Tickets for Venice to Panama

I am BACK baby! It was a whirlwind two weeks traveling for work events where I flew to Venice, Italy then straight to Panama. Pure exhaustion and man did I miss my little family, so it feels amazing to be home. In Italy I ate all the food and in Panama I truly took in the beauty outside my balcony each morning over a cup of coffee. 

As far as travel restrictions, I found them to be very similar to when we went on vacation to the Bahamas in the spring. You need to fill out a form online per country, and provide a negative PCR test on top of proof of vaccination. If you are not vaccinated, you are required to quarantine for 3 days upon arrival. The restrictions for Italy and Panama were what I expected, and not hard to follow. Just make sure if you plan on traveling internationally right now that you have screen shots and print outs of everything. A hard copy is preferable to a lot of the airline and customs agents. 

Let me just preface this by saying, when I get a chance to go out and explore I try and experience (and eat!) alllll the things. Especially when in Italy. This was my second work trip to Italy (two years ago we went to Milan - full recap can be found here), and the highlight of both of those trips was the food. Everything is absolutely incredible, and even the prosecco tastes better there. 

A few of us that traveled to both countries as we were about to say goodbye to the U.S. for a few weeks. Oh we were also saying goodbye to sleep - ha!

*Descending into Venice as the sun rose*

Prosecco for 3 Euros? Yes please! 

*First of many pasta dishes of the trip*

I'll just let the photos speak for themselves, it was surreal to take in. It almost didn't look real, definitely a pinch me moment. It was quite chilly especially with the wind by the water which made packing for 2 weeks in 2 different climates tricky. I checked a big suitcase for the first time in several years. 

I've seen the replicas of St. Mark's Campanile Tower at EPCOT and at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, but seeing the real deal in person was magical. 

*We arrived by boat on the Venice Canal for the Star Gala*

Dress in Surf the Web {only $45} | Heels 

*Gelato is a must*

*So is tiramisu*

After closing out and celebrating the event in Italy, we had dinner then needed to meet back in the lobby at 3:15 am to leave for the airport. I tried to take "a nap" after packing, but barely dozed off before it was time to head out. A 6 hour layover in Amsterdam was a tease, because it was long enough to want to go explore the city but not long enough to be able to. An 11 hour flight to Panama from Amsterdam, and we arrived at the hotel about 7:30 p.m. Panama time but it felt like 2:30 a.m. coming from Italy. After almost 24 hours of travel - I literally sunk into my bed in Panama following a super hot shower, FaceTiming with my little fam and room service for dinner. 

The view from my balcony where I enjoyed morning coffee and working on my laptop. The best part was watching the ships in the distance lining up to cross the Panama Canal. I also loved listening to the waves each night while falling asleep. 

The resort was beautiful, and after sleeping in the first morning I walked around to collect content (I'm on these trips to cover them on social media), worked from my phone by the pool and enjoyed a much needed dip before working from my room the rest of the day. Sadly, I never read my book. 

Only ventured into downtown Panama City one evening for dinner with some co-workers for a yummy dinner. The best part? The skyline of the city is incredible! 

Now when I say I like to shop my closet, I mean it! I laughed at my mom when she brought my prom dress from sophomore year down with her buried in some bins from her house. Yet, here I am - wearing it to a gala in Panama. It felt so weird yet so amazing to wear something from that long ago, and nice to know I got more than one use out of it. 

And that's a wrap! Two weeks away for work, two countries, two continents, multiple PCR and antigen tests and one AMAZING reunion with my little family. 

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