Great Expectations (Italy Pt. 1)

A rocky start

I had grand ideas of coming back from our Italy trip with a proper travel sketchbook. Something brimming with colorful plein-air drawings, intelligent observations, and charming anecdotes jotted down from inside quaint Italian cafes. I envisioned countless 2-page spreads in my little pink sketchbook, no doubt worthy of immediate publication in some illustrated travel guide that would be shared far and wide, to critical acclaim.

I'm not sure why I am exactly sure why I thought this: because we are all somewhat delusional when it comes to our expectations, of ourselves and others.

In reality, I cracked open my sketchbook twice: first on the train from Venice to Rome on day 2 (that should have been day 3), and not again until the flight home. Those pages consist of drawings of the things I’d packed – mostly to help me remember which items worked well for travel, and which did not.

My sketchbook session on the train recapping our initial travel difficulties weren’t in vain. Below, I was able to assemble them into something resembling a narrative. However, I can make no promises as to whether or not my handwriting is legible.

aaand that is the extent of my sketchbook travelogue from 10 days in Italy.

I don't really mind that my sketchbook isn't the treasure trove I hoped it would be. I took photos and notes on my phone of where we went, what we saw, and the food we ate, trying to capture what excited me.

For example, some things we learned on our Venice canal tour, taken directly from the notes on my phone:

• City built on existing islands under water. To make foundation, they shipped trees down from the dolomites to stick in the clay-like soil (I think almost a million🌲?!). The clay removes the oxygen so the trees don't rot or decompose. 

• Super expensive “Moses System” regulates the sea water level now, so no more city flooding.

• Need a permit to park your boat, but super difficult to get. Gov gives them out sporadically.

When I'm home in my routine, my phone is many things: my to-do list, my calendar, my work, my downtime playing games, basically both business and leisure.

But when traveling, my phone became an exciting treasure. T kept his cell data off most days to help stay in the moment. We used my phone as a map, a translator, a wallet, a memory capturer, and for me, it was also a journal.

Next up, a recap of our 5 days in Roma (as captured in notes, photos, and memory). 

Ciao!