Favour of God

I should have written this post much earlier but school was just too hectic with all the major upgrading we were doing, so this post is long.... overdue.

I heard from the news and read that 80% of Venice was flooded on 11 November 2012. Our dilemna? We were due in Venice on the 13th November 2012. We heard it was the worse ever floods. We  viewed the YouTube movies that showed people moving their luggage in waist high water. I asked Jason if we could go somewhere in Italy first before going to Venice so that hopefully that would give buy some time for the floods to  recede. He said we had booked all our flights and  hotels for 7 days in Italy and cancellation was difficult.

Well, since we couldn't change, we got prepared. I bought 3 pairs of Phua Chu Kang boots just in case we had to walk through the floods.We repacked our luggage. So off we went!

The weather in Venice when we arrived on the 13th November noon? And the weather after that?
We had sunny blue skies without clouds and not a drop of rain for the 7 days we were in Italy! Miracle! God's grace. God's love. Favour!!! Thank you, Papa God. Muaach!!!

Sue Ann in gondala against sunny blue skies.
Not a cloud in my eyes,
Got the sun in my eye

.

It was also our 30th wedding anniversary
when we arrived on the 13th Nov 2012

To top it, we visited many places near and In Venice.I loved Rialto market and Rialto bridge.

Red hot peppers that looked like Christmas baubles.

Burano with her colourful houses.

Burano with her lovely laces

In August, I visited Furano and had a great feast with our eyes and tummy.  Guess where it is? Then we visited Murano glassworks and had an art feast.  Now Burano... Sigh..! What a lovely play of places that had names ending in ano.

Burano's yummlicious food.

Since I didn't get a chance to wear my heavy Phua Chu Kang boots lugged all the way from KL, I just had to pose in St Marks square where small sections will flood when the tide comes in. Btw, we left our 3 pairs of boots in the hotel for the next guests and next major flood.

Me with my Phua Chu Kang signature yellow boots
in St Marks square where it floods
when the tide comes in

Florence was a dream come true! I had read and taught about the multi-tiered houses on the bridge at Arno river in Florence about 10 years ago. Now I got to see the bridge and the houses and to walk on the bridge.

Jason with the 4 tiered house on the bridge
 on the Arno River in Florence

Which true physicists can resist not going to Pisa and see and climb the leaning Tower of Pisa? Pisa is just an easy hour ++ journey by train from Florence.

Propping the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

We took the cab to the highest point in Florence and viewed the city below. You can still see the multi tiered houses on the bridge. The statute of David is there to keep you company and you can walk down the stairs right past the fort and back into quaint Florence inner city again.

At the highest point in Florence.
Can you see the tiered house bridge
over the river in the distant background

Statute of David

Both Florence and Milan are shopping havens. Ladies - I advice you strongly - check out all the prices of the branded Italian stuff you have dreamed about while you are in KL.  aWhen you compare the prices in Italy, you realize it is very worthwhile to shop in Italy and you will  buy, buy, buy like I did......! Haha!

Cake from Sue Jan's church

We felt truly blessed by the favour of God's love. Thank you Papa God!! Receive our grateful thanks!