Florence

Monday
Monday we said goodbye to Rome and headed to Florence, via train.  I was SUPER nervous about getting to the train on time and getting on the right train.  Turns out, not so hard.  When your train arrives, they put the train number up and the platform number beside it.  The hardest part was being patient until our train arrived, since I had gotten us there so early.
When we got to our hotel, the room wasn't ready yet, so we headed off to Florence's Duomo:

And to see the BEAUTIFUL baptistry doors...

...Along with Florence's Piazza della Signoria:

Then we walked across the Florence's famous Ponte Vecchio:



We were pretty exhausted, so we headed back towards the hotel and had a low-key dinner nearby.  Our waiter was HORRIBLE though and even "sushed" Mark.  Haha.  Just when I was thinking that all Italians were so friendly.  Oh well, can't win them all, especially when you don't speak the language.

Tuesday

Tuesday, our day looked a lot like this:

Picture from VirtualTourist.com

Yes, my friends, this is a 2 1/2 hour line.  I had seen Michelangelo's David on my last trip to Italy and TRIED to convince Mark to skip this altogether.  Advice: If you really must see David...

(PG version)

...you can pay 4 more Euros in advance to make a "reservation" to the Accademia for a certain time slot.  Totally worth it!  On the up-side, we did make some friends in the line who recommended our the restaurant that we went to that evening (more on that in a second)...

We were smart enough to get a reservation for the Uffizi.  The Uffizi is pretty amazing, but definitely an overwhelming amount of art, including Botticelli's "Birth of Venus". 

After the Uffizi, we went to dinner at "Trattoria 4 Leoni", which I highly recommend (thank you girls in line at the Accademia).  I had a pasta filled with pear, in an alfredo type sauce.  Delicious!  We also had our first Crostini di fegato, or chicken liver paste, which is popular amoung the Florentines.  Sounds gross, but quite good actually.  Here's the website for our restaurant if you are interested: http://www.4leoni.com/index.php

After dinner, we ran into this:

Even in Italy, I have to be reminded of Auburn and their nation title... Don't worry, Mark gave them a loud "ROLL TIDE" and we went over to say hello.  They didn't like us much after the "roll tide" though, except the lady taking their picture on the right...she's a Bama fan, married to their teacher.

Walk Like a ROMAN?

Sunday
Our last day in Rome was spent at the Colosseum:  

And The Roman Forum. Mark LOVED all of the ancient Roman architecture and remains.  I, to be completely honest, could have skipped this day... Don't get me wrong, it is a must-see, but once is probably enough for most people.  I admit that I got a little bored walking aimlessly around the ruins for a second time.  And, my disappointment continued when I discovered that the only thing I was interested in seeing, Caesar Augustus' house (since it wasn't open to the public when I went in 2003), was only opened during scheduled hours, by appointment...which my book failed to mention.  Also, the uneven ground KILLED my knee; surgery will not be fair off for me.  Turns out, I can not walk like a Roman (for those of you wondering, I know it's "Egyptian"). 

I did perk up on the walk back to the hotel and moved with impressive speed to take a picture of this:

Hahahahaha.  I feel like you would never see THIS kind of PDA in America.  Love it!

Mark and I had quite an experience at dinner though; which, I failed to capture on film.  I had been talking about antipasti plates since we got to Rome and how on my last trip it was one of my favorite parts of Italian meals.  I went on and on about olives, sliced sausages and meats, cheese, fried vegetables... So, on our last night in Rome, Mark and I ordered the "House Antipasti" at our restaurant.  What came out of the kitchen was a BASKET of sausage, a cutting board, and a knife.  *Insert surprised look on my face*  This is followed by a bowl of some kind of spreadable cheese and a cooking pot full of mozzarella.
I apologize to Mark, as he figures out how to cut the sausage.  THEN, they bring out platters of different fried vegetables and place spoonfuls of them on our plates.  It was the weirdest way to be served in a restaurant!  Once we had a chance to take what meat and cheese we wanted, they took those baskets, bowls, and pots away too...to share with another table...I guess?  It was delicious, but definitely unusual.  Here we are post meal, happy as clams (though somewhat sunburned from a full day outside):

Before we ended our last night in Rome, we took one more glance as The Spanish Steps.  Still not sure I get the popularity of them, but "when in Rome..."

  

When in Rome...

Last week, Mark and I took our first trip to Europe as a couple (and Mark's first trip EVER to Europe).  I was a little nervous because:

1) We knew zero Italian.  Ok, Mark knew "arrivederci" and was a little too excited about it.  And I knew "scusi" and used it way too often, and not always in a nice way.

2) I had done a similar trip with my parents and worried that I would be disinterested repeating it.

Conclusion...Italy is AMAZING over and over again, and EVERYONE speaks English (the Italians, the French, the Dutch).  Here are the highlights from Rome...

Friday

We flew out of Charlotte on Thursday afternoon and arrived in "Roman Time" on Friday morning.  We made our way to our tiny hotel (with no elevator), freshened up a bit, and headed right back out to take in the sights.  First stop, Trevi Fountain:

Off to the Pantheon:

There are ancient ruins everywhere (and no, this isn't the Roman Forum)

Dinner with a couple from Holland (where I learned that Europeans rely on english too when they are traveling), back to the Trevi Fountain for one more look, and Mark's first experience with gelato.  Oh, and don't worry, the gelato definitley got a little bigger each day...not that we ate it everyday...

Saturday
We woke up as early as we could on Saturday to get to Vatican City.  Unfortunately, due to lack of sleep, continental breakfast, and a bit of a walk, we didn't make it to the Vatican until 9:50.  The line was crazy long!  We walked around it and to the front, contemplating our next move, then they opened the gates and we were pretty much pushed in.  I mean, there was nothing we could do about it...I wouldn't even call it breaking.  But it was worth it (and don't worry, karma gets us back in Florence), and we climbed to the top of the cupola for some amazing views of the inside of the Saint Peter's and overlooking Rome:

When we got outside, we took a picture together and Mark asked what we were going to do with the rest of our day.  I said I was surprised that we finished so early and had no idea what we were supposed to do.  We started walking away from the Vatican when it hit me...Sistine Chapel!  And the Vatican Museum.  I'm not sure Mark would have forgiven me if we had left out this:

 BTW, you are NOT supposed to take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel, but try telling that to Mark.

Whew!  I didn't even make it through all of Rome! Next post: Colosseum/Roman Forum then off to Florence...

NOT skipping ahead

Mark and I just returned from Italy, but I refuse to skip ahead to my recent trip until I at least MENTION Brewfest and Alice's wedding.

Brewfest is one of my favorite things to do each June.  I like having a reason to go to Sloss Furnace (a venue I don't get to visit too often) and a reason to sample different beers from around the country.  And, since Alice's wedding was the following night, Bree and Shelly were there!

Photo Bombed!!

I've been super jealous of Meredith and Mark's "couple's pictures" relationship, so I asked Cameron to be my "picture boyfriend."  Obviously, he understood that to mean "let me look like some creepy annoying girl who hangs all over you..." 

That night, we even managed to convince the boys to be in a picture with us...rare occasion:

Saturday night, we celebrated Blake and Alice in true "American Style."  And by "American Style", I do not mean "American" style.  Picture below...bride's dad dressed in Revolutionary War attire.  It doesn't get more American or Stylish than that:

But don't worry, Alice was beautiful enough in her wedding gown to overshadow her stylish father.  And it was a perfect day for an outside wedding:

Next up...ITALY!

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend was spent in one of my favorite places...Destin!  Mark and I got a few of our mutual friends together for an "Adult Spring Break" style weekend.  It was tame (I didn't got out a single night), but so much fun.  Of course, I didn't take a single picture.  But, as luck would have it, my personal photographer was there.  I suggest that you run on over to her blog (MERE'S BLOG) to see some of our pictures.  Yes, the underwater ones are AHH-MAZING...and taken on her digital camera.

Hope everyone got to enjoy a day off of work and a chance to remember those who have given their lives, or a big chunk of their time, to protect our freedom (Shout out to my brother-in-law).

Weddings!

Mark and I had 3 very good friends get married within a 7 day span.  It was nuts-o…but also, so much fun!  Sunday, May 15, one of Mark’s besties from high school, Michael, got hitched.  Mark is the adorable groomsman shown below (who looks like he’s having a blast). 

Michael’s new wife, Hillary, is someone I absolutely adore.  She has been around longer than I have, so I feel like she and Michael have been married for years.  So, it was definitely fun to see them finally tie-the-knot.  And they did it in style with a beautiful outdoor, southern wedding; complete with bluegrass band.

 

 

Saturday, May 21, Mark and I had to divide and conquer!  One of Mark’s friends from high school, Matt, got married the same day as my friend from high school, Jennifer.  I took the camera, so Mark has zero pictures.  Quite frankly, I should have let him have it, because my friends know how to take some pictures.  Regardless, here are a few of my favorites from Jennifer and Rich’s wedding reception:

PLEASE look at Jennifer's nephews in on the left of this next picture.  ADORABLE!  The two oldest ones were in the wedding and would have stolen the show had the bride not been absolutely beautiful.

It was a tad difficult to get everyone to look at the correct camera (or even at a camera) during this massive group picture, below.  Still cute though.  And fun to look at the different versions of it on facebook.

Family shots!!

After the wedding, we went to Pale Eddie's.  There's a chance I had too much fun, but totally worth it:

Doing My Part

Is it June already?  I guess it's time for me to play "catch up" and update what I've been doing since the Derby...
Since the tornadoes hit Alabama on April 27, I feel like everyone has come together to show what we Southerners are made of…  My sweet mother gave up a more tradition Mother’s Day at the “Decorators’ Show House” to volunteer with Mountain Chapel UMC at another church in Cahaba Heights.  When I found out where we would be volunteering (a house owned by Cahaba Heights UMC), I thought "I think I know that house".  When we got there, what I thought was confirmed.  Three of my Sumatanga friends lived in that exact house, during my Birmingham-Southern years.  My roommate, Cori, and I used to go over there for what we called "meat night".  The boyse cooked us meat (seriously, only meat) and we would hangout together singing/talking/playing games.  One of them slept against this very wall:

Valerie, my mom, and I enjoyed our day together and felt like some powerful ladies after kicking some butt out there.

The next weekend, I went with Meredith mom’s company (Bryant Bank) to Pleasant Grove to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse. It was a different experience having heavy equipment to help us get the job done faster. And it was fun to see what my friends are made of…that’s right Chelsey and Meredith, I’m talking about you! Chelsey is a “don’t quit until you get the job done” kind of girl, and Meredith is a “plan it out and get it down fast and efficiently” kind of girl. Meredith’s mom and Jeremy also volunteered with us and were all over the place doing whatever was needed. Check out Meredith's Blog for pictures.

I haven’t been brave enough to visit Tuscaloosa to volunteer, but that is next on my list. Unfortunately, I think Tuscaloosa will need our help for a long time. So, GET OUT THERE!..and help any way you can.