School Holidays (Part 1)

Assalamualaikum, fellow readers!

So, as promised, I'll tell you guys about my school holidays when I went to visit my mom and dad. I'm so sorry I didn't get to write for so long, not even once through the whole month of December! Not to make an excuse, but I'm working on a book now (shameless self-promotion unintended). Right now, my memory of the whole vacation is kind of unclear, but hopefully I can clear off all the mist of forgetfulness out of my mind.

First of all, I arrived in Milan on 30th of November. My cousin Mai and my grandparents also went along, and boy was it freezing there! It's usually around 0 to 2 degrees Celsius in San Donato Milanese, but sadly we didn't have a chance to see snow there. We rested for the whole week in a little apartment, until the excitement of the weekends arrive. We did have a chance to look around San Donato, but only when we went to pick up my mother from work, or to buy a few necessities for our stay. Even though they say the winter isn't really a time to go out, it's not a waste to do so. The view is amazing, especially at night time and at snowy areas.

On the 3rd and 4th December, we drove over two hours to the well known city in the sea - Venice! It was my first time there, and I had a wonderful one! Sure it was surprisingly colder than what I had expected, but of course, we were in the middle of the ocean; the wind was the one making it seem like the temperature had dropped lower. It was about eight degrees there, but it felt much like two. Or less than zero. I'm surprised I didn't catch a cold.

To me, the best part was when we set foot on the waterbus (or boat), especially when we rode sitting at the front on Saturday night. The city was beautiful - like Mai said, very vintage. It doesn't look ancient, but not modern either. I don't know how else to describe it, for you just have to experience it yourself (I don't think a freezing winter night with the ocean breeze is comfortable to be speeding at the front of a boat, but you can stay inside where it's warm). The icy wind was like daggers slashing our faces. Thankfully each of us had scarves and completely covered our faces and hands (but there's that little someone who's a little stubborn to wear anything).

The apartment we stayed in had everything - three bedrooms, thick warm blankets, a kitchen with complete utensils and a toilet. While it doesn't literally has everything, it still felt like the most comfortable shelter against the cold winter in Venice (except the fact that Mai and I didn't turn the heater of our room higher). We only stayed there for a night though, so we didn't really have time to look around more.

Venice has its own charm, and the most obvious is that, come on; it's a city in the middle of the sea. It's a sea-ty. Instead of cars, buses and motorcycles, you can see boats playing the roles of cars, buses and taxis, and also gondolas for those lovey-dovey couples. (Up to you if you want to try swimming.) Winter Venice might be very different from summer (I wouldn't know), but the trip was still very enjoyable. Especially the time with birds. (Want to have them paerched on my arms, but too scared to hold them out.

I guess that's it for Venice. (By the way, for those who've watched/read Dan Brown's Inferno, I went to San Marco Basilica, where the horses are.) Hope you can stay tuned for the next part. THank you for reading!

Assalamualaikum.