A Year of Dates: Date #3

This week's date was postponed from Tuesday to Saturday afternoon.  Whether you have kids or not, life needs to keep us on our toes and keep us flexible.

I am glad for the delay.  It gave me more time to prepare this special date. This week, I was on deck for the entire execution - from start to finish. I based this date around the movie, The Tourist with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.  I used the setting of the movie for the "setting" and food for our date.

(FYI: I got the idea for this date from The Dating Divas. www.thedatingdivas.com)

On Friday evening, I delivered, (actually our greyhound did with some coaxing,) an envelope that contained 2 tickets to Venezia (Venice.)  To create the invite, I simply used Word and found the Italia Rail logo to put on the "ticket."  I had to look up words for passenger, departure, and the date in Italian. The invite/ticket gave a hint of intrigue and wooed my husband right away.

All I have to say, is thank goodness for the date change from an evening to an afternoon.  Preparation took a little longer - no, A LOT longer -  AND it required much assistance from my two children.  They helped with set up, the cleaning, and the take down of the whole affair.  My daughter even played our hostess for the date.

Side note: Getting your children involved is a great idea as it shows them the care you need take for one another in a marriage. (Brilliant, I say!)

At 3:30 pm (the "train" was delayed by 30 minutes = I needed extra time), we arrived in the lobby of "Hotel Italia," (our house) greeted by our hostess, Signorina Abigail.  She led us to the sitting room of this fine establishment (aka. our living room) and offered us an expresso.  She then proceeded to hand us an envelope from the "proprietors" of the hotel which we opened while she checked on our room.

We opened the envelope whilst we were sipping our expresso.  To "our" surprise, we were told that everything was included, and that we even had euros to pay for our dinner, as the restaurant was separately owned.  (I thought this was a creative way to include more props and use our left over euros from our last European adventure.)  

After finishing our lovely beverages, we were escorted to our "suite" (our bedroom.) On the bureau was a tray with wine, cheese and crackers, chocolate, and there was a bubble bath waiting for us in our lovely ensuite.  We were informed by Signorina  Abigail that our dinner reservations were in an hour and to take this time to relax from our "traveling."  She even told us that clothes were provided for us to change into for dinner.  Naturally, after we were left alone, we opened our wine, ate some cheese and crackers, and soaked in the tub.

Ah!  Perfect after a morning on the train!  LOL!

After an hour, we received a call from the "front desk" to let us know our dinner reservation was upon us.  We put on the clothes set out for us and went down to the "lobby."  Signorina Abigail showed us to our table on the lower floor.  She seated us at the best table in the house!  Situated right in front of a blazing fire and away from it all!  She poured sparkling water handed us the menu.  She explained that this was a family-owned restaurant, using only the freshest ingredients, and because it was a small establishment, they only offered one choice for first and second course, and of course, dessert.  She also said the menu rotated, but today's menu was one of their finest!  I knew then we were in for a treat. ;)  (Loved playing in character.)

We had a lovely three-course meal.  A salad, lasagne and garlic bread, and chocolate cheese cake, accompanied by some red wine.  The service was impeccable, but I was interrupted a couple of time due to phone calls from "the kids back at home." (This was a code between my daughter and I so that I could help her get the next course dished out.)  My husband didn't seem  to mind, as he used that time to peruse the Italian phrase book we found in our "suite."

After our dinner was cleared, Signorina Abigail brought a board game to our table that she thought we might enjoy to play as we soak in the experience of dinner in "Venice."

The game was Ten Days in Europe. We played two rounds of it. I am pleased to report that yours truly won both rounds.  I think that means that the score of game wins on our date nights now stands at 2-1 for my husband.  (I am gaining on him.)

After we finished our dinner and game, our gracious hostess brought us back to the sitting room for a cappuccino. Upon my reservation at "Hotel Italia," I had reserved a private showing of The Tourist in Hotel Italia's theatre (aka. our rec room.)  Once again, Signorina Abigail escorted us to the theatre which had the most comfy seating I have ever had in a theatre! ;)

My husband was in awe of the whole affair.  He commented that I really set the bar high and that he felt like he was truly was transported "away."  Thanks to our wonderful hostess, Signorina Abigail, for all of her help throughout our mini getaway.

Us at "Hotel Italia" at
our special dinner