I think I've lost my game.

Friday, November 21

Well, the time FINALLY arrived to go see Mckinley in Venice and I could not have been more excited. I packed into my brown purse and set off for Berlin Schoenefeld Airport which I had yet to fly out of. So I got some directions and then set out. The directions were simple go to Warschauer Strasse and take the S9 until it ends. Perfect. Easy. Except for it only leaves every 20 minutes and the doors shut as I was coming down the stairs. Great. But, I made it to the airport with plenty of time, checked in and started my anxious waiting!!

Once arriving at the gate I looked outside to see...well, what was it? rain? hail? snow? I wasn't quite sure but in about minutes it was EXTREMELY CLEAR that it was snow. alot of snow. SNOW EVERYWHERE!!!! The snow, as wonderful as it was, delayed our plane a little because they had to power wash (with anti-freeze) the snow and ice off the wings. Now, I'm sure this is a normal procedure but just as I was getting over my little traveling panic attacks they have to go and anti-freeze the wings. really y'all?Anyway, I finally land in Venice and run into McKin's arms, both of us squealing the whole time. We started chatting (which we only stopped doing when I got back on a plane on Sunday) and hopped on the bus to Piaza la Roma (McKin, how do you actually spell that?). As we slowly wondered our way to Casa Artom (the Wake house) we stopped for pizza and gelato. DUH!!We finally made it back to the house where I got the full tour. I know y'all have heard it a thousand times before but IT'S ON THE GRAND CANAL!! Like seriously on the Grand Canal. Like I watched boats (and fire boats!!) drive by the house. Like I could lay in McKin's bed and hear the water lapping. absolutely unbelievable!

After settling in we went with a group of people from the house to the Salute church which is only a handful of blocks away. It turns out I picked a very important day to visit Venice. On November 21st every year 50,000 of the 70,000 people in Venice light a candle in the Salute church. Apparently during the 1630 plague they promised the Madonna that if the plague ended they would celebrate every year! How cool! They also build a temporary bridge (the Salute bridge) that goes from the other side of the church directly to the front of Salute!! They also have a market of sorts around the corner from the church to help you celebrate. McKin and I shared an almond cookie and then a Nutella covered donut. yummy!We made our way back to the house and cuddled up with some of the girls in the house to watch Grey's Anatomy on the projector before throwing a wild and crazy HOUSE PARTY!! We had such a fun night and it took me back to the wonderfully fratastic nights at Wake!! McKin and I even won beer pong! so much fun! we wrapped up theparty and headed to bed knowing we had an exciting day with Loff ahead of us!PS- the title of this post is because I wasn't Ciao Bella-ed the entire time I was in Italy. yikes!