Italy, Day 5

We checked out of the Hotel Belle Arti and walked around the most romantic city I have ever seen in real life. There was no way I was leaving Venice until I went on a gondola ride, so we wandered around until we found the place where the rides begin. It was ridiculously expensive, but worth every penny (or Euro cent)! The gondola ride is one of the coolest things I have ever done… EVER! The gondolier maneuvered the narrow canals with such skill and precision. When we approached an “intersection,” he would yell some nonsense, and, if another boat or gondola was coming from another direction, they would yell some nonsense in response. Well, as long as they knew what they were doing… that’s the important thing, right? It was an absolutely indescribable experience… something I can finally check off my list of things to do before I die. :)

When we returned from the gondola ride, it was time to catch the ferry and head to our final destination of the week… WELLNESS!!! It was about a four hour drive from Venice to the wellness hotel in Northern Italy. Being from California, a long drive like that usually means a flat, ugly, and sometimes even smelly, drive (I’m thinking I-5 in case you didn’t guess). So I expected this drive to be a mere inconvenience necessary to get to the next destination. I could not have been more wrong! I don’t know exactly where we were, but it was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen!! I do know we went through Cortina d’Ampezzo, where I fell in love… again. :) We didn’t stop there, but resolved to go back sometime. We did stop a bit later to get a coffee and take in the view at this beautiful lake, the name of which I have no idea… but check out the photos.

We finally arrived at the Parkhotel Shoenblick and began my first wellness weekend. YAY! We relaxed and napped a bit before heading downstairs for dinner. P had contacted the hotel ahead of time to tell them about my gluten allergy, and they were ready for me!! They had a gluten free menu prepared for me, and had ordered breads, muffins, cakes and pastas. It was AMAZING!!! This was a place I could get used to, and a place where I could get very, very fat! :P