coming in for a landing (i.e., back to reality)

This is obviously not the plane we flew back from

Italy in (it's symbolic, okay?). I am clairvoyant, I guess,

because we DID have a fantastic time.  I'll share some

actual photos of this trip, only not now, since it's

about 4 AM Italy time and I've been up for almost

24 hours.  But I couldn't go to bed without saying

thanks to all of you who showed up even though I

wasn't really here (haven't looked at a TV or a

computer in 2 weeks, and I missed all my blog pals!)

Coltrane, kimosabe—sorry about the Cubs, but

at least you have a groovy tie! (Looks good on you.)

uselaine—if you go to Italy, you should definitely go

to the Cinque Terre for some hiking (and the best pesto

in the world, btw). Steves first went there a LONG time ago

as a backpacking student (my brother has known him

for years and tells me he really IS a great guy).

marylene—you should go too, for your 30th anniversary.

I can't imagine a more romantic place (except for Venice).

And Venice remains surprisingly (or not) the same

from the '70s to today (one of the things I love about it).

from cali—the lamps in Venice are indeed flatteringly pink.

(and coltrane, when the tunneling plan failed, Casanova

escaped by slipping an iron saw (hidden in a cake) to the priest

in the nearby cell, and they actually left by the main staircase

and walked right out the front door!

bibi—the Venetain fish got filleted by the guy in 

the market and grilled by us -- yum!

lily—so what IS your fave LI restaurant?

rose—I love hotel bars (they're incredibly sexy) and actually

considered going to the Molino Stucky Hilton -- but we had

a fabulous "pub local" directly below our apartment, and

made friends with the owners and other "locals." BTW, have

been to Venice at leat 30 times, and I agree: I wouldn't be

caught dead in Harry's Bar (or in a gondola).