Italy in Installments

Days 3, 4 and 5: Orvieto (Vineyard/Wine Country) and The Vatican

Before heading to The Vatican, Doug and I went out exploring parts of Rome we hadn't seen yet. Let's just say Americans exploring a foreign city like Rome may be challenged. In my case, I was an American woman, exploring a strange city with a dude who refuses to a)follow maps and b) ask for directions. If I look unhappy in this photo it is because this little venture had gone 2 hours longer than I had intended (due to getting lost), and mama was hungry for something other than bad pizza.

To his credit, stopping to ask directions did not prove an easy experience. The one time I stopped at a hotel and asked the concierge for help, Doug unknowingly left his Diet Coke (or Coke Light as it is called in Italy) bottle on the desk. When the concierge chased us down to return the bottle, he shoved it at Doug and muttered, "Typical American!". Yep, that's us!

Wish I had better photos of this church. It was located in a little town called Orvieto and it was so impressive. Sadly, I did not get hardly any good pictures of this little town because my battery died just before we got there. It was one of my favorite stops. Adorable little place on a high cliff right smack in the middle of vineyards. We had dinner/entertainment at the neatest place and shopped a bit.

During our stay in Italy, there was a public Papal Address at The Vatican. The big man himself, the main dude, The Pope actually addressed "His dear friends from US Foodservice". Pretty cool....

Here is Doug inside Vatican City. Don't be alarmed, the Eagle has not landed. He did not join the Secret Service, that is just a tour listening device.

Ahh...the art in the halls entering the Sistine Chapel (sorry, again NOOOOO photos!). My head hurt from looking up at all the amazing stuff to see.

Of all the beautiful art I took in that day, this statue inside St. Peter's Basilica was the one that grabbed me. I found myself getting weepy as I stood and stared in awe. Perhaps, it was just the mother hormones kicking in and making me miss my own baby back in the states, but I my heart truly wept for Mary and our God. What an amazing sacrifice! I am so grateful.

Some random shots of Doug and I at The Pantheon at night. HUGE! Just the lettering on the outside was 7 feet tall.

Day 6 and 7: Tivoli and Ancient Roman Bath House and tour of Cardinal's Mansion

Just a few shots from our tour of a Bath House from around 200 A.D. and a Cardinal's Mansion near Tivoli.

The only thing Kaelan requested we bring her back from Italy was some rocks and seashells. This seemed an easy task until she stressed the importance of the rocks/seashells being something really special. So, I tell you now that I probably broke many international laws
and could end up in an Italian jail, but I made sure I brought my daughter back some special rocks. She not owns pieces of hand carved marble from this historical bath house. I would like to see any of you top that souvenir with a T-shirt or snow globe.

Though I could probably duct tape you to a chair and show you hours of photo footage from our fab trip, I will stop here. I had a great time with my wonderful prince and though international travel is adventurous...there really is no place like the great U.S. of A!

Rome....if you want to.

Well the posts will be quite out of order, but here goes the play by play on our recent trip to Italy. It was a most enjoyable trip, and all the fears of dying mid-flight did not keep me from having a fabulous time. My thanks go out to a wonderfully patient husband who calmed all my nerves by taking every necessary precaution (just in case my plane went down over the Atlantic or I was kidnapped by angry Italians demanding the recipe to my mother's yummy spaghetti) AND thanks to a certain President of US Foodservice wife who gave me that magic little pill to aid in my pleasant carpet ride home (wink, wink).

Day 1: ROME TOUR

The first full day in Italy was spent seeing all the amazing places around the city. There were so many places we saw that day, but a few of the highlights were The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain (where I witnessed my first pick-pocketing), The Spanish Steps.....and that was only the tip of the iceberg on stops. Stunning!

Day 2: FLORENCE

See this tall building? See the little viewing deck at the very tippy top? Would you believe there are 536 steps to get to that tippy top? How do I know that interesting fact, you ask? Well, BECAUSE I CLIMBED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE COTTON PICKING STEPS. That is how!

I guess we should taken the clue when the tour guide told us she had lived in the city for over 30 years and had once tried to climb those stairs only to get 100 steps in and have a panic attack. You see, not only are there 536 steps, there are 536 steps that wind around and around and the space becomes smaller and tighter with each flight. By the end of the climb, you are literally on hunched over with walls all around you closing in, much like being birthed all over again. But, oh, oh......here is the best part that NO one told us about. Not only are you dying, claustrophobic and desperate to get out by the time you near the top, you now have to figure out how to get by the people coming back down the stairs!!! That's right, the last 150 stairs have two way traffic and enough room for a only one small toddler to pass. Good times!

Here, in the first few hundred steps, Doug looks hopeful as he counts stairs.

One of the more "breathable" portions of the tunnel of doom.

Okay...the views were worth it.

When alas, we touched ground once again, Doug was overcome with joy...he dropped to his knees and kissed the ground....and frightened many tourists in the area.

Other highlights of Florence include:

Visiting the Statue of David (sorry, NOOOO PHOTOS! as the Italian guards told us over and over). We also went to the replica of David in his original location.

Shopping

Lunch in an awesome square with statues all around

Churches...Italy has a LOT of these, and they are beautiful!

The Birthday Day O' Party

Here are a few of the party highlights. Some of these make my skin crawl.....but our little bug had the bestest time!

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The Day O' Birth

September 20

We rushed home from Italy (more on that later) as fast as we could, in order to be here in time to see this sweet little mushka turn 4.

The day belonged to her, and per request, we started the day with a special birthday breakfast and a relaxing ride on the Cedar Park Rail.

Awaiting her train.

After riding the rails and playing in the park for a bit, it was time for lunch at one of Kaelan's faves...."The Fireplace" aka Tokyo Steakhouse.



With a bellies full of rice, shrimp, chicken and fortune cookies, it was off to nap.

We awoke Kaelan from her nap at exactly 5:15 PM...the time she entered our lives 4 years ago. The day would not have been complete without at least one bug in the works. Who would have ever thought a remote control spider would delight my child so? (See previous post)

Our little princess will celebrate with a big shebang next weekend, but for the actual day o' birth, we had a most splendid time with just the three of us.

We are indebted for such a blessing!

The Reader

Such a smart little cookie. This is from a couple of months ago. She is now an even more fluent reader. She loves just going in her room and reading aloud to her stuffed animals. She also tutors the neighborhood high school students in the areas of Trigonometry and Calculus. Well, maybe that part is not true.....yet.
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Beware....I may give you a wedgie!

Call me an 11 year old boy, but this new restaurant going in down the street sends me into fits of giggles every time I drive by and read its name:

The husband is watching for other earmarked behavior. Thus far, no belching the alphabet or gas passing contests.....

Sorry mom, you raised me better than this.