October 12, 2013: Italy, I fall more in love with you each day. We spent the day driving from Rome to Venice with the goal of staying off the Autostrade and getting soaked in countryside culture. What a blast!

Our first stop was Civita de Bagnoregio, the ‘dying city’. It’s built on a hill and the sides of the town are literally falling away. 14 people still live there year-round and we had the most amazing fire-roasted potatoes + local cheese and salami. Jen’s never had a bucket list, but she added this place to her list to come back and do a bed and breakfast!

Next stop was Romanelli, a 4th generation organic winery/vineyard. They do wines and olive oils. We were there during olive harvest season which was really neat to see! We met up with ‘Grandma’, who didn’t speak much English at all. I used the SayHi app to translate our conversation, and then she prepared an amazing 4 course tasting meal with their wines and honey. The cantaloupe + mint was amazing, the meats were to die for, and ‘grandma’s secret recipe cookies’ were uncontrollably addicting.  What an amazing day!

Got to Venice late and hopped in a water taxi to the Hilton. Got upgraded again, this time to a waterview suite. While not as ridiculous or amazing at the hotel in Rome, it’s still a free $1100/nt room and we’ll take it! :)