Kristin & Nick

Posted Monday, March 22, 2010 9:01 AM

Nick and I were on a trip to Europe with my grandfather and younger brother. We spent most of our time in Germany and Austria, but we were able to go to Italy for what I thought was going to be a day.

Before we took this trip, my fiance was looking at the trip map and noticed that we were going to be very close to Venice, so he wanted me to ask my grandfather if we could go there. My grandpa never did say if we were going there or not, so I was pretty sure we weren't.

We are about a week and a half into our trip, and were heading to Verona, Italy. We spent the day and night there, and left after breakfast the next morning. Driving through the Italian countryside, Nick kept trying to get us to Venice. Now my grandpa starts directing us there, too, so now I know we're trying to get to Venice (and killing ourselves in the process -- Italy is a hard country to get around!).

After driving over a huge bridge six times, we finally find an open parking garage. Nick needed to get something from his bag in the trunk (I thought he was getting Advil), so I was standing right next to him. He kept telling me to go see where grandpa had run off to, but I didn't want to run all around the parking garage just to find him. Finally we made our way down.

Unfortunately, Nick forgot the parking ticket in the car (you have to validate it before you get on the ferry), so he had to run all the way back up the parking garage to get it. He was so mad and frustrated, so I was getting mad and frustrated. Not a good start to our day! We got the ticket punched, purchased ferry tickets, got cash from the ATM, and found our way to the ferry.

It was a beautiful day -- the most perfect weather during the entire trip. The ride from the garage to St. Mark's Square was magical. It was surreal to be in Venice, and it was just gorgeous outside. Nick seemed to have left his mood on the mainland because he was really touchy-feely and wanting to hold me while we were on the boat. (I was totally okay with that!) We make it to the square, and I want to go shopping and sightseeing because I still couldn't believe we made it. But Nick, my grandpa, and my brother want to go find a gondola -- now. No shopping or sightseeing, just gondola.

This made me cranky, and I made sure to let everyone know it. We had to go through these creepy little alleyways to get to the canals and find the gondolas. Nick paid for the four of us to get on this thing, and it was crazy expensive. I told him he was nuts, but he insisted it had to happen. We get on and shove off.

I start to take in the scenery and beautiful architecture, and I finally calm down and get into the spirit. Nick and I were sitting on the bench seat so he had his arm around me, and it was so romantic. Nick started to ask about how I felt about his sister getting engaged (I was a little upset about it), and he said we should one up their proposal story. I really was not into talking about it so I agreed with him.

As the gondola was making its way into an alley with no other people he asked if doing it here (in the gondola) would be a good way to do it. I didn't know what he meant really until he started to get on his knee and pulled out the most beautiful ring I've ever seen! I don't even remember what he said, but I said yes and we hugged and kissed. It was amazing! My brother and grandpa captured it all on film. All the crazy events of the day started to come together and make sense. I will remember it forever!

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