I am not lost, just in the middle of finding a new adventure

Finally made it to Venice after a full day, plus two hours of travel. The ferry from Split arrived in Rijeka around 7 AM. From Rijeka, I boarded a bus to the Italian city of Trieste at 2 PM. From Trieste, I boarded a train at 6:45 PM that took me to Venice Menstre Station arriving at just about 9 PM - this was one stop short of the Venice by the water (as I call it). From Menstre train station, I purchased a 1 Euro ticket to get back on the train at 9:45 to go one more stop. This one, dumped me right into the canal (well, almost) just around 10 PM - 26 hours after boarding the ferry in Split. Immediately, the day/plus adventure proved worth it as the energy, smell, and warmth that is Italy, embraced me. I am sure I could have done his journey via an easier, and perhaps more direct route, but something about making it happen on the fly pleased me. As I sat at Menstre station, waiting for the last leg of my journey (Amazing Race reference), I began to feel very fortunate yet again as I watched the people mill about, conducting their lives. I sat being contemplative of my lot in life, this past few weeks offered what I had hoped, and Venice was going to end this trip nicely.

I had some snafus along the way, especially Wells Fargo deciding to turn off my ATM card four days before my trip ended. This is the second time they have done this, telling me perhaps it is time to absolutely switch my personal bank (and my dough) to Gillmore, a nice little local bank in Los Angeles where I have my business accounts. After finding it impossible to use the international 800 number they provided on the back of the card, I ended up having to use my iPhone (at a crazy rate, which is total theft) to get someone from Wells Fargo on the line. After losing my temper a little, they re-activated the card. Nothing offers panic more than being in a foreign city with no access to their currency. I have US dollars, but the banks had closed (at 4 pm?), and I could not find any Cambio places to change money into Euros. After the resolution, I settled myself with a little meditation on the train to Venice.

Since I had not booked any hotels on-line before arriving, this too provided another chance to test my nerves, patience, and travel resolve. I found an Internet cafe right near the train station (ah, civilization working magic), where I did a quick search. Since it was now after 10 PM, nothing on-line would let me book a room for the night. Thus, I had to drag myself from place to place to find a hotel with availability. Lucky for me, the economic downturn has caused a tourist drought in Venice (although today, walking the city I would not have noticed it). I found a place posthaste, an amazing hotel - Adriatico Hotel on Lista di Sagna 224. They completed overhauled the place to make it venetian modern - clean surfaces, sharp lines, nice stone finishings done without the typical dramatic Venetian flair, terrazzo floors. Anyway, the room is European in size (read, tiny) but has an en suite bathroom/shower and all the amenities I need.

In Venice, of course, I am working - doing research and finding inspiration for my design work. Since my registered trademark design is called, "Mediterranean Zen" - what other place could I encounter more sensational objects of desire than Venice? Today, I have taken hundreds of pictures of colors, architecture, doors/windows, construction methods, landscaping, etc. I am completely excited to put some of this to work back in LA for myself and/or clients. Even though I was here about 6 years ago, I have found a plethora of new buildings and sight that inspire me. That was the whole point of ending the trip here. So, on that note, I feel completely satisfied.