- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Fabulous photo's Emily, such a pleasure to be able to share your travels , with all it's high's and low's. Carbon is looking amazing, lovely boy.
Lets go together!
The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
@Emily_Babbelhund I am sooo loving your latest installments and photos - others have said it too, but a) you are an excellent photographer and b) you write beautifully. You must consider a book - there’s plenty here to show a publisher you’d be a popular commission.
Thank you (and the stunning Carbon, whose Eenglish is very good, vale?) for your super posts, it just feel like we’re there with you. And you really are an inspiration. What a woman!
Thank you (and the stunning Carbon, whose Eenglish is very good, vale?) for your super posts, it just feel like we’re there with you. And you really are an inspiration. What a woman!
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
@Emily_Babbelhund, I love 'involved' answers, I am there with you in my imagination and it is wonderful to see photographs of my favourite place, made even better with Carbon in them.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Really look forward to your travelogue Emily xx
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Here's the next home away from home. A garden and a green park for Carbon plus I get to stow my beloved Tardis directly outside the kitchen door. It's a 5-10 minute walk and then 15 minutes on the tramway into Florence without me having to drive in. Yay! I've really been wanting to try the tramway - trams every few minutes is the promise, so we'll see how it delivers.
FLORENCE - 10 MINUTES FROM CENTER - Houses for Rent in Scandicci, Tuscany, Italy
We spent a great day out of Venice in Burano today. Now Carbon's having dinner and I'm resting my ankle - and other important body parts - before we go out to Venice tonight for a walk around my favorite neighbourhood in the dark. My current hosts are kindly going to let me check out at any time I want tomorrow, so I'll get an unexpected few hours bonus to enjoy a Sunday morning walk.
OK, that's all the cheerful stuff. Here's the flip side: I am craving a cheeseburger, fries and a Coke something horrible. Or anything that is hot and...well...food. I can't STAND granola bars anymore and have resorted to eating the peanut butter that is supposed to be for Carbon's Kong.
I wandered around earlier trying to find a place that does take out anything. Like perhaps...pizza? In Italy? Usually you can't escape the stuff. In fact I never get pizza anymore in Italy because I got so sick of it my first time living here (I lived over a delicious pizza by the slice place in Rome). But I'd seriously take a pizza or even something that looked like a horrible tourist version of pizza. But no...I've only seen sit down restaurants and no one has take out. I realise that just can't be true, I have to simply be missing them.
I'm really starting to think it's the universe saying, "Well, you wanted to lose weight, didn't ya?" This is true, technically I could live on my existing body stores for QUITE some time.
By the way, this two granola bar a day thing is MUCH MUCH harder than doing a complete water fast. I'm SO much hungrier. Hats off to all of you doing the 5:2 intermittent fasting with just a little food on the 2 fast days. It's a heck of a lot harder than just not eating.
There is hope - I hope! - as I'm going into Dorsoduro tonight, which is the university district. If anywhere in Venice is going to have a pizza by the slice joint, it's got to be there. I'm a woman on a mission.
If that fails, I'll completely break down all decorum and hit up a MacDonald's on the motorway to Florence tomorrow afternoon. And I may have some sauerkraut stashed in the Tardis.
FLORENCE - 10 MINUTES FROM CENTER - Houses for Rent in Scandicci, Tuscany, Italy
We spent a great day out of Venice in Burano today. Now Carbon's having dinner and I'm resting my ankle - and other important body parts - before we go out to Venice tonight for a walk around my favorite neighbourhood in the dark. My current hosts are kindly going to let me check out at any time I want tomorrow, so I'll get an unexpected few hours bonus to enjoy a Sunday morning walk.
OK, that's all the cheerful stuff. Here's the flip side: I am craving a cheeseburger, fries and a Coke something horrible. Or anything that is hot and...well...food. I can't STAND granola bars anymore and have resorted to eating the peanut butter that is supposed to be for Carbon's Kong.
I wandered around earlier trying to find a place that does take out anything. Like perhaps...pizza? In Italy? Usually you can't escape the stuff. In fact I never get pizza anymore in Italy because I got so sick of it my first time living here (I lived over a delicious pizza by the slice place in Rome). But I'd seriously take a pizza or even something that looked like a horrible tourist version of pizza. But no...I've only seen sit down restaurants and no one has take out. I realise that just can't be true, I have to simply be missing them.
I'm really starting to think it's the universe saying, "Well, you wanted to lose weight, didn't ya?" This is true, technically I could live on my existing body stores for QUITE some time.
By the way, this two granola bar a day thing is MUCH MUCH harder than doing a complete water fast. I'm SO much hungrier. Hats off to all of you doing the 5:2 intermittent fasting with just a little food on the 2 fast days. It's a heck of a lot harder than just not eating.
There is hope - I hope! - as I'm going into Dorsoduro tonight, which is the university district. If anywhere in Venice is going to have a pizza by the slice joint, it's got to be there. I'm a woman on a mission.
If that fails, I'll completely break down all decorum and hit up a MacDonald's on the motorway to Florence tomorrow afternoon. And I may have some sauerkraut stashed in the Tardis.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
It looks great - I love, love Tuscany 
Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Good luck on your mission, Emily. I hope you get a lovely take out of delicious food to enjoy. Granola bars are good for an emergency but not as a steady diet.
Florence is my favourite place in Italy that I have been to (not been in Venice, though!)...can’t wait to see your travels there!
Florence is my favourite place in Italy that I have been to (not been in Venice, though!)...can’t wait to see your travels there!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Oh nooooooo... that's just in Venice because I don't want to leave Carbon alone in the accommodation while I hare off to the grocery store. As of tomorrow I have my wheels and can get to the nearest Aldi where he can happily safely snooze in the car while I dash in.2 granola bars a day? You will be a stick insect by the time you reach the UK..
Sadly, I will NOT be a stick insect anytime soon.
Yes, please!oh and I am happy to take in the odd homeless person!
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Are there no opportunities to eat out on sidewalk cafes?
I remember wandering around and finding several "hole in the wall" places with pizza and other sustenance, though eating whilst walking isn't really my thing.
I remember wandering around and finding several "hole in the wall" places with pizza and other sustenance, though eating whilst walking isn't really my thing.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Oh definitely. But I pathologically hate eating out by myself and Italian restaurants are torturously slow. Sitting awkwardly by myself for two hours for a sandwich is really not my thing. There are things like bars with food and other sort of takeaways, but I can't take Carbon inside to order and wait for the food. It's alright, I'll be back in action tomorrow and I really do have ample fat storage for just such an occasion as the last few days.
I actually do think Carbon would be fine in the sense that he wouldn't be destructive if I left him. It's just that I think that's asking a lot of him in a totally new place and the food thing hasn't bothered me until today. I must have a three day "must have hot food" button!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Hola todos, Carbon here! Primero, I wanted to personally thank @HAH for the compliment on my Eeeeenglish. Sabes, my English is a bit like foster lady's Spanish. There are good days...there are not so good days. Mainly the language I understand is FOOD. Everybody understands food, verdad?
I am taking over here because foster lady is tired and I sent her straight to bed. None of this 'talk talk talk' business. I am a wise Spanish gentleman and I say time for bed!
There are a lot of tales to tell about our adventures today on Burano, but I am also too tired. I walked and walked and walked and finally I just had to lay down until some nice French tourists came by and said, "Oh that poor poor tired dog" and then petted and cooed at me. Ha! I was not THAT tired, I was just resting my eyes and hoping for a pet...and it worked!
Now, however, I am very tired. There is a lot of walking in Venice. Why so much walking when there is all that lovely water? I STILL haven't gotten a good swim yet! Dios mio, the injustice. I will try again tomorrow to fling my adorable Labrador body into the lagoon, maybe when foster lady is taking a picture of something besides me. She really shouldn't be doing that anyway, verdad? As I am the most guapo-est thing in all of Venice.
I leave you with my last photo shoot of the day. Foster lady says it is her favourite spot in all of Venice and I'm not going to lie...that bridge was pretty comfortable to lounge on after all the work I've done today.
Buenas noches a todos!
I am taking over here because foster lady is tired and I sent her straight to bed. None of this 'talk talk talk' business. I am a wise Spanish gentleman and I say time for bed!
There are a lot of tales to tell about our adventures today on Burano, but I am also too tired. I walked and walked and walked and finally I just had to lay down until some nice French tourists came by and said, "Oh that poor poor tired dog" and then petted and cooed at me. Ha! I was not THAT tired, I was just resting my eyes and hoping for a pet...and it worked!
Now, however, I am very tired. There is a lot of walking in Venice. Why so much walking when there is all that lovely water? I STILL haven't gotten a good swim yet! Dios mio, the injustice. I will try again tomorrow to fling my adorable Labrador body into the lagoon, maybe when foster lady is taking a picture of something besides me. She really shouldn't be doing that anyway, verdad? As I am the most guapo-est thing in all of Venice.
I leave you with my last photo shoot of the day. Foster lady says it is her favourite spot in all of Venice and I'm not going to lie...that bridge was pretty comfortable to lounge on after all the work I've done today.
Buenas noches a todos!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Tonight I'm the one taking over for Carbon, who is illegally sleeping curled up next to my legs on the bed. Yes, he's supposed to be on the floor at our new place (grrr). No, I'm not obeying the rules. I am armed with my own set of bed linens and know how to use a lint roller. We've got this!
We left Venice at about noon today. I had mixed feelings. Part of me was thrilled to see my car again as it meant a rest for my foot and luxurious access to all the useful treasures stashed away in the depths of the Tardis. The other part was sad to leave Venice and craftily trying to plan for the next time I can come back.
Wanting to come back - or to go at all - is a big change for me. The last time I lived in Venice with Brogan was our three month stint in the no-day-heat-walk-through-the-family's-living-room flat. I was very down during that stay, rather dangerously down.
I've had a love affair with Venice since my first visit on my 21st birthday. I lost track around 15 of the number of times I've visited. Despite the tat and tourists, it is my magical place. The first time I rented an apartment there, the owner sent me the keys by post. Keys to Venice! I just kept looking at them on my keychain the week before I went - I have a house in Venice! How amazing is that?
The apartment was run down, overpriced and lacked most of the promised amenities. I LOVED IT. Every day I went to bed and thought "I'm going to bed in Venice!" and every day I woke up and thought, "I get to spend the whole day in Venice!".
I was even thrilled to go grocery shopping in Venice. In the winter there is no one along the route and the steam comes off the canals into the cold air. There are pigeons that stroll the grocery store aisles and usually a scruffy dog or two tied up along with all the grocery trolleys - all of them waiting together for their owners to come pick them up after shopping. There are unidentifiable foods and a bizarre sense of organization (shampoo next to sardines - sure!) that made the whole experience a treasure hunt. Then the long trek back to the flat, Brogan's chickens and my water bottles weighing me down, wooly hat, double gloves and a scarf wrapped around my face. The abominable snowman bringing back the spoils of war!
However, that last time with Brogan, I was in the most beautiful place on earth but I was just sad. I knew it was probably Brogan's last stay. Even if he lived another year, he wouldn't be able to make it over the bridges anymore. The damp and cold and concrete would hurt his joints. I tried to memorize every walk with him but knowing it was the end of his road, I was a maudlin mess. In my mind, rather than think it had anything to do with Brogan, I decided I just didn't like it there anymore and didn't need to come back.
I remember telling friends, "Venice and I have had a long love affair, a brief marriage and now we're getting an amicable divorce."
When Brogan died, I couldn't face going back. I didn't think about my favourite place in the world. It just went into the closet along with Brogan's kerchiefs and leashes and everything else that was a lot easier not to think about. I was flat, but flat is better than in pieces.
I don't even know why I thought of bringing Carbon to Venice. Contrary to popular opinion, Italy is not REALLY on the way to the UK.
It just started to bubble up in my mind that I missed Venice and Italy in general and maybe it was time to open up that closet and dust the cobwebs off. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I was seeing it for the first time through Carbon's eyes. It wouldn't be new and shiny - maybe it would even still be sad - but it would be different.
I was surprised at how sad it WASN'T. Having Carbon with me meant that I was focused on a completely new set of challenges that gave my mind a purpose other than feeling sorry for itself. How do I keep his tail from getting stepped on in the vaporetto? Oh cr*p, I really should have taught him "middle" before this trip! Argh! He's broken open his foot again! How do I bandage it up the right way so it will stay on?
I also marvelled at what he learned in only three days. His first vaporetto trip he was trying to rub off his muzzle the whole way. By the second trip he'd accepted it even while giving me the "Please take this off" doe eyes. By his third trip he was completely relaxed with it but knew as soon as we stepped off the boat it was time for the muzzle to come off and not a second sooner, thank you very much! We went over so many bridges that he's now smooth as glass working with the harness going up stairs. He still jumps the gun a tad on the last step of the descent, but that keeps me on my toes. He even stands and waits at the bottom of each bridge so that I can grab his harness before we continue, which he learned all on his own.
He also learned to sleep in a vaporetto like the dead. He was petted and fawned over for an hour ride back from Burano yesterday by a little girl and he didn't move a muscle. Finally she poked at him and said, "E' cotto" which means "He's cooked" or completely done in. Smart little girl!
Of course we walked the same streets as Brogan and I, that's inevitable. But I found myself wanting to go the opposite ways or at different times of the day. There were only a few times when I bumped across a certain place that made me sad. Mainly Carbon was keeping me too much on my toes. Between trying to hoover up every crumb on the ground to wanting desperately to jump in the lagoon, he was a full time job to say the least. But it was different and while at times I wanted to oblige him and toss him into a canal, I wouldn't have made it without him.
I started this off thinking I was going to write about our new accommodations in Florence but I guess this is what needed to come out tonight. A heartfelt thank you to Carbon for giving me back the gift of my favorite place. New memories that don't replace or diminish the memories with Brogan. You're a good student, Carboncito, but you're also a good teacher.
We left Venice at about noon today. I had mixed feelings. Part of me was thrilled to see my car again as it meant a rest for my foot and luxurious access to all the useful treasures stashed away in the depths of the Tardis. The other part was sad to leave Venice and craftily trying to plan for the next time I can come back.
Wanting to come back - or to go at all - is a big change for me. The last time I lived in Venice with Brogan was our three month stint in the no-day-heat-walk-through-the-family's-living-room flat. I was very down during that stay, rather dangerously down.
I've had a love affair with Venice since my first visit on my 21st birthday. I lost track around 15 of the number of times I've visited. Despite the tat and tourists, it is my magical place. The first time I rented an apartment there, the owner sent me the keys by post. Keys to Venice! I just kept looking at them on my keychain the week before I went - I have a house in Venice! How amazing is that?
The apartment was run down, overpriced and lacked most of the promised amenities. I LOVED IT. Every day I went to bed and thought "I'm going to bed in Venice!" and every day I woke up and thought, "I get to spend the whole day in Venice!".
I was even thrilled to go grocery shopping in Venice. In the winter there is no one along the route and the steam comes off the canals into the cold air. There are pigeons that stroll the grocery store aisles and usually a scruffy dog or two tied up along with all the grocery trolleys - all of them waiting together for their owners to come pick them up after shopping. There are unidentifiable foods and a bizarre sense of organization (shampoo next to sardines - sure!) that made the whole experience a treasure hunt. Then the long trek back to the flat, Brogan's chickens and my water bottles weighing me down, wooly hat, double gloves and a scarf wrapped around my face. The abominable snowman bringing back the spoils of war!
However, that last time with Brogan, I was in the most beautiful place on earth but I was just sad. I knew it was probably Brogan's last stay. Even if he lived another year, he wouldn't be able to make it over the bridges anymore. The damp and cold and concrete would hurt his joints. I tried to memorize every walk with him but knowing it was the end of his road, I was a maudlin mess. In my mind, rather than think it had anything to do with Brogan, I decided I just didn't like it there anymore and didn't need to come back.
I remember telling friends, "Venice and I have had a long love affair, a brief marriage and now we're getting an amicable divorce."
When Brogan died, I couldn't face going back. I didn't think about my favourite place in the world. It just went into the closet along with Brogan's kerchiefs and leashes and everything else that was a lot easier not to think about. I was flat, but flat is better than in pieces.
I don't even know why I thought of bringing Carbon to Venice. Contrary to popular opinion, Italy is not REALLY on the way to the UK.
It just started to bubble up in my mind that I missed Venice and Italy in general and maybe it was time to open up that closet and dust the cobwebs off. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I was seeing it for the first time through Carbon's eyes. It wouldn't be new and shiny - maybe it would even still be sad - but it would be different.
I was surprised at how sad it WASN'T. Having Carbon with me meant that I was focused on a completely new set of challenges that gave my mind a purpose other than feeling sorry for itself. How do I keep his tail from getting stepped on in the vaporetto? Oh cr*p, I really should have taught him "middle" before this trip! Argh! He's broken open his foot again! How do I bandage it up the right way so it will stay on?
I also marvelled at what he learned in only three days. His first vaporetto trip he was trying to rub off his muzzle the whole way. By the second trip he'd accepted it even while giving me the "Please take this off" doe eyes. By his third trip he was completely relaxed with it but knew as soon as we stepped off the boat it was time for the muzzle to come off and not a second sooner, thank you very much! We went over so many bridges that he's now smooth as glass working with the harness going up stairs. He still jumps the gun a tad on the last step of the descent, but that keeps me on my toes. He even stands and waits at the bottom of each bridge so that I can grab his harness before we continue, which he learned all on his own.
He also learned to sleep in a vaporetto like the dead. He was petted and fawned over for an hour ride back from Burano yesterday by a little girl and he didn't move a muscle. Finally she poked at him and said, "E' cotto" which means "He's cooked" or completely done in. Smart little girl!
Of course we walked the same streets as Brogan and I, that's inevitable. But I found myself wanting to go the opposite ways or at different times of the day. There were only a few times when I bumped across a certain place that made me sad. Mainly Carbon was keeping me too much on my toes. Between trying to hoover up every crumb on the ground to wanting desperately to jump in the lagoon, he was a full time job to say the least. But it was different and while at times I wanted to oblige him and toss him into a canal, I wouldn't have made it without him.
I started this off thinking I was going to write about our new accommodations in Florence but I guess this is what needed to come out tonight. A heartfelt thank you to Carbon for giving me back the gift of my favorite place. New memories that don't replace or diminish the memories with Brogan. You're a good student, Carboncito, but you're also a good teacher.
Venice isn't quite over yet as I've got some glorious photos of Carbon in Burano to post. Also Carbon raided the kitchen of my new landlords, so that deserves a story I'd say. But for tonight, as Carbon would say, "Buenas noches a todos!"
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Wow @Emily_Babbelhund , just - wow. A lovely, heartwrenching and cathartic piece that has come straight from deep down. I hope you have a peaceful and restorative night in your new launchpad; sleep tight!
- Location
- Wellington, NZ
The tears, they sting my eyes *sniff*
I'm so glad that your last trip to Venice didn't end up being your last. It's almost like your final stay with Brogan marked the end of book 1, and this trip with Carbon marks the beginning of book 2? You've often spoken about how raw your grief still is, and I think this trip shows how well you're doing, the progress that you're making. I hope that everything comes together for a future stay
I'm so glad that your last trip to Venice didn't end up being your last. It's almost like your final stay with Brogan marked the end of book 1, and this trip with Carbon marks the beginning of book 2? You've often spoken about how raw your grief still is, and I think this trip shows how well you're doing, the progress that you're making. I hope that everything comes together for a future stay
Oh that is just too cute, and I think I'm going to use it from now on instead of my customary "she's pooped". I love how quickly Carbon became all about that #vaporettolife
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
You're gifted with words Emily --
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
The ninja onion return.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
*sniff*
So glad you are here with us Emily
So glad you are here with us Emily