After having to delay our flights due to Covid, my friend Maria and I were super excited to finally make it to Italy (my second time, but first in these cities)! This was not, however, without some bumps in the road, namely due to C*vid, but usurped the majority and made a great trip.
We began the trip with a bus trip to Málaga, as our rescheduled flights were out of that airport. A beautiful Andalusian city, this was my first time back here since high school and it was just as I remembered--long, beautiful beaches and a sleepy but entertaining city life. We arrived at our hostel and saw the sights, before grabbing a drink with our friend Sara, an aux there. After getting to see a night out in Málaga, we (hungover-edly?) stumbled to the airport the next morning way too early for my liking and got Maria a Covid test, required for Italy since her vaccine was so long ago.
We finally arrived into Milan and took our train to Como, a smaller city bordering the namesake lake. With a gorgeous lakefront view, the city was even sleepier than Málaga, but with a taste of poshness that made it so enjoyable...and a bit pricey. We ordered baked zucchini and, of course, pizza. Did we get denied from our original hostel booking because of Maria's Covid test? Maybe... but we worked on our feet quickly and our friend Sammi was able to book us an Airbnb where we finally figured out how to remedy Maria's certificate situation, thankfully (see our not-so-happy selfie). Those Italians aren't messing around with Covid, which I respect!
After a train back to Milan, we then headed to Venice to stay for two nights. Just getting off the train, the energy was crazy as it was packed for the first weekend of Carnival (unbeknownst to us at the time). We had a cozy hostel with a nice terrace in a lively part of town, and it was so fun walking there and crossing so many bridges.
Our first stop was St. Mark's Square, a gorgeously-lit square that sometimes floods, so we got lucky! We got pictures in front of the Basilica in many, many takes, but the free confetti was worth it. Plus, we got to wear these fun masks around to celebrate Carnival and even saw a boat parade of bright lights in honor of the start of the festivities.
While doing some more wandering, we ran into a Gondola service, but the price turned us away. Then, we were stopped by a French couple who wanted to split it with us, which ended up working perfectly and more cost-efficient. The ride was pure magic, with a side of fish smell, but the views highly outweigh that.
We finished the night at a local bar, where we met Italians and Minnesotans--the perfect combo! After an eventful night, we were ready to sleep in for the first time. The next morning, we cured our hangover with some hot pot Chinese noodles that, besides the price, were well-worth it. Then, we got to see one of the oldest opera houses in Italy, Teatro Fenice, where the inner theatre nerd in me was rejoicing.
As we made our way back, we just HAD to get hit by our flight taking off and me missing my flight home. A slight bank transfer and a new flight purchase which made me convulse were all we needed, and before we knew it we were home--well, on the train to the station to walk to my home. Close enough.
Italy yet again left me with wanderlust and a sheer appreciation for the beauty of the country and its people. Get vaxxed and you too can enjoy it--that's all for now, ciao bellos!
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