and a preference for experiences over accumulation. The version that fits your family is the right one.
How do you balance adventure with stability for kids?By finding stability within the adventure rather than treating them as opposites. Routines, rituals, and family rhythms travel with you. Familiar foods, bedtime routines, and predictable family dynamics provide stability even when the location changes. Kids need consistency in relationships more than consistency in geography.
What has travel taught your family?That people are fundamentally similar across cultures in what they want for their families. That comfort zone is a smaller circle than it feels from inside. That the things worth having in life require effort and discomfort to get. And that time together doing hard interesting things is the most reliable source of family closeness.
How do you handle the pressure to live conventionally when you have chosen differently?By getting clear on why you made the choices you made and returning to that clarity when the outside noise gets loud. Most families living unconventionally describe an initial period of explaining themselves that gradually gives way to just living the life. The explaining becomes less necessary as the results become visible.
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