Ciao & Arrivederci

Mark changed jobs in February, and we are all thankful to have him home at night now. When he was consulting, he traveled every week and racked up lots and lots of frequent flyer miles and hotel points. Knowing that airlines and hotels change the benefit rules and go out of business all the time, we decided to use up our points and planned a vacation to Italy for the days that we are the same age. There was a layover in Spain, and we didn't want to waste it in the airport, so we spent a day there too.

We left on April 21, which happened to be "Free Cone Day" at Ben & Jerry's, which stand was located right across from our gate. I thought that was a great way to start off our trip. Because of Mark's FF status, Iberian upgraded us to first class while flying across the Atlantic and I worried things were going so well that we'd end up crashing into the ocean by a desert island with nothing but a volleyball for lunch/companionship. (I felt very guilty riding in first class so I didn't sleep a wink.) It was a clear, sunny day in Spain, a little chilly in the shadows but it warmed through the day. Neither Mark nor I speak Spanish but we found those who did were very friendly and happy to help.

In the gardens outside the Prado museum

Next we went to Italy, landing in Venice. We got to the city as the tourists were departing and the rainstorms were too. Great timing! A little chilly and a lot touristy, but we had fun exploring and Mark negotiated a good deal on a gondola ride since the poor gondoliers had little business that day in the rainy weather.

We met up with my siblings in Lucca and drove off to Pisa in the tiny clown car.

The drive through Tuscany was lovely. The roads were tricky to navigate, but I wasn't driving or reading the map. We had to get out several times to take pictures because it was so beautiful. This was the highlight of the trip for me, either that or the gondola ride. Yes, I'm holding an apple in that picture. We kept buying fruit at every opportunity and for some reason, I took the fruit on a walk.

We stopped at a walled city called San Gimignano. They had 22 of these towers at one point and apparently were very competitive in their construction.



A lovely view from where Tyler and I waited for those who deigned to spend $ on using the bathroom.

Next, we went to Florence, where the crowds were thick as it was the end of "Culture week," and it seemed that all of Europe was there on Spring Break, not to mention some rowdy Americans, too. On the plus side, all of the museums were free! We found a really good place off the tourist path that night and ate there. Best food of the trip. My travel companions were great and one of them (I'll let you guess who) really enjoyed talking about music, children, cooking, and home decorating with me. But we were nice to the boys and didn't bring up childbirth once, even though she's currently pregnant.

Mark, Bruce, and Michelle organizing themselves in the Campo

I'm looking very crabby that morning outside the Duomo & cool Baptistry doors. Don't worry, I'm always cheerful in the mornings, even while traveling

Church was conveniently held in the basement of our hotel on Sunday morning, because it was District Conference. We were hoping to attend an Italian branch meeting but this was not bad since there were interpreters and how long has it been since I've attended Stake Conf without children? Tyler served his mission there a year ago, so he got to see many people he knew. Afterwards one of the members asked him if I was his little sister and he clarified that I was "molto, MOLTO grande!!!" That's right, 10 years older actually. But I was complimented.

We went to Sienna that afternoon and had a great lunch at a cafe with enormous portions. The funniest moment of the trip was when Bruce stabbed the cake on a nearby table, right after the Americans eating there left, and sampled it (on the side they weren't eating off, of course). He agreed with them that it was too dry.

We then went to Rome and drove all over creation trying to find our hotel before Mark, Tyler and I jumped out and just took a bus to it. We saw the usual things there:

Bruce and Mark listening to the AudiGuide Tours in the Colesseum

Bruce throwing a coin backward into the Trevi Fountains, wishing to return...
(When did this become Bruce's blog?? He doesn't even read my blog!!)

At the Spanish Steps in the rain

And here were are at the last day in front of St. Peter's Cathedral, which is one heck of a humongous cathedral with Peter's tomb in the basement. What are the odds he's still down there? Anyone?

It was a great trip and a wonderful break from the diapers, dishes, delivering kids to actys, etc. I missed the children a lot and was really happy to see them upon returning and extremely grateful to my parents for taking such good care of them while we were away. And sure enough, Max learned to walk while we were gone. He didn't even remember who I was when I picked him up Thursday morning!

Wow, you deserve a prize if you actually read this whole post. Contact my husband and maybe you can convince him too (although first you'll have to explain to him that the blog post exists).
For any true gluttons for punishment, there are more pictures in this slide show thingy if you really want to look at them. Sorry to anyone else who suffered through it out of duty. No more trips for awhile- all the points are gone.