From the Heart of Tuscany to the Canals of Venice

9 Day – Venice by Train – Wednesday

Italian Escapade: From the Heart of Tuscany to the Canals of Venice

Day 9 of our European adventure dawned bright and early, as Chris and I bade farewell to our Tuscany haven. With the gentle morning sun as our accomplice, we tidied up the charming rental that had been our home, leaving it as pristine as we had found it. Our hearts were full, my belly bulging, but it was time to move on to our next Italian escapade.

Our plans led us back to the bustling Mercato Centrale of Florence, a place where the heartbeat of the city can truly be felt. The air was rich with the aroma of fresh produce, the sound of vendors calling out their wares, and the sight of the most exquisite Italian delicacies.

There are rows upon rows of pop-up shops, here and at the “pig market” – that load in incredible amounts of goods for sale, mostly staffed by southeast Asian immigrants, all of which gets packed up each day and brought out day after day. I so wish we could allow for and celebrate that level of hard work an determination in the US.  It’s the story of my family’s immigrant history.. When we travel, I always wonder why the US can’t allow for new histories like this to be written.

It was here that we gathered the makings of what was to become an unforgettable lunch: porchetta, ripe figs, and freshly baked focaccia—all to be assembled later as we rode- elevating our business class seating to something more to our “sensibilities.”  One shop purveyor nearly fed us to full with samples, and even gave us a glass of wine to wash it down. We left with enough porchetta to feed a family of fifteen. He knew what we has doing.

With our bounty in hand, we boarded the high-speed train that would whisk us away to the majestic city of Venice. The Italian countryside blurred past our windows, a tapestry of green and gold, olives and agriculture as I assembled our sandwiches, and we assembled our thoughts in journals, and we remembered dreams together. The sweet, rich flavor of the figs paired with the savory porchetta, all nestled between slices of soft focaccia, was nothing short of a culinary delight. It felt like San Francisco farmer’s market in the gathering, completely Tuscany in origin. Home found us as we found respite. The cheese, the chili tapenade, tomatoes, and olive oil added the right amount of umami. We savored our makeshift feast while penning down the thoughts and reflections of our journey so far, a journal journey that paralleled the mental one a well.  We are headed somewhere.

Upon arrival in Venice, we were greeted by a city suspended in time, its canals a mirror to the past. Chris, the mastermind behind our accommodations, had outdone himself once again, securing us yet another stunning AirB&B. It was evident that his knack for finding the most enchanting spots could rival that of any seasoned travel agent. Again I say, I married up.

The evening was a cascade of emotions and discoveries. I played the eager guide with childlike excitement, bringing Chris along to experience the wonders of Venice, sights that had once captured my own heart. Each alleyway and bridge, every gondola and piazza, held a memory, a story to be shared. Seeing the city through Chris’s eyes, and witnessing the joy and inspiration it sparked in him, mirrored the very feelings of joy and inspiration he ignites within me.

Our journey through Venice was more than just a tour; it was a reawakening of wonder, an appreciation of beauty through the shared eyes of love and camaraderie. As the Venetian sky turned a painter’s palette of sunset hues, we realized that the true essence of travel isn’t just about the places you go—it’s about who accompanies you and how you see the world anew through their gaze.

Day 9 was a testament to this truth, a chapter in our journey that we would both cherish, nestled in our memories alongside the city of canals and the echoes of its enchanting call.