Italy in October, 2019

Venice

After a sleepless red eye flight from Minnesota and couple hour layover in Amsterdam, we landed into Venice right before sunset. We figured out the first time we went to Venice over 5 years prior that the private water taxi for 100 euro from the airport on the mainland to the island is the best way to give your body a little refresh by forcing down the fresh ocean air with the speed of the big V8. Katie likes the way the wood boats look so we always look specifically for one of those. We spent the next several days in Venice walking around the few alleys we haven’t seen yet, drinking wine and enjoying the way Venice is today.

Florence

We took a train from Venice to Florence. We got in right at check-in for our Airbnb.

Manarola

We took a train from Florence to Manarola and got in around noon. Even though we were early the host and son of the owner of the flat showed up at the train station and helped carry our luggage back to the Airbnb. We got there and he showed us the beautiful balcony’s and rest of the condo. He then asked us if we would like a walk tour of the city. Katie and I went as Katie’s parents wanted to stay at the room. Alessandro then gave us a 2 hour tour of the city of all of the secret spots including his private garden and place where he hangs his grapes to dry for the desert wine his family makes. We get back to the room and then we tell Katie’s parents how awesome it was. Bob’s jealous so he asks me to communicate with him to see if he can have a tour the following day. He agrees and tells Bob to meet him at the church at 5pm. The next day Bob meets him and instantly calls us and tells us that he wanted all of us to come because he brought his car and is going to show us some things. We say fuck it and go for it. He takes us to all of these amazing spots and shows us all of the land his family owns including a co-op wine processing building. He then takes us to his house and cracks a jug of his family’s private wine that is VERY VERY limited on quantity. He buys us cheese, meat and bread! This was a total MIND F**CK with how generous, kind and open he was with us ab out his family, his village, and his personal beliefs about living more organic and not using any chemicals etc. He and his tours were one of the best parts of this whole 3 week trip.