Grandma's....

MARCH 2012

 

Our bus driver Luigi (pictured above in the sunglasses with Uncle Bruno knew of a great little place out in the middle of nowhere. He had called Grandma the night before and ask her if she could accomodate 50+ of us for lunch and she said "YES"! So off we went, Grandma even agreed to come upstairs and show us how to make homemade fettuccine. It was awesome, as was dessert! And let's not forget to mention the wine, white and red.

Also pictured above (below Luigi & Uncle Bruno) is Mrs. Miroff....she's the one we traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria with in '08. What a blessing to be able to travel to Italy with her this year, she's awesome. And the picture on the bottom right is the few from Grandma's front porch....I could have stayed there forever.

More pics from Pisa....

 

A few pics from the top of the tower and inside the baptistery.

PISA....

MARCH 2012

 

We traveled to Pisa, a city in Tuscany in Central Italy. I LOVED PISA! This was not on our itinerary so when the opportunity came to go I jumped at it. As soon as we got there we purchased tickets to go to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa....297 steps up and 297 down. Our time was limited but I knew I would probably never get the chance again. The view from the top was gorgeous.

Glass blown demonstration....

 

Our first stop in Venice was to see a glass blown demonstration....very neat to watch and amazing to see the outcome (which is the horse in the middle picture on the right). The bottom right are the earrings that Kayla bought while we were there (at the group discount rate, of course).

Heading to Venice....

MARCH 11, 2012
 

From left to right....Kayla & I waiting to board the water taxi to Venice. Morgan, Lauren, Anna, and Kayla waiting to do the same. A view of Venice from the water taxi. A lighthouse that I was super excited to see. A view down one of the canals. The Rialto Bridge. Our gondola ride on the Grand Canal. Another view from a water taxi Kayla & I took in Venice. The Doge Palace. Kayla at the Doge Palace. And an amazing sunset as we were leaving Venice.

Venice was the first major city we toured in Italy....absolutely breathtaking (nothing like the stories I had heard). The friends that traveled with me made it that much more amazing. We kept saying to one another...."we're in Italy". We had to pinch ourselves daily.

Post graduation....

Graduation....

Kayla graduated from high school tonight. Holy smoke, where did the time go? I am SO proud of her. She had an amazing turn out of family and friends to watch her accept her diploma. CONGRATULATIONS KAYLA!!!

Senior Prom....