Back in the saddle again...

Reality bites. I returned from Italy with a stack of bills piled higher than a tall stack of pancakes. What I miss most, though, is having my husband all to myself. I thought we'd drive each other nuts but actually without the pressures of every day life, we got along better than we ever had! Ok, minus one hissy fit from me! Give me a break--it was a hundred degrees and I didn't have air conditioning! Our trip re-energized our marriage in a way I was not anticipating.

We're celebrating our two-year anniversary a week from today. Last night I was lying on the couch, make-up-less and whining about being overly exhausted...My sweet husband came over to hug me and said, "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you so much. Thank you for everything that you do for our family." Isn't that precious? I just love my husband and am excited to celebrate another milestone in our marriage.

Ciao from Venice!

Some people love lighthouses...others love monuments...but I love bridges. So I've fallen in love with Venice where delicate and small Renaissance bridges interweave throughout the city. It's pure magic, like stepping into a postcard. I was afraid the City of Love wouldn't live up to the hype but it actually surpasses it. The bridges crossing the Grand Canal are so spectacular, it's impossible to take a bad picture. The photo I posted isn't the best but I'm in a rush with very spotty Internet connection so I chose the first picture that popped up! We also toured Murano Island yesterday, renown for its gorgeous glass...Jeff and I watched a glass master make a stallion. It was perfecto!
It's our final day in Italy (sniff, sniff). We enjoyed a wonderful adventure...I'm not ready to go home but Jeff sure is! I laughed hysterically last night when Jeff announced, "I'm ready to get back to my 9 to 5 job. My every day life is more relaxing than this vacation!" It's true...we've trekked miles a day on foot and it's exhausting to interpret another language and culture. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. It was the greatest adventure of our lives so far.
I'll c-ya soon back in the states! We (sadly) leave before the sun rises tomorrow morning.

Italian Riviera

We explored a piece of Paradise yesterday: the Cinque Terre. It was pure heaven...a rugged portion of the Italian Riviera. It's comprised of five villages with vibrantly colorful buildings. Part of its charm is that you won't find modern conveniences out there...cars are not allowed. You need to take a train to La Spezia and then transfer on other trains to explore the villages. It's a wildly charming magnet for hikers to trek from village to village.

It's unbelievable that one place can contain such lush beauty, great cuisine and fragrant aromas. Frankly, my lungs were tired from inhaling all the pollutants of the cities of Rome and Florence. When we arrived in Cinque Terre, I deeply inhaled the sea salt spray of the ocean and the faint aroma of coconuts in the air. Magnifique!

Jeff had to pull me back onto the train to leave because I didn't want to go! Before we departed, we walked the "Via Dell'Amore" or "Lovers Walk" which gives you the most breathtaking, panoramic view of the coast. Miles and miles of ocean are outstretched before you to see the varying hues of blue. It was gorgeous. I cried a little when we left...we took a late night train to Venice, which we'll be exploring today. I'm excited to see this new place but I miss Florence and the Cinque Terre. It made me homesick for Hawaii...

Handbag Heaven

Anyone who knows me understands that my heart skips a beat when I see a good handbag. Florence is the mecca of leather and you can find beautifully crafted, genuine leather items for a price that you can't beat in the states. Hustlers sell hundreds of handbags, belts, wallets--you name it--everywhere you turn on the streets...My husband says I can pick just one, so my indecisiveness is driving him crazy! Hmmmm...Jeff is napping now as I type this, so maybe I'll sneak out and get a purse!

I just had to snap a photo of the best pasta I've ever eaten. It's called "black truffle fettucine" and it's amazingly decadent. Apparently, Florentines like to dress up their pasta with black truffle oil--I wanted to purchase a bottle to bring back to the states but it's about $30 dollars for just a few ounces, so I decided against it!

Jeff and I eat a very light lunch so that we can splurge a little at dinner. With all the gelato and pasta we're consuming you'd think that we'd gain weight on this vacation but I think I'm actually losing weight. My pants are loose. I wish I tracked our walking with a pedometer. I'll bet I walked more in the past week than I've walked all year! This is my favorite picture of Jeff, lying splat on the ground in Siena Square. It's been a tiring but wonderful time...We want to hop on a runaway train and not return to the states for another year!

Under the Tuscan Sun

Have you ever had one of those days when you're just so grateful to be alive? I enjoyed one of those days yesterday. My senses were thrilled by the lush, rolling hills of Tuscany. It's an ever-changing scenery of vineyards and olive trees in every shade of green you can imagine. Our bus also took us to the city center of Siena and to the beautiful town of San Gimignano. It was by far my favorite day of the trip so far. Had I known how gorgeous Tuscany would be, I would've skipped Rome & Florence and rented a villa in Tuscany. Next to my hometown of Hawaii, I think it's the prettiest place on earth.
I feel a pang of guilt for enjoying an overseas vacation while our economy is in a recession...so I feel compelled to explain why we're taking this trip: My grandmother blessed us by financing this dream of mine. Jeff & I never had a wedding or a honeymoon...and since we're financially supporting his two children, we live very frugally in a tiny home in a low-income neighborhood and drive ancient cars that are falling apart! I've always longed to experience Europe with someone I loved...and I regret not making travel a priority when my life was simpler.
So I seized the chance to take Jeff to Italy...It's been great for our marriage to fall in love all over again in such a romantic city and pretend to be bona-fide newlyweds...and to create memories that'll last a lifetime. Jeff has never traveled overseas before so it's especially adventurous and eye-opening for him to engage another world-view. Since I'm a bi-racial blend myself, I find this terribly important.
My internet connection is spotty in Florence so my posts will be less frequent. Hope you're enjoying yourself wherever you are!