Back from Europe!

WHAT AN AMAZING VACATION!!!!

My pictures couldn't do it justice, just not enough time there, not enough time to post about all the great things we saw. Not to mention the wonderfulness and generosity of Matt's parents. O just too much to say. Where do I start?

I took about 155 pictures and the worst part is I am already forgetting some of the reasons I took them, i need to jot them down before I forget even more. Since I haven't got a weeks worth a time to write all about it, I am going to start with some of the highlights of each day:

Day 1: Barcelona: very tired from the red eye but saw the whole city on a bus. Not much to say here (very tiring day)

Day 2: Nice (france) and Monaco-- very beautiful and warm day (lots of sun). We planned for cooler temperatures and we were sweating before we knew it. We walked around Nice and had lunch outisde in a plaza by the open air market. Walked to the riviera and hopped a bus to Monaco where we saw the very famous (and extremely expensive and Chick) Monte Carlos. Didn't spot any famous, rich people, but put 5 euro in a slot and lost it. It was surprisingly quiet in there, but we saw one woman who was lost over 2000 euro in ten minutes we saw her on the slots. wew.

Day 3- Florence. O beautiful. How can it not be? The architecture, the cathedrals, the little cafes and statues out in the plazas. We saw the church where many famous/important people were buried (including Michelangelo, Galileo, Dante, Machiavelli and more). Me and the boys walked 450+ steps to the top of the dome in another cathedral. Beautiful.

Day 4- ROMA. Way too little time here, but we saw the Vatican as the number 1 highlight. I learned a lot more with a guided tour, and saw the Sistine chapel (and accidentally took a forbidden picture). It didn't turn out well, i think it was karma.

Day 5- Naples. I remember eating lunch off the tourist path and enjoying everything. We shopped a little, drank cafe (coffee) and enjoyed everything. Shopped a little bit and found the back allies with the balconies and little markets-- so European. We saw Pompeii in the morning (for me, the second time). And loved it again.

Day 6- Sicily. This was the adventure. We rented a car and Mr. Naylor drove the streets with the crazy drivers and scooterists. We got lost a little but saw so many things. The ocean, the countryside, a little town to have a quick lunch, ate some pastries, we laughed a lot.

Day 7- At Sea. RELAX. Matt and I spent some quality time roaming the ship, gambling some more, relaxing. I learned the play video poker next to Mr. Naylor and double my money.
then played it downt to zero.

Day 8: Flight out and Amsterdam. AWESOME CITY! So glad we got to layover the entire day and night. It was happening, lots of people in the streets, xmas decorations up, everyone was getting ready for St. Nick to come in a couple weeks. It snowed that day (a lot) and it was beautiful. We were cold, but i dont remember the cold as much as I love and remember the energy of the city and all the things to look at and see. The food was awesome too. We even walked to the red light district (of course,just to pass by). Just like you imagine. Everything, SO COOL. Iwant to go back.

Day 9: Travelling. Ate lots and lots of snacks in the NW crown room.

Back home. Ill try to post pictures soon!!!!