Awestruck by Venice!

We had a great time in Venice! (We head out today) It was really another world. We our staying on the other side of the canal much like staying in Algiers instead of NO. Our hotel is right on the water and we take a water taxi over. It has worked out well as we get free rides on the water and we can get away from the crowds. We stayed on this side for a more authentic Venetian dinner eating  in perfect weather  outside with great views. The Bolognese lasagna was our favorite, our first plate, which is so weird to me, they serve the pasta first and then your main meal. Scott had a fish he never heard of fresh from the lagoon and though it was served fully intact he enjoyed eating like the people here. It has been a vacation of food!! I've never eaten so much, they serve a huge basket of delicious bread before every meal which I can happily say I've been able to enjoy. Seriously, this is huge for me!

So our minds so powerful, I had been trying to convince myself I don't have a problem with gluten for a couple months now yet my crazy brain kept coming up with evidence to the contrary. It wasn't until I was sitting in the basilica of St Francis receiving my blessing for having walked the pilgrim trail that it dawned on me, (easy to let my mind wander as I had no idea what was being said) I had evidence that I'm not!!! Everything is about what we concentrate on, everything! I can make my reality whatever I want it to be. I realized there were times walking when I allowed my attention to go to my pain and it took away from everything else. I couldn't pay attention to my surroundings and I was wishing my day away. When in contrast, I let my attention go outward, I could enjoy my time walking through all the wonders of a new landscape. I struggled with this some and by the time I reached the statue of St Francis standing over me in Assissi I balled. Full out explosion of emotion, exhaustion, relief (didn't realize I still had the last long hill still ahead of me). It was an experience I can't much explain, but he was telling me I am worthy of his blessing. Shortly after that experience, I was blessed three different times. The last one by Pope Francis who stood above Scott and I as we once again stood in a sea of people inside the borders of the Vatican last Sunday. Again, no idea what he was saying but we could feel his heart going out to us all. This was a true highlight of Rome for me.

Back to Venice.....Scott and I pretty much jumped on to the first open gondola we saw with Matthew as our gondolier. It was the perfect time of night with the sun getting low and temperatures just right so despite having just gotta there the time,we right. He took us through the quiet channels, over 150 channels on the island with over 500 bridges, a bridge engineers dream. He avoided the grand canal which we walked our later for a glass of wine by the largest bridge. This has been a vacation like no other. I really enjoy talking to the people here and learning about their way of life. We spent most of the day yesterday in San Marcos Square, sorry my photos all on my camera, this place was sensational, so much so, it often looked and felt as if we were inside a Disney park. Our time inside the basilica another highlight, which also seems weird to me, never thought id be one to enjoy the churches and learning the stories of religions. This morning we will head to our final destination, Chianti.