Gwen Wren Goes To Venice

A note for our regular viewers: We apologize for the long break between posts. As you will see, we went out of town for New Years, and since then we have been quite busy. Rachel has been running experiments, and I have been dealing with many mundane aspects of life in our new apartment, such as figuring out how to wire overhead lights and hook up (and subsequently re-hook-up, then balance, then re-balance, then give up on) an old washing machine. I have backdated this post, and the next few as well, to the approximate time the events took place.

After our quiet Christmas at home, we wanted to do something a little more adventurous for New Years. Our original holiday plan, to drive over the Alps into northern Italy, still seemed a bit intimidating; we had heard that crossing the Alps in winter could be treacherous driving. So, we decided to go by train. Although it was more expensive, we took a day train instead of the overnight so we could see the Alpine scenery on the way.

Gwendolyn was very well-behaved on the train ride, cycling through calm playing, eating, sleeping, playing again, etc. (Though I must say, if you are ever planning to take a baby over a high altitude pass, bring extra diapers and a change of clothes. Most of you parents out there will know what I'm talking about.)

I followed our route on a map of the Alps. Gwen Wren helped out with some map-crumpling and -chewing.

On arriving in Venice, we took a vaporetto (water bus) down the Grand Canal to our hotel, the Pensione Guerrato.

When we first found our hotel, tucked away on this dark and empty Venetian street, we were a little skeptical.

Once inside, we were met by the two brothers who own the hotel, Roberto and Piero. They were so warm and welcoming, and they loved Gwendolyn!

Gwen Wren found our room to be a bit more ornate than her normal digs...

...but she quickly made herself at home.