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Of course my mind immediately went to the Venetian in Las Vegas!

Will have to answer your question next week: a fellow traveler recommended skipping the Tower of Pisa & just going to an epic Chianti winery. I’m very tempted in spite of already having my tickets to actually climb the tower. Still not sure which way we’ll go!

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Aug 24, 2023·edited Aug 24, 2023Author

Ooh let me know! I went to Pisa for a super quick morning trip when I was in Florence. It was nice to get a picture of the tower and some silly souvenirs, and I also really liked the nearby cemetery complex. But I would be tempted by the winery too.

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Delightful post, Emily! Love this epic adventure you're on and it's giving me the travel itch. I've been to Venice twice—once when I was 18 and my mind was blown by its beauty. So glad you sprung for the gondola ride. It's cliche to say it, but it's a magical experience. I heard on the radio that in this extreme heat, the gondola itself becomes like the surface of an iron and the gondoliers have to cover the floor of the boat with something so that their feet won't burn and customers won't get too hot. It makes their feats of strength and agility even more impressive. Your line about not being able to get up for a glass of water when you're thirsty made me lol, because I'm the same. I will just lay in bed and dehydrate.

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Thank you, Hilary! I'm very lucky to be able to do it. I was glad too! The couple we paired up with was delightful as well, so it was nice to chat with them on the ride. I hadn't heard that! But I am not surprised at all. Lots of things in Italy in July felt like the surface of an iron haha. In bed on my laptop feeling dehydrated at this very moment. I'll get water eventually.

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So pleased it lived up to expectations. I've been to Venice and very much liked it too! I'm currently reading Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer, the whole first half is set in Venice and when it's not smutty is mostly about the city, so that might be worth checking out!

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Thank you! A little city, a little smut, sounds amazing.

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Okay, going in the foggy winter sounds amazing, though. It was REALLY hot, but everything was so beautiful I didn't care too much. I agree, words fail me to describe how transporting and special it was.

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