"No Politics, Just Friendship"

What do you get when you combine 4 Americans, 1 Spaniard, 1 Italian, and 2 Russians? 

World Peace.

On our last night in Venice, we stumbled across a great little juice bar that made some delicious smoothies and an amazing cup of hot sangria. We decided to stop for a drink and began chatting with an older Italian man that was explaining to us (in broken English) the importance of his identity as a Venetian man, rather than an Italian. After a short while, we heard some commotion behind us and realized that a couple had approached Brian because they thought he looked Russian. They were speaking very loudly, while smiles plastered across their face, asking for directions to San Marco (in Russian). Brian was laughing and trying his very best to explain that, despite his Russian-looking hat, he was in fact...American!

While traveling, there is always a moment after you tell someone you are American that you hold your breath, hoping they will accept you and not criticize America and her political decisions... To say the least, we were accepted. With open arms, and with a round of hot sangria. 

We spent the next hour or so "socializing" with our new friends from around the world. They all spoke a little English and we tried our best to understand their Italian and Russian conversations with us. There were two things that were communicated very clearly. The contagious belly laughs and smiles shared by each and every one of us. And a phrase that the Russian couple repeated over and over again... "Russia and America. No politics. Just friendship!"

I sat for a moment and watched the commotion of laughter, language, and love. I concluded, this was one of the best moments of my life and why I absolutely LOVE to travel.