April

April 1st - 6th, 2024:

April started with a cruel April Fool's joke in which Aleks got to stay home from school with her dad for Easter Monday, while Evan and Tanya both had to return to work as their respective jobs did not recognize the day as anything more than a typical Monday.  However, they got to reunite with Aleks after her choir practice that afternoon and have a belated Easter celebration as a family to make up for the fact that Aleks was not home on Easter Sunday for them to celebrate together.

Having loaded up on Easter treats the night before, Evan and Aleks had a chance to run off some of those peeps the next day at Girls on the Run practice.  Upon returning home, their new desk for the spare room was awaiting at the front door.  As Aleks buckled down on her homework downstairs, Evan mustered up the determination upstairs to build the desk by the time she was done - the race was on.  Needless to say, Aleks finished first, but only by a hair.  And the next day, she was able to complete her homework on her brand new desk as promised!  

So, after Aleks returned home from play practice (as her performances would start the next week), she got to work on her homework.  Tanya went out that evening to play soccer, and none of them were quite sure what to expect for the next day as there had been rumors of an epic snowstorm headed their way that night.

Thursday morning started out in a typical fashion - Evan woke up to his alarm and began to get ready for work.  However, that process was interrupted by a phone call from Alek's school informing families of a 2-hour delay at Mater Christi School.  Aleks's 2-hour delay quickly turned into a snow day for her, which coincided with a "sick day" for Evan.  So, as Tanya braved the dangerously wintry roads towards the hospital (as snow days are unfortunately unheard of in her vocation), Evan and Aleks began to don their snow gear in preparation for their own outdoor excursion (of much safer proportions).  Their snow/"sick" day proceeded with a compilation of activities involving an impressive snow tunnel (thanks to the help of a generous plow who gave them a great deal of snow to work with), a classic snowball fight (because the perfect snowball snow demands this of all who reach for it - but especially of those who have the perfect snowball maker in their possession when they do so), and a variety of indoor activities as well.  While inside, the excitement didn't cease as the living room floor quickly turned to lava and the two had to manage to find their way from the couch to the stairs without stepping on the ground (or suffer the consequences of melting in the lava and having to return to the start and try again).  With creativity and collaboration though, they were able to achieve their goal and reach the Easter eggs that anxiously awaited them at the finish line!  Thankfully, the cat was upstairs for this portion of the day's activities and did not have to concern herself with what might happen if her feline paws came in contact with the lava-coated floor.  However, she became more engaged when the floor was freed of its fiery form and a fort was forged next to her favorite furniture fixture (the red couch).  When Tanya returned home (on much clearer and safer roads this time), she first had to go on a hunt to find her family (hiding in their newly fashioned fort) before they could enjoy some dinner together.  Afterwards though, the snow called to her and they all returned outside where a family snowball fight ensued.  As the snowball fight came to a close, Evan took off for an evening soccer game as the girls gathered more snow to erect Easter-themed snowmen before getting ready for bed and some bedtime reading of Aleks' new Easter basket book series (Ordinary People who Changed the World - including a cast of characters ranging from George Washington to Gandhi to MLK Jr. to Marie Curie and many more).  

The next day everyone returned to their typical Friday schedules - a mirror image of the previous day in which Evan and Aleks headed off to school in the morning as Tanya got to stay home for the day.  However, as Tanya went to pick Aleks up from play practice at the end of the school day she also gathered a good friend of Aleks' (Chelsea) and her sister (Lily) who came over briefly to say Hi to Rogue as Aleks quickly changed her clothes and gathered her things for a sleepover at Chelsea's house.  The five of them (Evan now in tow as well) then took off to Chelsea and Lily's house for some pizza with their family before Evan and Tanya finally headed home to leave the girls to whatever sleepover shenanigans they had in store.

Saturday consisted of a variety of chores including cooking, cleaning, and clothing laundering, which was partially interrupted by picking Aleks back up from Chelsea's followed by a soccer game for Tanya and Evan with their friends on Too Many Eggs.  And that closed out the adventurous week for the Makhlina-Ecksteins.

April 7th - 13th, 2024:

This was a wild week like no other.  Sunday started with a scooter ride to the local bagel bakery for some luscious bagels and letter bonding.  It continued with a trip to church and culminated with some soccer for Evan and Tanya (after they dropped Aleks off at her dad's for the evening).  

While Sunday was fairly typical, Monday was anything but.  Evan didn't have school due to the phenomon that was gracing their town that day.  Neither did Aleks, but unfortunately she was not with him for the exciting events of the day as she was still at her dad's.  However, as luck had it Tanya was able to escape her pre-existing engagement of excruciating employment to share in the epic eclipse escapades with Evan.  She got home in time for the two to take their collapsible chairs and super sun-glasses on a short walk to the local elementary school where they set up in the middle of an open field with a completely unobstructed view of the events to follow.  With their eyes protected they watched as the moon slowly covered the sun until the world went darker and they were able to remove their glasses to view the incredible image before them - a solar eclipse at full totality; an aura of white light surrounding the black circumference of the moon; a small orange dot on the edge representing a solar flare that was larger than the entirety of the Earth itself.  For three full minutes Evan and Tanya watched together in awe.  And then, the world began to return to normal once again.  The moon continued on its trajectory allowing the sun to brighten the skies once more.  The air warmed, the sky went back from black to blue, and the two began to pack up and head back home - filled with a sense of awe-inspired glee from what they had just witnessed together.  What an epic experience it had been!

Evan and Tanya finished off the day by celebrating with some Palmer Lane creemees and then taking a "scenic" walk around Williston to watch the cars piling up on the highway and backroads as all of the out-of-towners tried to get back home.  They enjoyed another magical moment together as they simply walked back home, never once having to experience the awful traffic that was representative of that afternoon's commute.  

And that was only the start of the week!  What followed, for Aleks, was several long days of school followed by rehearsals (but, thankfully, no homework) leading up to her prodigious play performances on Thursday and Friday evenings (as well as a daytime show on Friday for the rest of the student body and faculty to enjoy).

While the week was strewn with other exciting and memorable moments - Tanya's homemade lasagna cups, Evan's return to the pitch alongside his Wednesday night Shinkickers team with his wonderful wife/eternal teammate, Aleks' impromptu playdate with her friend Isabel while Evan and Tanya [and Isabel's dad Drew] all played soccer together on the field below, an early evening family bike ride around the neighborhood, etc. - it ultimately led up to the highly anticipated arrival of Evan's parents who were in town for a visit with explicit intentions of witnessing the glory of Aleks' Friday night play performance and her Sunday afternoon choir concert.

Mark and Robin arrived on Friday in time for some dinner with their son before heading off to Mater Christi School to meet up with Tanya and their front row seats to cheer on Aleks in her final performance of Days and Dreams: What's in a Name?  After the show Tanya and Evan had to bring Aleks back to her dad's, but met back up with Mark and Robin the next morning for some quick errands (picking up a Girls on the Run package as well as Evan and Tanya's homemade clay food bowl for Rogue from their wheel throwing date night back in February) followed by a marvelous brunch at Sneakers in Winooski.  Before the food had fully digested, the quartet took off for the Expo Center in Essex as Tanya and Evan played a series of soccer games supporting several of their friend's squads and Mark and Robin cheered (once again).  In the end, Evan and Tanya helped both of their friend's teams (Too Many Eggs and the Spartans) make it to their division finals...where they then faced off against each other.  In a moment of rushed confusion, mistakes were made and it is likely that Evan will never live them down...

• Mistake #1: Never play on a team against your wife - she is your lifelong teammate and your forever partner in all things. (duh.)

• Mistake #2: When your wife has an opportunity for a game winning goal, fight all of your defensive soccer instincts as hard as you can and let her have it.  (double duh.)

Nonetheless, Tanya still won the game for their friends "the Eggs" with a game-winning Penalty Kick in the Golden Goal stage.  And, as love would have it, she still invited Evan to join the team for the championship photo - because, despite the absolutely unacceptable and boneheaded mistakes he had made, he was still her lifelong teammate and forever partner in all things too.

Fun was certainly had by all and another trip to Palmer Lane topped it all off!

April 14th - 20th, 2024:

The week began with another of Aleks' musical events - this time, her GBCC Spring Concert.  Evan and Tanya drove out to Georgia, VT to pick her up from her dad's and get her to the concert in time for "dress rehearsal".  Then, Evan's parents met them and they reserved the closest they could get to front row seats.  Evan and his dad helped to reserve some rows for the students in the choir and Evan made a quick errand to the local Hannaford to ensure that the "after party" had plenty of sweet treats for the students and their families to celebrate their incredible accomplishment after the show.  Tanya's best friend, Aleks' "Auntie Anna", joined the group in time for the concert to begin and the five of them enjoyed the show from start to finish with a chorus of applause at the end to cheer on all of the incredible singers!  

Afterwards, everyone went their separate ways.  Evan's parents gave big hugs to Aleks, Tanya, and Evan (and then once more to Aleks) before heading back to Connecticut, Anna said her "goodbye"s and "see you soon"s as she headed back home, and Evan and Tanya brought Aleks back to her dad's to finish off the end of her weekend with him.  Afterwards, Evan and Tanya snuck off to the Expo Center to help out their friend's on Rum Punch Kick with their Mexicali Soccer playoff games (having missed their own with the Shinkickers due to the unfortunate overlap with Aleks' choir concert).

The week continued following a fairly typical school week for Evan and Aleks (and work week for Tanya).  Girls on the Run and Lacrosse filled Aleks' afternoon schedule and Parent-Teacher Conferences took a chunk of Evan's afternoon schedule as well.  However, the week ended in a slightly more unique fashion.

Friday evening and Saturday morning involved a variety of packing and preparations as the three prepared for a week-long parting from their beloved cat & pet while they embarked on a family trip across the Atlantic to Italy!

So, Evan prepped cat food and water as well as a Thank You package and hidden key for his friend Eli who would be looking after Rogue while they were away as Tanya and Aleks carefully selected the perfect outfits for the 60 degrees Italian weather they were about the embrace.  Eventually, with all of their bags fully packed and their cat carefully cared for they hopped into the car, made a quick pitstop at the local Subway for lunch, and headed towards Boston for their 5:50pm flight to Rome (with a short [VERY short] layover in Copenhagen).

The drive was smooth, the Subway sandwiches were stupendous, and the arrival into Boston at their pre-reserved, pre-paid parking location was an utter disaster.  As they pulled up to the front gate they were informed (not so kindly) that the parking lot was full and despite their pre-paid reservation there was nothing that they could do about it.  So, they were informed to "get a refund and go find somewhere else to park".   Despite Evan's multiple attempts to explain and re-explain the assumed error in his ways, the parking attendant repeated the same heartless script until finally the trio had to succumb to their newfound unexpected circumstances. 

In a slight panic, Evan and Tanya took a moment to Google search and call around to other nearby parking places with the hopes that someone else may have a spot for them.  On the third or fourth call they hit pay dirt with a nearby parking garage that was affiliated with the airport and offered a free shuttle to and from the garage for them (as well as available parking spaces at the time of their call).  While the price was significantly more, the weight that it lifted off their shoulders made it worth the expense.  Evan quickly buzzed over to the other parking garage leaving behind only his disgust and a strongly worded 1 Star Review and moving towards a more hopeful solution.  As they approached the second garage, they were greeted with a glorious gate that opened upon the push of a button and retrieval of a ticket - a system so simple and yet so spectacular in their midst of their stressful situation.  They found a parking spot, grabbed their bags, hopped into the shuttle, and were off to the airport (on time and ready to rock)!  

At approximately 5:15pm the three boarded their massive airliner (seating around 60 sets of three rows with 2-4-2 seating) and settled in for the long 7.5-hour flight over the Atlantic to Copenhagen.  And as the three travelers flew across the ocean and through a series of time zones, Saturday began to slowly blur into Sunday....

April 21st - 27th, 2024:

...And boy was this a Sunday for the ages!  Sunday began with a blurry, but frantic sprint through Copenhagen's Customs and across the airport to make it to their next flight in time for take off (as their layover was slotted to be only 45min between Arrival and Departure).  With Aleks leading the pack through the unfamiliar airport at a steady pace, they made it to their next gate with a little time to spare.  Shortly thereafter, they hopped on to another flight for the final 2.5-hour stretch before arriving at their intended destination - Rome, Italy.  Upon arriving at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport, their trip was almost complete.  They had one last leg, which was to buy tickets to the express train that would take them from the airport to Roma Termini (the main train station in Rome).  So, following another frantic hustle across another unfamiliar airport, the trio made it to their train and settled down one last time for the 30-minute commute into the city.

Finally, after approximately 15 hours of total travel, Evan, Tanya, and Aleks walked onto the sunny streets of Rome with plenty of time to celebrate Tanya's Birthday!!!  Lucky for her, the shifting time zones left a full day ahead of them despite the long hours of continuous travel.  The Makhlina-Ecksteins proceeded to take Rome by storm.  They started with the 20min. walk to their Air BnB and were pleasantly surprised to find themselves walking along the street that had a direct view of the Colosseum!  While their initial plan for early check-in was foiled by the previous guests' poor time management skills, they were able to drop their bags off and head out in search of food.  

They popped into the first restaurant they found and enjoyed some Italian pizza and paninis on focaccia along with some cappuccinos and fresh-squeezed orange juice.  The first of their many Italian food adventures of the trip.  To top it off, on their way out the bar tender commented on the excitement of the day in that all of Rome was celebrating Rome's birthday that day and Tanya made the connection that they (the trio) were also celebrating her birthday as well.  To add to the magnificence of the day, the bar tender sent her out with a cheerful "Buon compleanno!" and a complimentary (and delicious) Aperol Spritz on-the-house.  As they headed back to the Air BnB (to quickly change out of their travel clothes before proceeding on to further Roman wanderings), they soaked in the wonderful warmth of the sunshine along with the fruity flavors of their Spritz and basked in the glory that was the start of their Italian adventure together.

After a quick change (and a little extra deodorant), the trio headed off in the direction of the Colosseum (now with apartment keys in hand), so the place could finish being cleaned and prepared for their "official" arrival.  On the way they made another quick, yet equally important, stop at a nearby gelato stand to get their first taste of Italian gelato.  What a treat!  With gelato in hand, they headed back in the direction of their ever-growing view of the Colosseum.  Once they arrived, they marveled at the magnificence that it was to see the Colosseum up close and personal for the first time (for Aleks and Tanya that is) and again (for Evan).  The three skirted around the Colosseum and observed some of the Roman Forum, and other incredible local ruins that had been unearthed over the years, and continued to enjoy the astonishment and amazement that followed them with every step.  Eventually, they turned around to head back toward the Air BnB for their official entry into the, now fully prepared, apartment that would be their home for the next three days.  Upon arrival (or return more so), they each took a quick shower and then a 1-2 hour power nap.

They awoke rejuvenated and ready for the rest of the day - as there was still a birthday to celebrate!  So, they headed off into town to explore, and with a particular destination in mind.  Tanya, whose heart now beats to the rhythmic dribbling and juggling of a soccer ball, had her heart set on a birthday gift that included an official Italian soccer jersey - and she knew just the place to get it!  Aleks, Tanya, and Evan enjoyed walking the cobblestone streets of Rome, popping their heads in and out of little shops they found interesting, enjoying some of the street music they came upon, drooling over each and every gelato stand they passed, and immersing themselves in the life of Rome.  Eventually, they made it to their intended destination - the Adidas store, which Tanya knew from her prior research would sell exactly what she was looking for.  So, Tanya took off to explore the store and all it had to offer in the realm of soccer attire and Evan and Aleks went on a different quest - to find the nearest bathroom.  Suffice it to say, after searching through 3 stories of the H&M across the street and several other random shops scattered throughout the surrounding 3-4 blocks, Evan and Aleks finally found a restaurant kind enough to allow them to use their facilities.  Upon return to the Adidas store they found Tanya with an armful of potential soccer gear and a more important dilemma on her hands - did she want the white Italian soccer jersey or the blue Italian soccer jersey?  This was a big decision as she was in Italy and did not have any set plans to return in the near future, nor would it be guaranteed to be her birthday again when they did.  In the end, she used her resources wisely and tried them both on for her husband and daughter to gain their important opinions on the matter.  Eventually, she made the right decision and Evan gleefully approached the counter (right at closing) to buy her the first of her birthday presents - a white Italian soccer jersey.

At this point, it was time for two things - head back toward their Air BnB, and find something to eat for dinner.  As they queued up Google Maps on their phones to take them home, they kept their eyes peeled for a restaurant that offered two specific things - delicious pasta, and a pleasant price.  Eventually they wandered into a small restaurant that met both of their needs.  While their wait for the food was 3x longer than they would've liked, in the end the food came and they were not disappointed.  Aleks dove headfirst into her plate of Italian gnocchi and Tanya celebrated her birthday with a glass of luscious Italian red wine and an opportunity to try two things she was interested in from the menu by sharing them both with Evan - Italian pizza (with anchovies) and Italian pasta bolognese.  Everything was delicious and the price was just right.  They left with their bellies full, their hearts happy, and their bodies ready for bed.

The next morning, Evan, Tanya, and Aleks woke up to another glorious day and spectacular view of the Colosseum from their Air BnB windows.  Shortly thereafter, they headed off in the direction of breakfast; particularly, they were in search of a place Tanya had found out about that supposedly offered excellent pastries.  On their way, they happened upon an old church (one of thousands throughout the city) and Aleks led the team into to check it out.  It was the first, but certainly not the last, church that they would wander into out of sheer curiosity during their travels.  This church ended up providing them with an opportunity to explore three levels below ground as part of the church's ancient crypt.  It was a very exciting experience and a first for all three of them.  Afterwards, they continued on towards breakfast and found the place they had been searching for.  They enjoyed an array of assorted and incredibly appetizing pastries as well as some more fresh-squeezed juice and cappuccinos.  

After breakfast they headed toward a local park to enjoy its featured playground and have a little down/play time together.  Obviously, shortly after their arrival at the playground their ever-present game of family Tag ensued until it was time to head back towards the Colosseum for their official tour of it (and the Roman Forum nearby).  They met up with their tour guide Bruno and he took them on an adventure through the Roman Forum and its incredible history and then into the Colosseum and all its glory.  After their 3-hour tour with Bruno, the trio quickly acquired an umbrella (as the weather had decided it was time for a downpour) and headed off to their next activity of the day.  

Upon arrival at Fortuna's kitchen, Evan, Tanya, and Aleks were greeted with a warm hug and friendly face.  They settled in, got to know their host (Fortuna) and one of their other cooking mates (Laura) as they enjoyed a nice glass of red wine (for Evan and Tanya) and some juice (for Aleks).  Eventually, their other cooking mates arrived (a family of four) and they began their cooking class for the evening.  Fortuna spent the next couple of hours teaching and guiding them with how to make homemade: pistachio gelato (Aleks chose the flavor), fettuccine in a red meat sauce (amatriciana pasta), pesto, and ravioli/tortellini.  Afterwards, everyone sat down to a family-style dinner where they all shared in the pastas they had created.  The meal was truly marvelous and the experience exceptional.  On their way back home, again with bellies full and hearts happy, they stumbled into an amazing glass shop that sold a variety of glassware including Murano glass earrings (an Italian special).  Tanya was drawn to a couple of different pairs of the Murano glass earrings she found, and when she asked about which ones she should get, the answer was not quite as decisive as it had been the night before at the Adidas store.  This time, both pairs of earrings were so incredibly beautiful on her, that the decision was impossible.  So, her loving husband and daughter worked together to buy her both - birthday present #2 acquired.  The girls put the earrings in immediately (as Tanya and Aleks couldn't let the extra pair sit alone in the bag, and they looked just as amazing on Aleks as they did on Tanya) and then the three headed for home.

The following day the traveling trio started with a pop into another local restaurant offering an array of Italian breakfast treats.  More pastries were ordered and shared, cappuccinos were enjoyed, and fresh juice was acquired as well.  From there, they took a scenic walk past the incredible statue of Marcus Aurelius in its famous, Michelangelo-designed square and on toward the Mouth of Truth (or Boca del Veritas, as one would say in Italian).  Aleks was particularly excited to test the legends that a lie told while ones hand was inside the mouth of truth would result in the immediate loss of that hand as punishment.  And, in the end, while she was willing to put her hand in the mouth, she was not willing to take the risk that a lie might result in her losing it.  However, she did donate some money to the connected church as an offering to support the continued maintenance of such an incredible and unique artifact.  After exploring the church a bit further, and delving into the depths of its crypt, the gang realized that the walk to the Vatican might be a bit more than they could bear.  So, they hailed a taxi and caught a ride instead.  Having successfully arrived at the Vatican, albeit a bit too early for their tour to begin, they took a minor detour of their own to find some much-needed gelato.  Having found a nearby gelato shop (that also offered imperative restroom services), Evan, Tanya, and Aleks headed back toward the Vatican to meet up with their tour guide Alessandra, who would take them the rest of the way.  After presenting their passports and being allowed entry into another foreign country, Alessandra began to enthrall them with stories of the art and artifacts that lined the rooms and halls of the Vatican, acquired over centuries from a myriad of sources.  They found statues of different Roman gods and learned of their histories and legends, awed at rooms full of artwork compiled through common themes, marveled at the many marble masterpieces, and studied all sorts of symbols and signs that held special meanings.  Eventually, they paused in their tour to review one of the most incredible aspects of the Vatican that boasted a silent atmosphere and, therefore, required preemptive discussion prior to entering.  Alessandra reviewed with the team the history of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's inspiration and the years of work he put into it, and some symbols, metaphors, and important images they should look for while observing his wondrous work.  The awe-inspiring experience that followed as we entered into the silent room and stared up at the spectacular ceiling is beyond words.  After leaving the Sistine Chapel the group headed toward another monumental masterpiece - Saint Peter's Basilica.  There, they were again amazed at the surrounding magnificence.  At this point in the tour, they parted ways with Alessandra and explored the beautiful basilica a bit further on their own before heading out to find some dinner.  In an attempt to avoid the expectedly more expensive restaurants right on the outskirts of Vatican City they continued on a bit further down the road to the point where they bordered on lost.  While not lost exactly, they did find themselves dinnerless at a local playground.  So, Aleks took off to enjoy the playground while Evan and Tanya attempted to search up a nearby, hopefully reasonably priced restaurant to eat at.  In the time it took Evan and Tanya to realize that they didn't have enough service to adequately surf the web for their next meal, but that they had recently walked past a local market that may be able to tie them over until they could make their way back towards home, Aleks had made a friend - well, several friends.  The girls attempted to communicate with one another and problem solve the challenge of their language barrier through implementation of a variety of resources including gestures, a parent who spoke limited English, and, eventually, his phone which could be used as a translator (Thank you Google).  So, as Aleks went off to play with her newfound friends, Tanya ran off to check the local market and grab some snacks for the family, and Evan monitored the playground (and captured this unique and precious moment) while continuing to wrestle with limited service as he attempted to find them a worthy restaurant for dinner.  Eventually Tanya returned with snacks, which refueled the expeditious trio and provided Aleks with a bit more energy to continue playing with her new friends for a while longer.  Before departing from the playground Aleks and one of her new friends (Orea) exchanged phone numbers (well, their parents numbers) so that they could continue to chat via WhatsApp throughout the remainder of the trip (which they did!!!).

As the trio headed towards home, they made their way through the Piazza Navona, and continued on in search of dinner.  About two thirds of the way home they found a place that struck their fancy (and had a table available).  They proceeded to enjoy a delectable Italian pasta dinner with a paired glass of red wine (for Tanya) to top it off.  Once they were sufficiently full they continued on with their walk home, gazing in amazement at many of the same incredible architectural artifacts they had seen earlier that day, but this time lit up and backed by the night sky.  Same structures, renewed admiration.

The next day marked their final day in Rome, but also their first steps along the extraordinary canals of Venice - and Tanya's final birthday present.  The day started with Evan and Tanya's first attempt at making Italian coffee on their own, using equipment and a process they were less familiar with (but had learned a couple days prior from Fortuna before the cooking fully began).  It continued with their attempt at a truly Italian breakfast experience - one that involved ordering a cappuccino and a croissant and eating it efficiently before moving on with the rest of their day.  Aleks, who has always been one who much prefers to savor every bite of every meal when she can, found herself a seat at the small breakfast bar and while the meal wasn't eaten exactly how the Italians seem to do it, it was a close enough approximation to make them feel more connected to the culture they were immersing themselves in.  After their cappuccinos and croissants had been consumed, they returned to the Air BnB to pack up their things and say goodbye to the awesome apartment that had held their hearts and cushioned their heads during their initial stay in Italy.  With their backpacks attached, they gave a final wave goodbye to the Colosseum as they headed off in the opposite direction to see another spectacular sight before they had to leave town - the Trevi Fountain.  Arriving at the Trevi Fountain was its own incredible sight - due both to the fountain itself and the astonishing crowd that surrounded it.  Evan, Tanya, and Aleks snuck their way up front to get a closer look and ensure picture proof was acquired before continuing on with their day.  Shortly after departing from the crowds they stumbled into a leather shop that offered a wide range of leather products - purses, wallets, backpacks, handbags, and much more.  Tanya, who had really wanted a new leather bag to bring home from Italy, began exploring the space to see what it had to offer that might strike her fancy.  As she perused the aisles of leather products, Evan and Aleks took a load off (literally) and rested their heavy backpacks on the floor as they waited near the door.  The rain they had initially sneaked into that store to avoid slowly turned to a very unexpected hail and Evan and Aleks watched in amazement as the hail fell and bounced around the cobblestone streets.  As the wacky weather waned, Evan and Aleks took off on a mini exploration to find a special treat while they waited (Tanya continued to search, debate, and reconsider what she found).  Aleks returned triumphantly with some strawberry bubble tea and Tanya received them excitedly with her decision - this birthday present being one that she wanted to purchase for herself.  Thus, the trio left the store with a brand new, Italian leather purse (and wallet) and Tanya's third and final birthday gift was in hand.  They then took off for the Roma Termini train station to catch their fast train to Venice.  

On the way, they realized that they needed to grab some lunch and tried to make a quick pit stop for sandwiches.  Unfortunately, "quick" was not the representative word of the places they passed and they ended up having to part ways for a brief moment as Tanya ordered sandwiches for the entire team while Evan and Aleks continued on towards the train station to ensure they were able to catch their train on time.  In the end, they all reconnected serendipitously right outside the train station and walked in together to find their Trenitalia train.  Once successfully on board, they settled in for the 4-hour ride to the Venizia Santa Lucia train station.

Upon arrival, they found their way out of the train station and were immediately greeted by the greatness of the Grand Canal.  After taking a few moments to soak in the spectacular sight, they found a waterbus that would take them toward their next Air BnB.  Once getting off at their designated stop they wound they way through several streets, over a multitude of bridges, and past a plethora of restaurants and shops with views overlooking one canal or another, until they eventually found a shop owned by their Air BnB host Devid.  Devid then guided them the last few blocks to their Air BnB, which happened to be located on the first floor of an old palace that had now become residential housing.  After a brief overview of the apartment, Devid bid them adieu.  After taking a few moments to unpack they headed off on their own to have some fun.  They made their way to a local playground where they were able to run around (after all those hours on the train) and get some of their sillies out.  Obviously, the forever family tag game eventually ensued, but was cut off (or just put on a brief hold) as the hunger pangs started to make their voices heard.

So, the trio paused their play and took off in search of dinner.  What they found, after a bit of wondrous wandering, was Venetian pizza that looked absolutely delicious.  They took the pizza to go and decided to eat it at the foot of a statue in a small piazza overlooking a canal with a beautiful old church on the other side.  The pizza tasted just as good as it looked.  What a way to end a day in Venice!

The following morning they tinkered with another Italian in-home coffeemaker, added a little hot water and some milk (to make the jet fuel coffee a bit more palatable), and then some cocoa (for Evan, as he does love his mochas) to start their day off right.  [Note: Aleks had the mocha part without the jet fuel coffee, but enjoyed it just the same.]  Then, they took off towards Saint Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace.  They admired all of the bridges and canals as they traveled towards the famous square.  Upon arrival they were amazed both at the architecture and artwork, as well as the crowds.  They were able to lay eyes on the famous bell tower that had toppled and been rebuilt as well as the clock tower that sailors and shipmates have looked upon for centuries as a sight to be relished.  And, located essentially between the two, was the Basilica of Saint Mark, which they gazed at in even more amazement.  After roaming around the square for a bit, playing a few rounds of "I spy", and enjoying some local music from a nearby restaurant within the square, they headed into the Doge's Palace for a self-guided tour that would include an attached prison, connected by the famous Bridge of Sighs and well-known for holding Casanova captive for many years.  The tour took them through the main entrance (and multiple layers of security) and lead them straight into the massive courtyard, where they got a view of the Grand Staircase and many works of architectural artwork at every turn.  From there, they went into the palace and through a web of rooms that displayed an array of incredible artwork including paintings from floor to ceiling, sculpted fireplaces, collections of astounding artifacts, and secret chambers and spy holes - all with a depth of history beyond description.  Eventually, the trio made their way through the palace and across the Bridge of Sighs leading into the prison.  The meandered their way through its many hallways, and a few cells, until they were finally released (into the gift shop of course).  Having exited the palace and prison (physically and financially unscathed) they began to wander some more, this time in search of lunch.  After some time their wandering led them somewhat off the beaten path to a wonderful little gem called Spicy Puppa.  The restaurant had eclectic decor, kind staff, and tasty food - what more could the Makhlina-Ecksteins' have asked for?  Tanya got to try pasta in black squid-ink sauce for the first time (well, technically what she tried was cuttlefish-ink sauce, but same concept); more importantly, she loved it!  Before leaving the waiter offered Evan and Tanya complimentary swigs of Limoncello (in little shot glasses) and Aleks a Chupa Chups lollipop.  The trio left feeling full, both from food and felicity.

They headed back to their Air BnB for a bit, to chill and change, before going back out for a late evening adventure.  At 8pm they arrived at the docks to board the Viva, a small gondola that was captained by two Italian women who were going to teach Evan, Tanya, and Aleks how to row like an Italian gondolier!  After a brief lesson, they all took off together rowing the gondola out of the harbor, through various smaller canals, down the Grand Canal, and under the Rialto Bridge, before eventually turning around and heading back to base.  The trio took turns powering the boat along the waterways, with Aleks propelling them for a majority of the trip - she was a natural!  It was certainly an experience they would never forget.

The next day, the trio packed up their bags and said a final, "Goodbye" to their first floor Venetian apartment as they headed off towards the airport.  Along the way, they crossed the Rialto Bridge (by foot this time, rather than by boat the night before), stopped into the oldest church in Venice (noted to be over 1600 years old!), popped into a local fish market where they saw some of the biggest fish they'd ever seen, and finally stopped to play at a local playground for a bit before crossing their final Venetian bridge to the bus station that would eventually take them to the Marco Polo Airport.  

Having gotten their bus tickets, they waited patiently for a short while until their bus pulled up.  They boarded and took their seats for the 25min bus ride to the airport.  There, they boarded the first of their flights for the day - this one taking them from Venice back to Rome, where they would eventually take another flight towards home.

Upon arrival back at the Leonardo da Vinci Airport, they settled in for a chunk of time before their next flight.  While they had toyed with the idea of trying to make one last trip into the city center, it turned out that the airport had plenty of activities to offer to help them pass the time between planes.  Aleks and Tanya stumbled upon a giant-sized chess board on the ground, which inspired them to engage in a few epic battles of the mind (using 3-foot high chess pieces).  Then, Aleks and Evan went roaming around to see what food options were available and, in their travels, found a Foosball game in the middle of the airport.  Thus commenced a few rounds of athletic Foosball before returning to their initial mission - a hunt for food.  Their exploration concluded with the finding of a single sandwich shop that offered a small array of edible opportunities.  However, Tanya did not feel satisfied with this and so the team decided to take their bags and explore a bit more of the airport to see what other food options may yet be found.  

After some additional wandering here and there the Makhlina-Ecksteins eventually found themselves in the grandest food court they'd ever set their eyes on!  This food court boasted food stalls offering the complete Italian variety of fresh-made focaccia sandwiches, pizzas, and pastas as well as pastries, tiramisu, canolis, and gelato.  The options were outstandingly overwhelming and required careful consideration as this was unfortunately their final meal in Italy (until next time).  So, in true family fashion they each splurged on their own Italian fare - Tanya selecting a pasta with marinara sauce, Aleks choosing a delicious piece of pepperoni pizza, and Evan ordering a classic Italian sandwich.  They all shared bites and made sure to save room for dessert.  After their meals were nothing but crumbs, the girls went off to order their last Italian gelato of the trip and Evan headed toward the pastry station to attempt the difficult choice of canoli or tiramisu for his last treat.  In the end, he couldn't decide...and got both.  And he didn't regret it.  

Once their final feast came to its inevitable conclusion, they headed towards their gate to board their departing flight that would take them part of the way home - from Rome back to Copenhagen.  However, this time they would have a bit more of a layover - around 12 hours or so.  Thus, when they arrived in Copenhagen late Friday evening, they left the airport and took a taxi to a very nearby hotel for the night.

The next morning they awoke in time for the hotel's continental breakfast, and boy were they glad they hadn't missed it!  It was the most impressive continental breakfast any of them had ever seen, or had the pleasure of participating in.  They enjoyed plates full of eggs, sausage, potato pancakes, cheese, turkey, duroc meat, as well as fresh-baked breads with different jams and toppings, danishes (which it turns out, aren't actually Danish), and bowls full of yogurt and different porridges.  They enjoyed fresh fruit juices, a ginger pick-me-up drink, and excellent coffee options (including lattes, cappuccinos, and Evan's favorite - mocha).  They ate until they were stuffed, and then ate a tiny bit more, and then retired to their room to pack up all of their stuff.  However, their Copenhagen stay wasn't quite over yet.  After breakfast, they still had an hour or so to explore the area before heading back to their airport for their final flight.

So, they left their fully packed bags in their room and took off to try and explore a nearby playground.  Unfortunately, it turned out that the nearby playground Evan had found was actually part of a nearby aquarium (which they didn't have the time to fully explore).  However, some quick searching on Tanya's part found them another playground (publicly accessible this time) not too much further down the road.  So, they took off in that direction and were very pleased with what they found!  The playground they stumbled upon included a zip line and a sunken pirate ship play structure!  While they only had a short time there, it was packed full of fun until eventually they had to head back to their hotel, gather their belongings, and return to the airport once more.  

So, the intrepid travelers returned once again to the Copenhagen airport for their final flight home.  The flight was long, yet short in the sense that they left Copenhagen around 2pm and then arrived in Boston around 4pm.  It was a smooth flight albeit somewhat bittersweet.  Upon their landing they caught a shuttle back to their car and started the 3-hour drive home.  Their arrival back to their humble abode was highly anticipated by one member of the family who had been relinquished to enjoying the Makhlina-Eckstein Family's Italian exploration in a purely vicarious capacity, their cat Rogue (who had been generously taken care of while they were away by Evan's friend Eli - a much appreciated gesture, which Evan has promised to repay one day).  So, while the travelers may have been tired from their...well, travels...they relished in their reunion with their missing member and settled in for an early evening back in the comfort of their own beds.  And with that, their epic week ended.

April 28th - 30th, 2024:

The week started with a day of recovery.  Aleks had gone to her dad's the night before, so Evan and Tanya took the day to unwind and unpack from all of the travel and then prepare for the week ahead - as real life doesn't stop for a day just because you want it to.  And then, Tanya's car started acting up.  So, in addition to the typical weekly preparations (cooking, cleaning, etc.) they also had to drop her car off at her mechanics so that he could check it out over the next couple of days while she was at work.

Therefore, Monday began in a somewhat abnormal fashion.  Rather than Evan heading off to work with Tanya to follow shortly thereafter, Evan and Tanya each bumped their typical routines slightly so that they could leave the house together.  Evan dropped Tanya off at the hospital before heading towards his own occupational obligation.  Later on, after Evan finished his Monday meeting and Aleks finished her Girls on the Run practice, Evan swung by to pick her up before heading back to the hospital to snag Tanya before heading home.

The following morning was even more of a treat for Evan as he had the absolute pleasure of bringing both of his girls to their required rendezvouses for the day.  While it may have caused him to be slightly late for his own professional responsibilities, no one at his place of practice was any the wiser and he got to start his day with a uniquely exuberant smile on his face.  If it had been up to him, he would start every day like that forevermore.  But alas, Tanya got a call later that day that her car was ready for pick-up and had been given her mechanic's stamp of approval.  So, after picking Aleks up from lacrosse practice and then swinging through to grab Tanya at the end of her shift they detoured over to the mechanic to bring Tanya's car back home.  While all seemed back to normal, the reality of the situation was that this experience had sparked a new and exciting (albeit stressful) next stage for the Makhlina-Ecksteins - inevitable car shopping.  And with that, April had ended.