Today we had a GREAT start with a pretty nice European-style breakfast at the hotel. We then went on a half day walking tour of Venice and learned a LOT about the city. We walked everywhere, rode a gondola across the canal, and ended our tour at the Jewish Ghetto here. We got a wonderful lunch at another Italian restaurant! complete with Tiramisu then walked back to the hotel and split up and every one did some shopping, napping, island…

Venice is AMAZING. Took the train first thing this morning from Torontola-Cortona train station, then took a second train from Florence to Venice. When we landed, coming by water taxi to our hotel was so impressive. It is a sight you just never forget. We walked until we were all ready to drop. Took loads of pictures. We shopped and looked around for awhile then headed back to the hotel to get things together for tomorrow!

We got up soooooo early and made it to our hot air balloon ride! It was AMAZING to soar above the beautiful cities in Tuscany. We landed right near a huge sunflower field! We had an amazing lunch there after winding up the balloon, and then drove right back to be picked up for the bicycle tour! Everyone was EXHAUSTED and was SLEEPING trying to get l/2 hour rest in before the tour! We were SOOO tired, but the bicycle…

We were up at the crack of dawn again to catch an early morning tour leaving from Florence. Got on the tour bus and headed to Cinque Terra, where we did the amazing hikes to the different villages there. The hike was pretty demanding and it was very hot, but the views made it all worthwhile! Swam in the Mediterranean Sea and had lunch there, and walked around and toured the area. Took a boat ride back, caught a train,…

We got up VERY EARLY to get ready and get to the hot air balloon ride. We had quite a ride there, getting lost and going all over the place. Only to find out that the fog was too dense to go up in the air! A big disappointment, but we handled it well. We went back to the Villa and back to bed! When we woke up we went to Sinalunga for lunch and found an amazing pizzeria. We…

We had an amazing day. Started out with an INCREDIBLE family photo op now that Jesse and Amber are here. Great Bible study by Michael & Bethany on what God expects of US. Grabbed a fast breakfast here and then out the door to Monteriggioni. It was great to shop there, walk the wall a little, take some pictures and head out to San Gimignano. In San Gimignano we had lunch at an Osteria just inside the wall, split up…

What fun we had — started out with breakfast in Sinalunga, then grocery shopping, then back to Villa Scopetello. We then headed out to Montepulciano, an old walled town. We bought some pottery pieces there, had a good lunch and toured the town It was awesome to drive up the hill in our 15-passenger truck — hard to even pass a car since the roads are so narrow. It was VERY interesting when we ended up in a PIAZZA (square)…

We got up early, had an amazing Bible study on Faith by Danny and Lizzy, and then we headed out for Florence, about 1.25 hours away. We piled into the same van and hit the streets. Did a lot of bargain shopping, wheeling and dealing on prices, ate gelato and pizza, drank cappuccino and espresso, and had an all around amazing day. We went to several piazzas, Ponte Vecchio, and Michaelangelo piazza. We saw the Santa Dominica Church and went…

After leaving at 7 p.m. July 1, at about 10 a.m. July 2 we landed in Roma, Italia! It is amazing here! We connected with Hannah and Gabriel at the airport and drove to get our rental cars. After an “authentic” Italian lunch, we drove to Villa Scopetello, our home for the week. It is an AMAZING place — beautiful orchards of olive trees, flowers everywhere, grapevines, awesome outdoor pool (which Danny & Lizzy jumped right into WITH their clothes…

What an amazing few days we had hiking in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park in Utah. Bryce is amazing — you can't even imagine ever seeing anything like it and photos can't even capture the beauty. I felt it was like Sedona on steroids (and I LOVE Sedona!). The longer you hiked, the more amazing the canyons and sculpted rocks opened up. I will never forget this place and can't wait to come back! Rappelling was CRAZY AWESOME. I…