Back Home!

After two weeks in Europe, I am finally back home! It is bittersweet, of course. I was very excited to see my family and friends and Boomer, also to sleep in my own bed, but my trip to Italy and Greece was so incredible and so surreal that I was sad to see it come to an end.

I'll post pictures and some stories over the next few days. I am still a bit jet-lagged today; getting over a 9 hour time difference and an entire day of traveling home is a bit much.

TWO DAYS!!!

Wow, only 2 days until Italy! I can't believe it. I still have so much to do to prepare- yeah, I'm a major procrastinator! I am so excited!

For any of you who are interested, here is what my trip itinerary looks like:

Day 1 > June 11 > Start Tour

Day 2 > June 12 > Ciao Milan
Meet your Tour Director
Transfer to Venice
Dinner en route to Venice

Day 3 > June 13 > Venice Landmarks
Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
St. Mark’s Square
Basilica
Doges’ Palace visit
Glass-blowing demo

Day 4 > June 14 > Venice--Florence
Travel to Florence via Verona
Romeo and Juliet balcony
Pizza dinner

Day 5 > June 15 > Florence Landmarks
Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
Palazzo Vecchio
Chiesa di Santa Croce
Piazza della Signoria
Ponte Vecchio
Duomo visit
Leather workshop
Gates of Paradise
Giotto’s Bell Tower
Dante's house
Pisa guided excursion

Day 6 > June 16 > Florence--Rome
Travel to Rome via Assisi
St. Francis' Basilica visit
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Pantheon
Piazza Navona

Day 7 > June 17 > Rome Landmarks
Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
Sistine Chapel visit
St. Peter’s Basilica visit
Colosseum visit
Piazza Venezia
Forum visit


Day 8 > June 18 > Rome--Sorrento
Travel to Sorrento via Capri and Pompeii
Cameo workshop
Pompeii guided visit
Blue Grotto visit (weather permitting)

Day 9 > June 19 > Sorrento--Patras
Sorrento free time
Travel to Brindisi
Overnight ferry from Brindisi to Patras

Day 10 > June 20 > Patras--Tolo
Travel to Tolo via Olympia
Olympia site guided visit


Day 11 > June 21 > Tolo--Athens
Travel to Athens via Epidaurus & Mycenae
Epidaurus site guided visit
Mycenae site guided visit
Corinth Canal
Greek evening

Day 12 > June 22 > Athens Landmarks
Athens guided sightseeing tour
Parthenon
Acropolis visit
Temple of Athena Nike
Omonia Square
Syntagma Square
Olympic site
Athens city walk
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Hadrian’s Arch

Day 13 > June 23 > Delphi Landmarks
Delphi guided excursion
Temple of Apollo

Day 14 > June 24 > End Tour

Five Days

I leave to Europe in five days. Hazah!!!

Back Home

I am just getting home from my trip to Idaho. Usually we head up there to spend time with my grandma, but this time we were there on more somber business. On the 23rd of this month my great uncle, Bob Eames, passed away. This past wednesday evening my sister, older brother, and I drove up to Menan and then on Thursday went with my dad, stepmom, grandma, and my uncle Matt to the funeral. I have known Bob and his wife Jean for as long as I can remember and they have helped my grandma so much since my grandpa died so it was very sad to have to say goodbye. It was also difficult because it brought back so many memories of my grandpa's funeral which was about 5 1/2 years ago. It was, however, great to spend time with my family. There haven't been that many of us together since my grandpa's funeral so it was great to be able to hang out and reminisce. We looked through old photos and told old stories and it was great to pretend that for just one weekend we were all as close as we used to be. I guess that's the thing about funerals- they really are the most complicated, confusing swirl of emotions.

I'll miss you, Bob!