July 19th - St. Peter's Basicila & The Vatican. Below is Marshall and I in square of Rome.
This was my favorite piece of art that we saw not only on this trip but in my entire life! It is Michaelangelo's Pieta and it is housed in St. Peter's Basicila. I have never felt the way I did when I saw it, it is the most amazing thing on earth! I would go back, just to see it. That is how amazing it is!
Inside St. Peter's Basicila.
Then we moved onto the Vatican. It was on of my favorite places that we went. It is floor to ceiling ART! And it is an incredible feeling to be in the Pope's home.
This is the Sistine Chapel. You were not supposed to take pictures but I found that out after I had a few ;o)
Michaelangelo's "The Creation" LOVED IT
July 20th - The Colosseum. If you don't know about the Colosseum click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum. It is so much history.
July 21st - We took a train from Rome, Italy to Florance, Italy. We arrived early so we were able to get a lot done.
"The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli is housed in one of the museums we went to in Florance. That blue streak is a glare from the window :(
Donatello's "Statue of David"
Michaelangelo's "Statue of David" AWESOME! We went through the entire museum and then went back to the Statue of David again before we left, we were just in awe by it.
This was our hotel in Florence.
July 22nd - We took a train from Florence, Italy to Venice, Italy. This first picture is of the Rialto Bridge.
Marshall and I on our Gondola ride. Worth every penny by the way! IT was sooo romantic!
July 23rd - Venice by day
A gondola
The Rialto Bridge
Everything is literally by boat. The only way into the island is by train and it only comes in and out so all transportation in the city is by boat. We saw a garbage boat, a UPS boat (it was brown and yellow), a police boat, the whole 9 yards! Something I think everyone should see before they die. It is like nothing you will ever see again!
St. Mark's Basilica
Our Hotel in Venice
July 24th - We boarded our cruise. These pictures were taken throughout the week.
Of course we have to hit the rock wall
July 25th - Dubrovnik, Croatia
Marshall cliff jumping in Croatia
July 26th - Just a day of sailingJuly 27th - Kasudasi, Turkey & Ephesus, Turkey. Another one of our favorite places.
These pictures of of ancient Ephesus. They are restoring the old city.
This is where Emperors used to go to the bathroom.
Gotta love Marshall ;o)
This was the old library. Across the street from the library was a brothel and in the library was a trap door that lead under ground to the brothel. ha ha ha
A lady making a turkish rug. It takes years and the rugs are amazing.
Our cruise ship parked in turkey.
Us in front of Kasudasi, Turkey
Marshall getting a turkish shave. He said he has never had a better shave.
July 27th - Santorini, Greece. The white along the top is the town.
So... in order to get up there you have to take... oh yes... a donkey!
Isn't it beautiful?!?
Swimming on the black rock beach in Santorini. It was a topless beach... we found out the hard way.
July 29th - Cofu, Greece
Hanging out at the beach in Corfu
July 30th - Another day of sailingJuly 31st - We arrived back in Venice to come home. We were flying on discounted tickets that my friend that works for Delta got us and Delta had overbooked by so many they were offering $1000 vouchers to people if they would stay in Venice another day. Well, since Marshall and I were already on a discounted ticket we automatically got bumped. So we headed out of the airport to find a hotel. We were on the main land of Venice, not the island so it was kinda sucky. Well, we ran into on of the girls that worked for Delta and was helping us and she offered to put us up for the night. So we went back to her place, had some real Italian pasta and went into the city of Padova. It was way different than all the touristy areas. Well then next day we went to get on the flight again and Rome had a huge delay so the were re-routing people to Venice. Well, there was one seat and Marshall made me take it. That is right... I left my husband in Venice on our honeymoon. He met up with our friend Fredrika and she put him up again and he would try to get out the next day. After 2 more attempts he had still not gotten out of Venice so we booked him a full price ticket and got him home. It is a good thing we have a "travel savings account" so we are ready for these kinds of things.
Anywho... we had an amazing time that we both consider to be life changing. I would not trade that trip for anything. Marshall and I are closer than we have ever been! If we can get through traveling Europe we can get through ANYTHING!
