Well hello again. Wondering where I've been? Everywhere, so it may seem.
This post has been promised to you, and without a doubt, a long time coming. So, let me take you back. All the way back to Christmas, when we traveled to Italy and Turkey.
Warning: this post is long.
On December 27th we boarded a plane, two planes to be exact, that took us to Rome, Italy. We had a connecting flight in Istanbul, in which I took full last-minute advantage of the airport Starbucks and ordered myself a white-chocolate-mocha-with skim milk-hold the whip please. Whatever, I can be particular, Starbucks and I have been separated for months.
The first plane ride was 6 hours, the connecting flight was 2 1/2 hours. After begging a one-year-old to take nap on the plane, eat something besides crackers, be a little quieter, and finally, change a diaper on my lap...we made it. Italy at last.
For the next three days, we explored Rome. We explored hard. From before sun-up, because our baby woke up at 3:30am due to jet lag, to sun-down.
AG understood that we were in Italy and needed to take advantage of our time here, so she napped in the stroller. Bless her.
Let me just say, being a history major, I LOVED Rome. This city is incredible. Even if you aren't a History major, check it out. Save every penny you have, and even if you are 70 years old when you finally have enough money, go. Everyone should visit this place.
Our first night in Rome, we went to a cute little local Italian restaurant where the bruschetta was amazing. By the way, did you know it's pronounced bru-SKetta and not bru-SHetta? Who knew! Well, apparently the Italians..
Our first morning in Rome we were out by 5:00am due to jet lag. So we went to a local cafe, and explored the city pretty much by ourselves, since everyone was still sleeping.
This is a "five o'clock in the morning selfie." Didn't know that was a thing?
A few hours later, after everyone in Rome woke up, we ventured to the Colosseum area to spend the day. This day was so fun. Since we opted out of a tour guide (so not our thing), we bought a few books on the Colosseum and the surrounding area so we could have the freedom to do as we please. After we walked through the Colosseum, we ventured outside and explored the other ancient ruins of all the palaces.
Addie loved playing on the ancient ruins...
We spent all day around the Colosseum area of the city. We then walked towards the Trevi Fountain, you know, that place where you throw a coin? We were lame a didn't throw one...too many people.
We didn't know the Trevi Fountain was going to be such a big hit so we fled the scene pretty quickly. Luckily, there are tons of shops in this area, so we escaped to rooms filled with purses made of Italian leather, scarves, jewelry, and lots of other fun things. I loved it. The shops were nestled into narrow alleyways, made of streets of cobblestone and lined with old buildings of various colors and scalloped rooftops.
A few hours and miles later, we decided to plant ourselves at a local cafe in the middle of the square to sit for a while. As we were enjoying a snack, two men with a guitar and accordion walked directly in front of us to play and sing a couple of songs...while staring at us. After they graced us with their performance, they decided they deserved payment, so one of the men walked up to us and held out his hand for money. Yes, we gave him some money. We figured he needed it more than us.
The following day we took the metro to the Vatican and St. Peters Church. If you have a baby, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Don't wait in line. No really, don't. We bypassed a two hour wait to get into the Vatican AND and three hour wait for St. Peters Church, because we had a baby.
The Vatican museum is HUGE. So huge, that I became a bit of a grump. Probably because (1) I don't appreciate art (2) Hundreds of busts made of marble all begin to look the same (3) All I wanted was to see the Sistine Chapel...which was at the VERY END of the tour (4) All painted ceilings begin to look like...a painted ceiling (5) my husband wanted to look at EVERY SINGLE THING (6) I had an irritable baby to console (7) some rooms were so packed you couldn't move (8) ALL I WANTED TO SEE WAS THE SISTINE CHAPEL (9) Finally!! The Sistine Chapel!!...and you aren't allowed to take pictures so when I pulled out my camera I got yelled at by a guard (10) I was already stressed because I had a grumpy baby and the tour was taking FOREVER, so finally when we got to the Sistine Chapel and I got yelled at...I cried (11) I cried
After the Vatican, we bypassed the three hour wait for St. Peters Church (largest church in the world) and briefly explored the grand building made of the finest of materials. We walked below, to where the former Popes are buried, which was...interesting(?).
That evening, we went to dinner at this cute, romantic cafe. Afterwards, we strolled back to our hotel and got gelato (duh) on the way back. We may have eaten gelato EVERY DAY.
After a few days in Rome, we took a taxi, plane, and boat to our hotel in Venice. Venice was so beautiful. SO beautiful. This was the relaxing part of our vacation.
We arrived on Christmas Eve and basically just walked, shopped, ate, and slept for the next couple of days. Venice is a sinking city. In the morning, the entire city is covered in about a foot of water. You know who the locals are because they are wearing waders. Shoot. Forgot to bring my waders to Italy.
On Christmas day, we woke up, ate breakfast, and let Addie Grace open her gifts. Since we were traveling...and she's ONE...we got her three things: A stuffed puppy, a mechanical puppy, and a squishy ball. She loves animals and balls right now, so all of her gifts seemed fitting for her stage of life. Guess what her favorite gift was? The one that cost $1: the squishy ball.
She was terrified of the mechanical puppy. Eric and I just knew she would love it. We would talk about her opening the gift, her reaction, how her eyes would light up and a huge smile would spread across her face. Nope. She cried. Then ran away.
Oh yes, we have a video. Christmas Day 2013 . It's kind of long, so if you want to watch only the part of her opening the dog, scroll to around 7:40. Don't judge us for laughing.
The rest of Christmas day, we strolled around beautiful Venice. It was very relaxing, and we really had no agenda.
After Venice, we flew to Istanbul where we crashed for the next week. We relaxed this entire week, ordered in food, walked to Starbucks, and ate Krispy Kreme. One evening we took a walk by the Bosporus and let Addie play in the park. Another day, we took the ferry to the Grand Bazaar, where we bartered for lots of fun souvenirs. A Turkish man asked Eric if he was Iranian.
Istanbul was a time for recuperating before we spent week three in Antalya, Turkey. Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean Sea. Rough life, I know. It was such a refreshing time, meeting people serving in all areas of Central Asia. We gathered together for a time of worship, teaching, and pr-ying. I believe all of our hearts were full at the end.
The day we left, Addie gets sick. She threw up twice in the hotel before we left, then more on the bus ride to the airport, then again at the airport. There was nothing left in her little body, so she didn't throw up any more and pretty much slept the entire plane ride home. We thoroughly enjoyed our travels and are so thankful for such a wonderful experience!
The Vatican museum is HUGE. So huge, that I became a bit of a grump. Probably because (1) I don't appreciate art (2) Hundreds of busts made of marble all begin to look the same (3) All I wanted was to see the Sistine Chapel...which was at the VERY END of the tour (4) All painted ceilings begin to look like...a painted ceiling (5) my husband wanted to look at EVERY SINGLE THING (6) I had an irritable baby to console (7) some rooms were so packed you couldn't move (8) ALL I WANTED TO SEE WAS THE SISTINE CHAPEL (9) Finally!! The Sistine Chapel!!...and you aren't allowed to take pictures so when I pulled out my camera I got yelled at by a guard (10) I was already stressed because I had a grumpy baby and the tour was taking FOREVER, so finally when we got to the Sistine Chapel and I got yelled at...I cried (11) I cried
After the Vatican, we bypassed the three hour wait for St. Peters Church (largest church in the world) and briefly explored the grand building made of the finest of materials. We walked below, to where the former Popes are buried, which was...interesting(?).
That evening, we went to dinner at this cute, romantic cafe. Afterwards, we strolled back to our hotel and got gelato (duh) on the way back. We may have eaten gelato EVERY DAY.
After a few days in Rome, we took a taxi, plane, and boat to our hotel in Venice. Venice was so beautiful. SO beautiful. This was the relaxing part of our vacation.
We arrived on Christmas Eve and basically just walked, shopped, ate, and slept for the next couple of days. Venice is a sinking city. In the morning, the entire city is covered in about a foot of water. You know who the locals are because they are wearing waders. Shoot. Forgot to bring my waders to Italy.
On Christmas day, we woke up, ate breakfast, and let Addie Grace open her gifts. Since we were traveling...and she's ONE...we got her three things: A stuffed puppy, a mechanical puppy, and a squishy ball. She loves animals and balls right now, so all of her gifts seemed fitting for her stage of life. Guess what her favorite gift was? The one that cost $1: the squishy ball.
She was terrified of the mechanical puppy. Eric and I just knew she would love it. We would talk about her opening the gift, her reaction, how her eyes would light up and a huge smile would spread across her face. Nope. She cried. Then ran away.
Oh yes, we have a video. Christmas Day 2013 . It's kind of long, so if you want to watch only the part of her opening the dog, scroll to around 7:40. Don't judge us for laughing.
The rest of Christmas day, we strolled around beautiful Venice. It was very relaxing, and we really had no agenda.
After Venice, we flew to Istanbul where we crashed for the next week. We relaxed this entire week, ordered in food, walked to Starbucks, and ate Krispy Kreme. One evening we took a walk by the Bosporus and let Addie play in the park. Another day, we took the ferry to the Grand Bazaar, where we bartered for lots of fun souvenirs. A Turkish man asked Eric if he was Iranian.
Istanbul was a time for recuperating before we spent week three in Antalya, Turkey. Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean Sea. Rough life, I know. It was such a refreshing time, meeting people serving in all areas of Central Asia. We gathered together for a time of worship, teaching, and pr-ying. I believe all of our hearts were full at the end.
The day we left, Addie gets sick. She threw up twice in the hotel before we left, then more on the bus ride to the airport, then again at the airport. There was nothing left in her little body, so she didn't throw up any more and pretty much slept the entire plane ride home. We thoroughly enjoyed our travels and are so thankful for such a wonderful experience!
