Ciao!!
We are to the last day of our adventure in Florence... and it has been quite an adventure. In three days we have done it all - Michelangelo, Donatello, Chianti, espresso, coacolatè, bucatini, ravioli, bruschetta. It has been other worldly. You can't imagine life where every turn of the street introduces you to more masterpieces. Joel keeps wondering why the Catholic church in America can't have some of these pieces. We have walked what feels like 200 miles. This has required us to take long naps in the afternoon before we eat more.
Katie's favorites - Donatello's Mary Magadelene, Botecelli's Primavera, the asparagus Ravioli she had for dinner last night. Joel's favorites - panini's, the Uffizi, the Michelangelo room at the Bargello, espresso, Bucatini alla amartino, and grappa.
Tonight might be a memory we keep forever. We purchased tickets to a trio of violin, cello, and pianoforte in the Michelangelo room at the Bargello. We plan to eat a fabulous meal (at a restaurant recommended to us) and stroll past the lit statues in the Palazzo Vecchio - then partake in some night music.
The timer is counting down at our internet cafe - and Joel is antsy for some churches (Santa Croce and Santa Maria del Fiore)... and of course, food. Katie is hoping for another encounter with some gelato between the churches!
Tomorrow, we're off to the Italian Riviera! Arrivadercì!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
luggage
Two, small, rolling suitcases, a BIG backpack (think hiking), and a small backpack - we did it, folks!
Tonight is cleaning out the fridge, charging our ipods, and attempting to sleep even though I feel like a little kid going to Disneyland in the morning - good luck!
Tonight is cleaning out the fridge, charging our ipods, and attempting to sleep even though I feel like a little kid going to Disneyland in the morning - good luck!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
two more days of work... will I make it??
In reality, I will. But in theory, I feel like it is just wasted time and energy when I could be doing my last minute planning and packing.
Joel is working tonight - my plan: to unpack all the bags we packed on Sunday and repack them. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but in reality, I think we'll be happy I did it. We didn't pack very strategically and I think if I can pack us better, we won't be pulling everything out of our suitcases all the time, but we shall see.
We are making several assumptions (I know, you should never do that). One is that the apartments will have towels for showering with. We don't have room for heavy, bulky towels. Two is that we will make the time to clean clothes - we really slimmed down and definitely don't have enough to make it the full two weeks. Three - our imagined style is the same as the style that is in Italy.
For example - I am doing something I've never done before - I am dressing cute for our plane ride. Now, usually I could care less what I look like when all I am going to do is try to force myself to sleep at a ridiculous time of day. But I am actually starting to take pride in my body and feel that I can both be comfortable and cute. So, the outfit that won the test? Short, black, cotton dress, leggings, flat boots, jacket and scarf. I think because the dress is loose fitting and the leggings are comfy, the outfit should work. The truth is, no matter how hard I try, sleeping at 5 p.m. our time is going to be a challenge.
A few last details that can't even be accomplished until we get there - train tickets, tickets for the museums in Florence, tickets for a possible opera performance, and tickets to a AS Roma game. Hopefully the first three will be accomplished by Friday night and then completely put out of my mind! Then we'll eat and walk and absorb and enjoy and drink and...
Joel is working tonight - my plan: to unpack all the bags we packed on Sunday and repack them. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but in reality, I think we'll be happy I did it. We didn't pack very strategically and I think if I can pack us better, we won't be pulling everything out of our suitcases all the time, but we shall see.
We are making several assumptions (I know, you should never do that). One is that the apartments will have towels for showering with. We don't have room for heavy, bulky towels. Two is that we will make the time to clean clothes - we really slimmed down and definitely don't have enough to make it the full two weeks. Three - our imagined style is the same as the style that is in Italy.
For example - I am doing something I've never done before - I am dressing cute for our plane ride. Now, usually I could care less what I look like when all I am going to do is try to force myself to sleep at a ridiculous time of day. But I am actually starting to take pride in my body and feel that I can both be comfortable and cute. So, the outfit that won the test? Short, black, cotton dress, leggings, flat boots, jacket and scarf. I think because the dress is loose fitting and the leggings are comfy, the outfit should work. The truth is, no matter how hard I try, sleeping at 5 p.m. our time is going to be a challenge.
A few last details that can't even be accomplished until we get there - train tickets, tickets for the museums in Florence, tickets for a possible opera performance, and tickets to a AS Roma game. Hopefully the first three will be accomplished by Friday night and then completely put out of my mind! Then we'll eat and walk and absorb and enjoy and drink and...
Thursday, October 1, 2009
google walking maps?!
A few updates
- Applied for a new credit card that DOESN'T charge me an extra 3% on international purchases
- Ordered Euro and they came in yesterday
- Put a hold on our mail starting in TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!
- Started to make notes in my notebook about the location, phone number, and money owed for each of our apartments
The big accomplishment of the day was using google maps to get a walking map from the train station to each of our apartments. Each of them is about 1.5 miles away, but that is a good healthy walk after sitting on the train all day. The coolest thing is that each route comes with pictures - so on our walk from the train station in Florence, we will walk past the Duomo, the original location of the David, the Uffizi museum, and the Arno.
Getting less nervous and more excited. We now have all the clothes and shoes we need, my friend Ashley gave us a big backpack to pack in, and we can now focus the weekend on our anniversary. Happy one year to us!
Plans to celebrate? Joel is making breakfast on Saturday, then maybe apple picking, then very nice dinner downtown. Sunday I'm making breakfast, church, and then watching the video of our wedding. Hurray!
- Applied for a new credit card that DOESN'T charge me an extra 3% on international purchases
- Ordered Euro and they came in yesterday
- Put a hold on our mail starting in TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!
- Started to make notes in my notebook about the location, phone number, and money owed for each of our apartments
The big accomplishment of the day was using google maps to get a walking map from the train station to each of our apartments. Each of them is about 1.5 miles away, but that is a good healthy walk after sitting on the train all day. The coolest thing is that each route comes with pictures - so on our walk from the train station in Florence, we will walk past the Duomo, the original location of the David, the Uffizi museum, and the Arno.
Getting less nervous and more excited. We now have all the clothes and shoes we need, my friend Ashley gave us a big backpack to pack in, and we can now focus the weekend on our anniversary. Happy one year to us!
Plans to celebrate? Joel is making breakfast on Saturday, then maybe apple picking, then very nice dinner downtown. Sunday I'm making breakfast, church, and then watching the video of our wedding. Hurray!
Monday, September 28, 2009
exchange rates and exchanging money
So, even though the travel business is down, they are still screwing us at every turn with our money. We are finding that things in travel are changing - it used to be that the best thing to do when making a purchase in a foreign country, was to use your credit card. We were just informed that our credit card company charges 3% for each purchase made in a foreign country! Same with our ATM card. Awesome.
And to exchange currency here, they charge you for that too (on top of the terrible rate the dollar is getting right now). I'm so frustrated and there doesn't seem to be a good way around any of it. Waiting until we get there (like we used to) seems to not be the best answer any more.
This is not my favorite part of trip planning.
I'm going to the bank on my lunch to learn about 2 things - wire transfer (to pay for our apartment in Rome) and exchange rates for our bank.
Another note - even though I told our credit card company that we'll be in Italy for certain dates, they told us it's very possible they'll put a hold on our account in case of suspicious activity. Something else to look forward to. Good thing we have good friends who have lent us their international cell phone. Looks like we're going to need it.
I can't wait to be on that airplane and done with the planning.
And to exchange currency here, they charge you for that too (on top of the terrible rate the dollar is getting right now). I'm so frustrated and there doesn't seem to be a good way around any of it. Waiting until we get there (like we used to) seems to not be the best answer any more.
This is not my favorite part of trip planning.
I'm going to the bank on my lunch to learn about 2 things - wire transfer (to pay for our apartment in Rome) and exchange rates for our bank.
Another note - even though I told our credit card company that we'll be in Italy for certain dates, they told us it's very possible they'll put a hold on our account in case of suspicious activity. Something else to look forward to. Good thing we have good friends who have lent us their international cell phone. Looks like we're going to need it.
I can't wait to be on that airplane and done with the planning.
Friday, September 18, 2009
a picture's worth a thousand words
Chocolate covered bacon at the Wisconsin State Fair!
Been waiting 15 years for this moment!
Company picnic at the TimberRattlers game
In the Redwoods
Labor day joy!
Monday, September 14, 2009
so many words...
Things have been crazy good for us lately. Really fun summer - great family adventures - great friendships and conversations - and plenty to look forward to. With all of that, I have had a hard time narrowing down what to blog about - and then end up not blogging at all.
So here is the run down - I joined a gym (which, for the first time in my life, I'm loving). Joel is working at Fastenal part-time to get the lay of the land, while still applying for other work. I spent Labor Day weekend in Chicago while Joel celebrated Eric's birthday in California. I got a much-anticipated promotion at work. Joel helped our friend's, the Strattons, build the most amazing treehouse - seriously. I finally applied for my teaching license in Wisconsin, which is no easy feat.
Those are the highlights - here are some details of the slough of blessings being passed in our direction:
- Joel celebrated his 29th birthday on Wed. surrounded by old friends, goods drinks, and a pretty good dinner. Saturday we put his new grill together, and tonight we will break it in with Joel's favorite, Italian Sausage.
- The other night I received an email that I have been selected to be a "community reviewer" for the Performing Arts Center in Appleton. This means that I will (with another person) get to attend a handful of shows this season, and review them online. If you know me, you will know that this is about as good as it gets in my book. I LOVE THEATRE.
- Joel and I received a phone call from a friend of mine from work on Saturday offering us tickets to the Packer/Bear game at Lambeau Field at face value for Sunday night's game. Though the Bears did not look good - we had a great time! Warning to Bear's fans - bring a friend.
- ITALY! We are now at 31 days and I couldn't be happier, more excited, anxious, and ready. We have wonderful and generous friends who have lent us many travel books, converters, backpacks, man-bags, etc. Now we just wait, and wait, and wait.
As for everything else, we are just flat out blessed. Though lost in our search for church, we are not alone. Many of our good friends are just as lost. So we are attempting to band together. At least pray for one another. No matter how frustrated I can be at the church, it never makes me want to run from God. He is definitely not the issue, though not being in community really challenges my ability to think of Him first. We sat with friends this weekend and shared life and prayed and it was very lifting.
And 10/4 is just weeks away - happy one year to us. Marriage is what you make of it. We have had our fair share of challenges, a few tears, and many moments of compromise, but we have come out stronger, and if I may say so, more in love than we both thought we could ever be. I didn't know a year ago that I was marrying my best friend, but now I truly know that I did.
So here is the run down - I joined a gym (which, for the first time in my life, I'm loving). Joel is working at Fastenal part-time to get the lay of the land, while still applying for other work. I spent Labor Day weekend in Chicago while Joel celebrated Eric's birthday in California. I got a much-anticipated promotion at work. Joel helped our friend's, the Strattons, build the most amazing treehouse - seriously. I finally applied for my teaching license in Wisconsin, which is no easy feat.
Those are the highlights - here are some details of the slough of blessings being passed in our direction:
- Joel celebrated his 29th birthday on Wed. surrounded by old friends, goods drinks, and a pretty good dinner. Saturday we put his new grill together, and tonight we will break it in with Joel's favorite, Italian Sausage.
- The other night I received an email that I have been selected to be a "community reviewer" for the Performing Arts Center in Appleton. This means that I will (with another person) get to attend a handful of shows this season, and review them online. If you know me, you will know that this is about as good as it gets in my book. I LOVE THEATRE.
- Joel and I received a phone call from a friend of mine from work on Saturday offering us tickets to the Packer/Bear game at Lambeau Field at face value for Sunday night's game. Though the Bears did not look good - we had a great time! Warning to Bear's fans - bring a friend.
- ITALY! We are now at 31 days and I couldn't be happier, more excited, anxious, and ready. We have wonderful and generous friends who have lent us many travel books, converters, backpacks, man-bags, etc. Now we just wait, and wait, and wait.
As for everything else, we are just flat out blessed. Though lost in our search for church, we are not alone. Many of our good friends are just as lost. So we are attempting to band together. At least pray for one another. No matter how frustrated I can be at the church, it never makes me want to run from God. He is definitely not the issue, though not being in community really challenges my ability to think of Him first. We sat with friends this weekend and shared life and prayed and it was very lifting.
And 10/4 is just weeks away - happy one year to us. Marriage is what you make of it. We have had our fair share of challenges, a few tears, and many moments of compromise, but we have come out stronger, and if I may say so, more in love than we both thought we could ever be. I didn't know a year ago that I was marrying my best friend, but now I truly know that I did.
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