a brief update

As usual, I am finding it difficult to find the time, energy, and internet to sit down and blog in the middle of a road trip.

So, here is a quick update. I hope to give more details in the future.

On Friday, Tony finished up his work in Oberammergau. We spent the evening watching "The Sound of Music" (first time for me), and then drove through Salzburg (where it was filmed) on Saturday. Um, no pictures to share, because, well, um, I'll tell you later........

Saturday afternoon, we arrived in Vienna.

 Vienna!

 

We spent Sunday looking at palaces and cathedrals and art.

 

In Vienna!

Today, Monday, we went to the very first zoo ever in the history of the world.

 

It is in the backyard of a palace.



Because that's the sort of thing you find in Vienna. Zoos in the backyards of palaces.

 

After that, we drove to Budapest, and that is where I am right this minute. In Budapest!

 


Budapest!?!?

it had to happen

Yep.

This time, it was actually our decision. As opposed to last time when it occurred due to an accident involving scissors...

This time, I didn't cry, but I rejoiced.
 


Alaina made sure the operation went smoothly.

 

No more tangles, and no more getting in his eyes when he's trying to swim.

 

And no more baby.

 

Okay, now I'm crying.

pinch me

 

After a day spent on top of the world, I am now sitting on the patio of our little apartment atop a cafe overlooking a small band of men playing accordions and wearing lederhosen while tractors pass by on the highway.

Obberamergau? Are you for real? 

 Never mind. Don't pinch me.

I never want to wake up from this dream.

keep on rollin'

Since Tuesday, we've bidden farewell to our friends with a dinner at Mariella's.

not sure what's going on with my hand and Graham's hair, but let's ignore that and instead look at the hands of Graham and Amanda

Driven to the Dolomites and spent a night in a quaint town called Ora.

view from our patio in the Dolomites

 Driven a bit further North to Ettal, Germany.

our hotel (view from the town below)

Graham, Alaina, and I spent a day walking the mountain trails around Ettal and checking out the town and the monastery.

And now we've settled into Oberammergau, Germany (pictures and details to come) where we'll be staying for the week while 007 does some work at the NATO school.

I've consumed several sausages, beers, potatoes, and (surprisingly) a few delicious salads. I'm devouring the cool, refreshing mountain air, and loving the amazing walking/jogging trails.

I'm looking forward to some quiet days meandering the town with my kids and sharing our experiences with you.

It was a hot Saturday in July. We were all standing beneath Castle Sant Angelo near Vatican City waiting for our friends to join us so we could climb to the top. Alaina was chillin' like a villain in her souped up stroller. Graham was dancing around her and falling on his head. She was watching him. Intent. Serious. Following his every move with nothing but her eyes. Tony was looking off in the distance wondering if he could spot our friends and help guide them to where we were. I was busy soaking it all in. The street vendors selling toys and scarves. The silver cowboy live statue propped against the garbage can ready to shoot anyone who dared drop a coin in his bucket. The children playing fooze ball next to us. The welcomed breeze breaking the oppressive heat. The limone granite on my tongue. And my children playing together. I decided to hone in on their activities as Graham got close to Alaina's face in hopes that she would suck his nose. As the words, "Ease up, Graham. Give her some space," nearly left my tongue, it happened. Alaina laughed. A hearty, deep, excited, leg-kicking chuckle. Tony was knocked out of his reverie and Graham patted himself on the shoulder out of pure pride and we all laughed with her. The first time our whole family laughed together. It was magical and I will never forget it.

She hasn't laughed since.


I'll keep you posted.

roma roma roma

 

Let me begin by saying that our friends are troopers through and through. They've experienced Italy to its fullest. From the delicious pasta to the overly frequent strikes. I sent them on their own to Pompei where they had to wait in line for two hours before the place would open for them because the workers were on strike for the morning. After that, I figured they were destined for better luck, so I sent them to Rome a day ahead of us. I was wrong. The trains were on strike, so they had to wait at the train station for some hours before they got to make their way into Rome only so their youngest daughter could get sick and throw up all over their dinner.

They shrugged it off with a perfect "va bene" and kept on trudging through Rome's beautiful sights with us on Saturday and Sunday. Overwhelmed is what they were at all the art and people and culture and food. Over. Whelmed.

They've got more pictures that I intend to snatch and share with you before we leave them on Wednesday to fend for themselves in this unpredictable land. We will be embarking on a long road trip to Germany, and Czech Republic, and Hungary, and Austria, and back to Germany, and then home to Italy. We hope to leave bright and early Wednesday morning, and I hope to be diligent and good about bringing ya'll along for the ride. And I also hope that Alaina has more patience in her car seat. She doesn't like the thing after an hour or so... Wish us luck.

Oh, and here we all are in Rome back in October (Alaina's in my belly).

 

And here we are in Rome yesterday.

 

Have a good Monday and check back here for more fun and excitement from Europe. 

contemplating how he can become Spiderman on the Spanish Steps

friends

 

So far, we've taken our friends to Lucca (where I saw Tom petty), Siena (where our friends got lost), Vietri (where I took no pictures), downtown Naples (where we went above and below ground), and Pompei (where I didn't actually take them and made them go on their own because it's hot and I have a baby). It's been fun, and there are stories behind the parentheses, so please sit tight while I find time to write them.

For now, I am just enjoying our friends.