Vegas

I took Rex on his first trip to Vegas! Andy didn't go on his first trip until he was over 30 years old. Rex thought it was great. We stayed at Julie's parents house and they had a pool. He turned into a little daredevil just jumping in. Gotta keep my eyes and hands on him at all times!

He was also great on the plane. Walking up and down the aisles talking with everyone. People trying to give him apples. Letting him play with their ipads. He's a charmer!

 We went to Treasure Island. Rex did a bit of gambling.

 Water baby

He loved the airport.

 We had the whole row to ourselves on the way back- pshew!

Home at last- babies require a lot of stuff!

Hawaii

Seems like ages ago we were actually in Hawaii, but it was just in August. I had to go for work so we made a trip of it with the boys too. First time flying with both the kids. Turned out better than I imagined it might. Hard flying red eye on the way back though with Leo. Cars keep him occupied these days, which is great for plane rides. Leo's favorites these days are his Lightning McQueen and Mater. He's still very interested in books, which is a lot of fun. He loves to read along. Any books with cars in them.

Vinnie is still reading and fighting it all the time. Loves being tickled and lots of attention from his daddy.

They were both afraid of the pools when we first got there. Once Andy and Vin went to the beach and he got his boogie board he hung out in the ocean every afternoon.

Vinnie likes Hawaii because it has "three pools". The hotel we stayed at had three pools. We were at Turtle Beach Resort in Oahu North shore.

We got a jeep because the boys thought it would be really cool. Not cool. Fitting two large suitcases, a roll bag, two kids with car seats, Andy and I in a two door jeep. Really not cool.

More photos to come soon!

Disneyland

We just got home from Disneyland, and unfortunately two of us have returned with Bronchitis, but at least we were not sick on the trip and had a ton of fun!

Andy and I took Vinnnie with us to Disneyland for Halloween. We were trying to explain what Disneyland is to him, but he had never heard of it before. Now that he's been I hope that he remembers and loves Disneyland as much as I did when I was a kid.

A couple of his favorite rides: Matterhorn, Pirates of the Caribbean (I might have had some influence on this one), Thunder mountain Railroad, Soaring over California, Astro Blasters and World of Color. (us on Astro Blasters)

Rides he did not like: Space Mountain, note to those of you with little kids- don't take them on rides that Disney says "may be frightening for children", it really is scary. Anything that got him wet- Splash Mountain, Grizzley Bear Run. And he liked the Haunted Mansion, but hates the beginning in the elevator. He always hid his face for that part, but loved to find Zero everywhere once we were on the ride. He started calling it the "Zero ride".

Aunty Lesley spent a day with us at the park, her and Vinnie had a lot of fun. We're definitely not as cool as she is, so she was greatly missed on our last day.

Vinnie got to pick out one toy on our last day, and it took us a while to find it, but we found a Wall-E doll that he loved. I had just gotten him a Sack Person doll before we left, which he LOVES, so much so the poor doll looked like he had had it for 5 years by the time we left LA. He asked me to take a picture of him with both of them, and then had me take several more because he didn't like the way he looked in the picture. If you're looking for a Christmas gift for him Wall-E and Sack Person are at the top of his favorite list these days. Here's his favorite picture of them:

If you're planning a trip to Disneyland I would highly suggest going in November. We had nice weather, almost 100 degrees one day, and NO lines. It turned out to be the perfect time to go.

Lots more to post about the trip, and I have lots of other photos I am in the midst of scrapbooking, plus I still want to put together my December Daily book. Hopefully I'll have time for everything before December starts!

Last of Italy

If anyone is travelling anywhere I would highly suggest bringing Rick Steves with you. His guides to all the sites give you a great understanding of what you're looking at and why, and he doesn't go so far that you're bored, just enough that you get the facts. Invest in another map though, his are not always that helpful.

Me and "Rick" (as we call our book) in front of St. Marks' Basillica. The whole inside dome is made up of glass mosaic. Imagine covering an entire football field with contact lenses, that's how many pieces of glass are in there.

Cute polizia in Venice. Think he noticed I was taking their picture?

After fighting with Expedia for 7HOURS we missed home so much we ate at the Hard Rock in Venice.

Then went out for some Italian Ice Cream- Gelato

Us at the Rialto bridge, a spot for lovers!

On our way to the other boat that will take us on our 1 1/2hr trip to the airport.

(Isn't he so cute?!)

And us in Paris at the airport. We had these grand plans of going out and seeing Paris in the short time were there, but we were so tired it didn't happen.

We didn't make it to a hotel in Paris until midnight, and then were informed that the air traffic controllers were going on strike! We had no idea if we were going to be able to fly out in the morning or not. I just wanted to be home so badly!

So we showed up at the airport early, checked in, got on our flight, lucked out on the seats because the person next to us couldn't make it, and we took the long flight home.

Thanks for following along on our adventure! Now to scrapbook all these photos!

Trapped

Not sure if any of you watch the news, but Lufthansa airlines just went on strike.

Global pain is the truth. Guess what airline we were supposed to fly back! We spent 7 hours on the phone with Expedia and Lufthansa yesterday because Expedia did not make the change we wanted made. So now we're supposed to fly out today at 8pm, into Paris for the night, then out at 1030hrs in the morning. Which means we have to find some place to stay in Paris, and pack up and check out today from Venice, fly but not till way later when we have to check out at 11am, stay over night for less than 12 hours, then fly again. We're not happy. Especially all the time that we've spent on the phone with these people!

Note to self, never book your flight through expedia, they are completely unhelpful. Their call staff are idiots and they don't listen to you, and they all sound like their going to cry. UGH!

At this point we're just hoping to get home. Wish us luck on this adventure.

That's Andy in front of the Arsenal entrance. We stumbled upon this randomly, and didn't know what it was until we were in the Correr museum and saw maps of Venice and small versions of ships that were made there. I had no idea, but Venice was a huge trade hub for all of the Mediterranean and Asia until a battle in 1571 where they lost their ships and 20,000 men. At that point Spain took over with its bigger ships that could handle the high seas.

Si, Venice is sinking

We got stuck trying to get to the Ghetto by all the flooded streets, and had to come up with our own interesting way to make it there. All the major streets were full of water, some about a foot high.
But we made it to the ghetto, the original place where the term was coined.We also visited the Frari Church. You can't take pictures in there, but I snuck this one. They have these black guys holding up this massive monument. Cracks me up. They have huge lips and big eyes, very American depiction of "negros" from the 1940s. It's pretty common over here, and these builings were built in 1250!
We also visisted Ca Rezzonico, but you really can't take pictures in there. It's a house with lots of artwork. Very pretty to think of pulling up on your gondola in a ball gown and a mask in hand for a party at this house!



Then we went to dinner, a proper dinner at Al Gondolieri. Super yummy and nice. Once we sat they served us this cup of vegetables that looked like flowers. It was a very nice dinner, and we were in rain boots that we borrowed from the hotel so we could get there. Looked pretty funny!

And even though it's flooding, Venice is still beautiful!

Venizia

Just a couple of photos from our first day in Venice. We visited the Accademia museum, can't take pictures in there, and the Peggy Gugenheim museum, full of modern art, and la Salute Church. After lunch we decided to visit several other restaurants and eat and drink, get lost on all the side streets and enjoy our day.

That's a spritz, very common Venizian drink. I think it's made with artichoke juice or something? Wasn't as tasty as I thought it would be.

Us on one of the many bridges here

Strange thing about toilets in Rome and Venice is that you rarely find one with the seat cover! I thought they just didn't buy that part of the toilet to save money, but this ones been ripped off!

So beautiful here. All the movies I've seen that have been filmed here do not do this place justice.

Oh just DHL making their deliveries- in a boat!

And I thought the streets in Rome were tiny!

Arrivederci Roma

We spent our last 36 hours in Rome running around like crazy people trying to see every last thing we could.

We started our last full day at the Vatican City and saw the biggest church (a football field long) I think in the world, St Peters Basilica. It’s where the Pope would conduct mass if he so chose. Previously this was a site to kill Christians as entertainment about 2,000 years ago. This went on until Christianity was legalized in 313. Then they started building the Basillica. It took several artists/architects and a 120 years to build the final church.

Once inside the church felt much smaller than you would expect, which was on purpose. There are statues all the way down on the wall at eye level that are 15ft tall, and then ones that are 20 ft above those that are 21ft tall, making them look the same size from where we were standing. It was very beautiful to see, and learn about it.

Also, the Vatican is it’s own city in Rome. It has it’s own postal system (and we used it to send out post cards), helio pad, armed guard, and everything. We meant to see the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel as well today, but were unable to fit it in, so came back on our last morning in Rome. Definitely glad we did not miss it. If you don’t know much about the Sistine Chapel I would suggest looking it up, the ceiling is a history of the world before the birth of Jesus. Including the floods and Noah etc. It took Michelangelo 4 years to paint it!

This statue is of Mary and Jesus. It's in St. Peter's Basillaca behind plate glass because at some point some crazy man came in and started chipping away at the statue with a chisle!

Okay, back to our crazy day! After we left the Vatican we rushed to the Northern most point of Rome, Piazza del Popolo which was set up for a concert. The only straight road in Rome starts here, Via Del Corso. The street leads all the way to the Forum and Colosseum. In 1840 Pope Sixtus IV recognized that pilgrims who came to Rome from the North were getting a very bad impression when they entered Rome from here because nothing in Rome is straight, and back then this point was all in ramshackles, so he had them fix it up and build a straight road for traffic. Something I didn’t know about Rome till I got here was that there is a lot of Egyptian influence. They have obelisks everywhere! I’m still not sure why that is yet. But there is one in the center of Piazza del Popolo.

Okay then we had our leisurely lunch and practically ran to make our appointment at the Borghese museum! The museum is full of art, it used to be the Borghese’s home! Each room has a statue by Bernini, who commissioned a lot of art for Rome. His work is amazing, the details are to perfection. Unfortunately you can’t take pictures, but you can find it online if you’re interested. They also had a room full Egyptian art.

By the time we came out it was raining and Andy had no hood. So as we made our way back to Trastevere we walked down the Spanish Steps (romantic spot named for the Spanish Embassy, and with a Bernini statue of a sinking boat at the bottom).

Us soaking wet on the Spanish Steps

Our savior- the iPhone

We then swung by the most lavish McDonalds we’ve ever seen so Andy could take a picture with the Mcitaly sign. Then we made our way to Piazza Navona which would have been a really nice square to hang out in the summer, but again it was raining. There were three fountains in the middle of the square, the biggest in the middle was built by Bernini (now that I know who he is, he’s everywhere!) it’s called the 4 Rivers Fountain. Then we walked through Campo de’ Fiori. Then back to our place.

Once again we were so tired when we got back we didn’t eat dinner.

One thing before we leave Rome, people drive very small cars and there seem to be no parking rules around here, so people park everywhere, even on the crosswalks and sidewalks! There are no Tahoes around here that's for sure. Smart cars are super popular, but still not the smallest car around! Check out this parking job, not uncommon in Rome.

Our hotel bathroom had a bidet. No Andy it's not for drinking water!And a crazy shower that needs instructions. I never could figure it out.Oh and everyone over here has these puffy shinny jackets. Those are guys btw.

And to Venice we go! Arrivederci Roma!

Buonjourno

It's morning over here and we are having such a hard time adjusting to the time change! We keep falling asleep at 7pm, and have yet been able to go out for a grand Italian dinner. I'm hoping by the time we get to Venice we will be better adjusted to the time. We leave Rome tomorrow so today is our last day to see everything. And there's lots to see! We still have yet to step into a museum, but we've seen lots of sights, and have walked everywhere! And we keep getting lost, so much so that we even walked off Rick Steves map of Rome and into some strange areas.

Consulting Rick Steves How everyone gets anywhere around here

Tiny streets make me look huge

Yesterday we saw St. Peter's Chains, the only monument that we were able to find on the first try, and we didn't believe we were actually there! Then we visted the Roman baths, which now looks like a church, but has that line through the floor like the one in the DaVincci Code, Rose Line, I think he calls it. Then we visited the Gesu church, which was the coolest weve seen so far. The ceiling looked 3D with the painting and sculptures, amazing! Then it rained, so we headed back, picked up a bottle of wine on the way and drank half a glass before we fell asleep!

Today we're off to the Vatican, Borghese Gardens, Spanish Steps, and lots of other sites, wish us luck, we have a busy day ahead of us, and it's 9:45am and we're still sitting at breakfast!

The line from the daVinci Code at the Baths

Baths of Diocletian- no water anymore

Gesu church ceiling- amzing!

Hanging out at an Irish pub!

The Marcelynas' cheersing us off with Proseco!

More updates tomorrow!