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.