Drew's take on Italy

This is just a short note to add some of my thoughts on Italy, in addition to what Christina has written.

#1. Italian gelato, even the "fake tourist" stuff is amazing. American ice cream just doesn't cut it.

#2. American pizza is 10 times better than Italian pizza. I suppose this means Nic's Boston-Italian pizza is more Boston than Italy. That's a good thing.

#3. Il Colosseo is too impressive to explain in writing, with pictures, or even in video. It's one of those things that you have to experience for yourself. Actually stepping on the 2000 year old structure is awe-inspiring.

#4. The smoking in Europe is nauseating.

#5. Coke tastes better in the States. AND, it's much cheaper. $5 for a 20 oz is rediculous.

#6. We could not have gone without so much help from so many people. Thanks to all who helped and contributed to our trip in so many different ways.

ps #7. Jet lag is real, and its horrible!!!! Take my advice, if you ever travel a moderate distance, get sleeping pills and USE them!

See Italia Post

I finally put together some of my favorite pictures from Italy. I thought that the easiest way to share our pictures would be to upload them into Picasa instead of posting each one. I have made a separate post "Italia" for you to view them. The first is a movie of the collective pictures and the other is just access to go through the pictures at will. This is the first time I've used Picasa (so far I really like it) so please let me know if there are any problems. Unfortunately, I forgot to add the pictures from our other memory card encompassing most of our pictures of Venice and Osoppo so I'll add those later!

Enjoy the photos! I am so unbelievably happy with how some of them turned out :)
Please just let me know if you would like to use them.

A little about our trip:
Flew into Venice and took a bus ride with my sister Vanessa to meet up with Erika & Layne. Meeting in San Marco's square we shared a Gondola ride:) Returned on the train to Sacile, then drove to my sister's villa. From this point on we were terribly jet lagged.

Day 2: E&L left to go to Florence/Siena. V took us to Slovenia to see some magnificent caves and a castle built into a cave. We also watched a car derby that was going on when we arrived! It was so fun to watch.Slovenia definitely has some of the most beautiful landscapes we saw on our trip.

Day3: We jumped in a van with an LDS family V is friends with to get a free ride to Pisa. Europeans are such crazy drivers! Spent the day in Pisa then caught the train to Florence. Arrived in Florence at our wonderful 4 start hotel (buffet breakfast!), walked around the Duomo and wandered around.

Day 4: Went shopping in the little markets in Florence and Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, walked around botanical gardens and San Lorenzos. First Gelato of many!! :)

Day 5: Took slow train to Rome, about 4hrs :( Met up with E&L, Spanish Steps, Piazza de Popolo
BEST meal in Italy at Il Gabriello (see pics)

Day 6: Vatican City, Pantheon, Night walk including Piazza de Navona and Trevi Fountain
Found the most amazing gelato getting lost north of Campo di Fiori and The Pantheon!

Day 7: Colosseo, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. This was the best thing we did in Rome.
It was so amazing be inside the Colosseum, but my favorite part was seeing the Roman Forum and being able to walk around the rubble of ancient Rome. Nationale Museum and dinner outside the Pantheon.

Day 8: Went with E&L to Villa Borghese while Drew slept in :) Took fast train back to Venice, then to Sacile (prob 6hours total?) Back in Ranzano/Aviano

Day 9: Took E&L to the airport. Spent the day in Venice with V. Shopped at the little vendors, "blank" bridge (can't remember the name now, V?) Visited San Marco's square (again), Went inside Basilica di San Marco. Experienced the most amazing Italian hot chocolate (which is thick like pudding! How I miss it!) V&D took us out to Gelindo dei Magredi for dinner. The most amazing dinner experience ever! We each got two courses and I was so stuffed! The restaurant is on a farm and most items are homemade/fresh. The homemade applejuice was amazing!

Day 10: Went to the air base to watch I. and E's soccer games. We stayed there for most of the days watching several soccer games. It was so nice to relax outside. Went to the commissary then to pizzaria for dinner and the best gelato we had the whole trip near Ranzano.

Day 11: Stake Conference Italian Style (had to wear the little headsets with interpreters... who weren't very good) :( I listened a few talkers that I did like though.Conference was in Venice in the convention room of a hotel. Visited and walked about Osoppo! Osoppo is a historical fortress that was also used during WWII. It was set on a hill with the most spectacular views! I learned from Wikipedia that La Fortezza o Rocca di Osoppo, now an historical attraction played a large role in the defense of Venice against the Austrians in the late 1850s during the time of the Italian Risorgomento, the struggle for the unification and independence of Italy. Interesting. One of my other favorite things. I am so glad we got to go!

Day12: Travel & Home

Thanks V&D, and E&L! And to everyone! It was amazing!

All in all, Italy was such an amazing place to see. The experience is almost indescribable because it really it is just an experience to be had. Some of my favorite things: Dinner is relaxed, slow, and to be enjoyed for hours upon hours. No one rushes, dinner is expected to be drawn out usually with wine or coffee. Drew and I had some of the best/romantic times just talking for hours at a little dinner table off a hidden cobblestone path. It's almost disgusting to come home and restaurants only care about turning tables here. Ugh!

Everyone walks everywhere and there are tons of little shops and markets to see. (Drew and I both lost weight being as busy as we were seeing everything. We skipped meals some days just trying to fit everything in and doing all that walking!)

The gelato and hot chocolate was amazing. I miss it already :( The architecture is awe inspiring. I can't believe what the Romans were able to accomplish! The roaring nightlife/social life. Decreased consumerism.

I hope you all can go there sometime. I'm sure we will never be able to go back, but I would go to Greece, Spain, and Egypt as well if I get the chance.

Italia

Exported Videos

Italy Pictures Oct 09

Coming Soon...

I finally sent out all the invites for operation private blog.
Ok, Italy pictures are coming soon!
We have over 1,000 pictures to sort through so please be patient.
I will be working today and tomorrow on them.
I'll get a few of the best up here as soon as possible for your little eyeballs to gobble up.

Here's one:

Venice... and yes it was a little colder that day,
for the most part Italy has the most amazing weather in October.

Italy

We are now back in the U.S of A! We had a blast, but very happy to be back in our own bed and home of course.
I want to share all of our pictures and experiences and what not, but I think it's about time for our blog to go private! I've been wanting to do this for a really long time. I guess I've just been looking for the right time to make the break.
SO if you want to see Italy pictures, send me an e-mail, or write a message to this post and I'll make sure you get an invite. I'll send an invite to most of you that I know anyhow, but just let me know!

Counting Down

Fly to Italy in t-minus 14 1/2 hours
Venice
Aviano
Florence
Rome
Slovenia
HOme

Thank you everyone who made this experience possible.
We love you!

Talk to you in 12 days!