Fantastic,Fabulous Firenza

Beauty, Beauty, Beauty every place:

(just ignore the gypsy beggars in the square and 

get use to the naked men (ok, sculptures) everywhere!

Ron's welcoming us to Florence

Beautiful, crazy-colored marble Duomo

Bronze Baptistry doors

Picture postcard Duomo

Amazing

Piazza della Signoria

Where the David originally stood

(copy there now--still impressive)

but "real" David even more impressive

Loggia filled with fantastic marble sculptures

(I can name them all if you want)

Oh, and the Uffizi Gallery around the corner--

how did I forget that?

Botticelli, Leonardo and Michelangelo

Shopping

shopping

and yes, more terrific shopping

Our Florence artist

Funky, Florence hotel

(extra bed just in case we find a friend)

great food at "the porcupine"

Fabulous Franco from Florence

manager of Porcupine (loves America and George Bush!)

Just checking out the view

Crazy, beautiful view

The artist comes out in all of us in Florence

walking in beauty

The Ponte Vecchio bridge

Our days were too short in Florence--

but we must leave on the 6 o'clock train--

 Venice awaits.

A break from Europe--

Family time--this weekend we were celebrating EVERYTHING!!

Michael finishing his 3rd year at UW dental school--

Steven getting into Dartmouth Medical School--

Jacob finishing his 1st year at UOP dental school--

Morgan half way thru Aveda Beauty School--

And even Great Grandma Lola's birthday--

We will use any excuse to get together and have a party!!

Morgan and Jacob came to town--YEAH!

Opening the pool--

summer is here !

Fierce game of water basketball--watch out

--count the bruises and blisters!

chillin'

sun-glass wearing mother and daughter

auntie morgan and riley

auntie meredith and emma

Even threw in some water aerobics

Morgan demonstrating her skills on Michael 

(and no, she doesn't wear this outfit at work!)

learning new games--staying up WAY too late!

We really did put Morgan to work--

She is great!!

Beautiful Meredith

(sorry forgot to take an "after" photo--but it looks great!)

Riley playing "pony girl"

Emma was riding so fast 

we had to hold her down for this photo!

Riding at great grandma Lola's birthday party-

whew,  we did fit a lot into 3 days!!

I Love my family.

Roman Beauty

Some of the reasons we love Rome:

Our amazing hotel.... 

minutes from the Spanish Steps

Yes, these Spanish Steps

 (named for the embassy that is no longer here!)

Vespas--that Ron wanted to rent, but we never did

(maybe next time?)

Getting lost and finding this amazing street.

The "colors" of Rome

 The Pantheon--

you are just walking down the cobblestone streets 

and BAM--it's there

Amazing artists in Navona Square

Three coins --I'm coming back--Trevi fountain

Our first sunset in Rome--yes, it was that beautiful!!

( please be kind--we have been up for over 24 hours !)

Amazing Vatican sculptures--how did they do that?

Cool DRINKABLE water from all the Roman fountains

My major accomplishment--

climbing ALL those small, curvy steps of 

the dome of St. Peter Basilica

Gelato--gelato--EVERY day!!

So many flavors, so few days!!

Getting caught in a thunderstorm on the Palatine Hill

Kissing among the Palatine ruins

(we may be old--but yes, we still kiss!)

The COLOSSEUM--no need to say more

Our small, compact bathroom

with bidet !

Amazing bridges at night

Romantic Rome

Ciao until we return.