daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
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Today was a good day. We started with espresso and cappuccino at a nearby cafe, grabbed a light breakfast, and then made our way to Piazza San Marco to meet up with our walking tour. Just stepping into the square kind of stopped me in my tracks.
Back in university I took a class on Venetian Art, so I had seen the photos and studied the architecture. But seeing the Doge’s Palace in person was a completely different thing. It was one of those moments where you realize no photo really does it justice. 😊
The guided tour took us through the palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. The artwork inside the palace was stunning. I could have spent hours just staring at the ceilings.
After the tour we grabbed a drink at one of the cafes right on the square. Yes, it was expensive. Yes, it was worth every euro. Hey, you pay for the view and the ambience! We walked to lunch at Antiche Carampane after that, which was really delicious. Definitely recommended.
A little stroll, a rest back at the hotel, and then out again for tiramisu and dinner. Venice, you did not disappoint today! 🇮🇹
Tonight we saw The Mandalorian and Grogu, and honestly, what a fun movie! I’d recommend it even if you’re not really a Star Wars person. Mariko isn’t a huge fan, but she has a soft spot for Jabba the Hutt. So when more Hutts showed up on the big screen, she was thrilled. It was pretty funny to see her light up like that. 😄
My son requested burgers for dinner today, and that’s one request I’m always happy to fulfill. 🍔 Bacon mixed right into the patties, and Mariko made homemade buns from scratch. We piled them high with pickles, jalapeños, lettuce, and onions. Then we settled in for the night with Raiders of the Lost Ark, which is one of those movies that just never gets old. It was a good holiday evening.
Someone got into the sushi today. The cover was knocked off the plate and the damage was done by the time we noticed. I have my suspicions. Anko is playing it cool, but she’s not fooling anyone. 🐱🍣
We left around 9 this morning and made a beeline for Dutch Bros in Las Cruces. We left around 9 this morning and made a beeline for Dutch Bros in Las Cruces. We stopped there last time too, and it’s perfect for a drive-thru pick-me-up. I ordered something called a Caramelizer, which is basically a coffee slushie, and it was really good. Koa thought so too. He probably drank half of it. 😄
Koa drove the morning shift and I took over after lunch. We went through baseball podcasts, music, and at some point Koa fell asleep and I switched to an audiobook. Then we caught the Dodger game the rest of the way home. It was a good trip. ⚾
Koa and I hit the road today. We’re doing the two-day drive back across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It’s a route we’ve done before, so we know what we’re in for. Tonight we’ll stop at Lordsburg, New Mexico and finish the second half tomorrow.
We’ve got plenty of podcasts lined up, and a baseball game to tune into later. Honestly, not a bad way to spend a day. 🚗⚾
La Capilla has been one of our go-to Mexican restaurants for decades. It’s a family favorite, and tonight five of us went out for dinner. Every single one of us ordered something with carnitas. Our waitress noticed and said, “you guys sure love carnitas!” Yes we do. Yes we do. 😄
The second photo is me doing what I always do at the start of a Mexican meal. A chip with beans. It’s a silly tradition I have no plans of breaking. 🌮
