Here we are on the Jesolo promenade; we’re almost there now. It is a beautiful sunny day and we couldn’t help leaving the city, work and stress behind to go and have a swim and enjoy the sun. This is where we’re headed, the Hotel Bellariva. Some of our friends have been coming here for years and always return home with a fantastic tan and stories of how enjoyable and relaxing their stay was. So this time we decided to take their advice and we brought the whole family along. For now it’s just the three of us, but next week my mother and father in law will be joining us (let’s hope for the best…). As soon as we enter the lobby, we are greeted by smiling, friendly staff, who explain things to us thoroughly, they show us the dining room and then take us to the bedroom. The room is very pleasant and is equipped with everything we need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. My wife forgot to pack the hair dryer and now she’s thrilled to find that there’s one supplied. I immediately try the satellite television, but one cry from my son and I remember we’re on holiday and that we haven’t seen the sea yet. There it is. All we have to do is open the curtains and look out the window. Another cry from my son and we’re in the lift laden with beach towels, rubber ring, bucket and spade. Now we’re on the beach, just a couple of steps from the hotel. Soft, warm sand under our bare feet and a refreshing breeze: aaaah, this is the life. What a great invention summer is. It should happen more often! We find our way to our parasol and my wife immediately starts chatting away with our neighbours. Another cry from my son informs me that he’s made a discovery; he’s pulling me by my swimming trunks and pointing to the part of the beach reserved for a children’s playground. Excellent, what a find! I take him over and he makes friends with the other children straight away: just like his mum, a real chatterbox. In three minutes flat I’m in there with him, knees in the sand, building a sandcastle with another Dad that I’ve just met. My wife casts a glance in our direction from behind a newspaper and smiles, basking in the sun. A little later we’re all in the sea: that feels great. A little boat passes by, laden with another family, my son points in their direction and shouts louder than ever. My wife smiles. Somehow I know that tomorrow we’ll be out in a boat too, or maybe we’ll go for a pedalo, which seems the simpler option. After our swim I decide to go and get something to drink. No sooner said than done: the Hotel bar is just over there, almost on the beach. Whilst I’m enjoying my drink I make the acquaintance of a young couple who have just returned from Venice. We talk for a while about the city and I make a mental note that we’ll have to organise a day trip there. I ask the barman what’s for dinner this evening. I almost wished that I hadn’t! As soon as he starts to describe the menu I remember the blissful expression on our friends’ faces when they talked about Bellariva cuisine, and I start to feel pleasantly peckish. I go back to my wife on the beach, my son’s fallen asleep. I tell her what is on the menu for tonight and she tells me that a bowls tournament has been planned for next week. Great – I think – let’s go and enrol my father-in-law (that’s one out of the way). It will be even easier with my mother-in-law: all we have to do is hand my son and the pushchair over to her and she can enjoy a leisurely shopping session in Jesolo’s pedestrian area. And the two of us will finally be alone; maybe we could sneak back to Venice… After dinner we chat with some other families and then head off to bed, tired but happy. Ah, what a great invention, summer at the Bellariva. And this is just the beginning …