Home at last

3/26

Well everyone, we're home and sleeping!

Flying Day - #2

Ever realize the trip back is always ten times longer than the trip there!!!! Well, magnify that since we were on a plane for 8 hours today!!!!!!! Just one plane, not to mention the other(s). We had a wonderful time and enjoyed everything. How God has blessed us with a great experience and more wisdom of the world than what we had just 3 weeks ago.

Thank you to everyone for reading the posts. We will be getting some of the pictures that we took up and going in the next couple days...first give us time to sit, sleep, sleep, and probably break down a couple times when we see the kiddo's tomorrow.

Last Full Day

Well, what to do on the last day in Italy. What else but go shopping in one of the most expensive places in the world!!! We didn't buy much, but just something to remember the trip. We may take off and go up to Lake Como today. It would be worth it to see some more Italian countryside, but I just don't know if we will make it. Tomorrow, we are up bright and early to get on a plane and come on back.

Milan

Today I saw the prettiest PINK church in the whole world here in Milan.

Today started off w/ one last visit to church in Vicenza w/ out Italian friends and then we headed off to Milan. Once there, we got to see the Duomo and are planning on going up on the roof to walk around the spires there. This is one of the coolest buildings I have ever seen.

We are staying with some more missionaries here in Milan and their kids. They have 3 about the same age as ours. We are anxious to get home and we only have 2 more days in Italy.

Birth of Venus

We actually saw this the other day at the Uffizi Gallery here in Florence. Booking ahead of time was definitely worth it. I wouldn't wanted to have missed the wonderful art. Today we are heading back up to Vicenza so we can be there for church tomorrow. We will be resting today and getting geared up for Milan, our last big city stop.

Florence day 2

Well, today we saw a naked man and it was awesome. Oh, he was not real, so don't worry. To see the veins carved in the stone is just fascinating. How? That is all I can say, HOW? What a joy today was!

Tuscany!

So today we finally got to Tuscany - Florence to be exact. I love looking out at the rolling hills and seeing the olive groves and grape vineyards. It is another vision of Italy we have been dreaming about. Did I ever mention that we are staying in a castle in Florence. Here is the picture looking out over the countryside. The wall in the picture is the edge of the grounds and it is just simply beautiful. We are about 3 miles outside of town and it is good to be away from the hustle of the city. Angie & Titus got to come with us here and it is just a delight. There is plenty of room for Bella to run around and play. Tomorrow I will put pics up of Florence.

My Fair Verona

To think that Romeo and Juliet were here...how romantic! Two people who kill themselves, isn't it lovely. OK, enough of that. Oh, and they weren't real, so whatever. The city was pretty and I really like this picture. It is what I picture Italy looking like. We enjoyed strolling around town and looking at all the stuff we could buy. 19 days in Italy is expensive, but we are lucky because we only have paid for lodging for 3 days. We are getting away with a great steal. Tomorrow we head off to Florence for our last weekend in Italy!

Flight back to Venice and off to Vicenza

Today we flew back to Venice and had to take a train over to Vicenza. Not to much to report today or tomorrow. We are taking the time to recoup from our overwhelming Rome trip. There will not be a post tomorrow. Sorry. Come back on Wednesday for an update on Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet!

memories arent lost across the world

this post is special for laura carrie and mary. when we were playing karaoke with guliano and the family , which was tons of fun, we ended the night around one in the morning, with guliano, the dad, saying he wanted to show us one of his favorite videos of music. its of a famous soprano and an orchestra, and some guy who is also probably famous. he played it, and i instantly was sent back in time. it was barcelona. i wish i could find the caps or exclaimations on this computer. i havent heard that song in so long, but i still remember how exciting it was to sit and listen to that over and over. of course its no new kids on the block, but still a great goose bumps song. flying back to vicenza early early in the morning. see you all soon.

Church in Rome

OK, well we didn't actually see this today, it was a couple days ago at the Borghese Gallery. It is Apollo and Daphne. It is fascinating to see the delicacy of her hair over her head. To think that was a solid piece and a person carved out the intricate hair patterns.

Church was a delight again. It ain't no Vatican, but it was still great. We are very thankful to Guliano and Anna, our hosts here in Rome. We have been staying with them for the last 3 days and they have been wonderful. Want a funny picture of him? He is an Italian, Christian Hippie! REALLY. What a great guy! he reminds us a lot of corey craig. funny and completely random in his comments. we are having a great time with this family.