Ignite My Soul

Chapter 5.1 - This Masquerade: Day 6

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Are we really happy here with this lonely game we play?

Looking for words to say

Searching but not finding, understanding anyway

We're lost in a masquerade

Both afraid to say we're just too far away

From being close together from the start

We tried to talk it over, but the words got in the way

We're lost inside this lonely game we play

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We try to leave the pain from Dachau behind and look forward to exploring the land of Pizza, Pasta, Limoncello and Leather. I can already smell all of it.

We drive through Innsbruck, Austria. If I say, the scenery is to die for. I mean, you will want to negotiate your death terms with a grin on your face.

Right in the middle of nowhere, you find a Pit Stop. The bus needs fuel, and so do we. The pit stop is made up of a little restaurant, a Shell filling station and the most breath-taking piece of property McDonald's has ever owned. I stand to be corrected, but in my view, it is the best by far.

It is best positioned to be considered picture-perfect. Tall trees and miles and miles of fresh green grass and flora surround it. Add to that landscape mountain tops covered in snow and low-hanging clouds.

This is where we get to have our lunch, and I get to bond with Peter, the young Greek God. We share a love of photography, and I'm exploring the panoramic landscape feature on my phone. Yes, I have finally found a way to have his undivided attention. Petty, I know. We spend 10 minutes, where he guides me on how to use my phone camera. He shows me how to frame the perfect shot and we take turns as model and camera person.

After the mini photo session and lunch, of course, we are back on the road. We are watching the movie 'The Italian Job'. The selection of movies by the tour company is meant to give you a grand experience when you spot the locations the films used. We are all looking forward to seeing the beautiful Venice and its Gondolas.

Nkele screams excitedly.

Nkele: "Look there is Tivoli's. At least now we know where our taps come from."

I smile at her and take a picture of her excited face with Tivoli in the background. I totally get this moment. We've only ever seen Tivoli taps at CTM or TV adverts.

We continue the journey now, watching 'The Tourist'. We arrive in Venice, Italy. It is made up of small islands on a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It is amazing to think we are mostly exposed to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Venice does not have the type of highways we consider roads; it is more like passageways and a whole lot of canals. You see beautiful colourful buildings and Renaissance and Gothic palaces all around.

We spot some cruise ships with either on-boarding or off-boarding passengers. Nkele and I promise each other to add a cruise to our bucket list. Like that bucket list is not already overflowing.

We are on an island known as San Marco, surrounded by water—a literal example of crossing the bridge when you get there. The place is actually a Maze, and you need to follow a map and check your coordinates with the Yellow signs on the walls.

The buildings are colourful with small windows. Most windows have shutters on. Almost at every turn, you are greeted by a handsome guy in black pants, a black and white striped t-shirt and a hat with a red ribbon and bow—Abomageza base Venice, aka the Gondoliers, trying to get you to catch a ride with them.