Mommy and My Boy’s

just wanted to post that i made it home last night around midnight.  thanks for all your prayers and help with the boys while i was gone.  hope to chat with all of you soon.  need some sleepy so will post more pics in a couple days or when i am awake enough!  luv u!

Monday we walked to the Lindt Chocolate Factory.  You could smell the chocolate apx 1/2mile away.  I just wanted to bottle the scent!  yum.  we saw rows and rows of chocolate of every kind…..at rock bottom prices.  It was chocolate heaven~sensory overload!!  i think i was drooling.  we ripped open a bar the first step we took outta the door. 

Our hotel was on the peninsula of Hurden on Lake Zurich.  Beautiful views of the lake from our room.

We walked into town on a wooden bridge which is the longest wooden bridge in Switzerland.  The bridge took you into thelittle town of Rapperswil.  We shopped and found a starbucks for a little coffee break. 

In the afternoon Paula and i went to a spa in the town of Pfaffikon.  we had a hot stone massage.  If you are ever in Switzerland you Must experience one of these!  Very relaxing!!!  The spa was like a wellness center.  You could go swimming, exercise or take a nap.  Its different from the traditional United States spas.  After that we went to the local mall and shopped and ate some dinner.

This morning we got up at sunrise and caught the local train (called a Zug) into zurich.  From there we hopped onto another fast train and arrived in Stuttgart, Germany (porsche country!).  We had a small layover and then again took the fast train into Paris, France.  I cannot believe I am in Paris!  WOW!  We walked over to see the Eiffle Tower this evening.  It was all lit up and there was even a little light show.  Magnificent!

Yesterday we were in Milan and it was crazy!  There were so many shops that i actually got tired and we had to take a break to sit down to eat!  I never thought i’d get so tired from shopping!

The highlight of my day was to get to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” fresco.  It was truly a masterpiece!  It is housed in a small little building that is attached to a church.  They have you wait in 3 little rooms until you are ushered into the 4th room where it is.  it is really under special security…everything is set to a timer in which only 25 tourists are allowed into the area for only 15 minutes.  So, I got to hang w/Jesus and the 12 apostles for 15 minutes yesterday.  COOL!  I couldnt believe how big it actually was.  I have only ever seen really small scaled pictures of the Last Supper.  When you walk into this room the painting is done on an entire wall!  To give you some perspective it was like someone had painted on the front side of my house….it was a wall that big!  Definately take some time and google to learn about it too….lots of history.  This wall and the South wall were the only walls of this structure that survived the bombings of World War II (1943)!  It took them 20 years to get it fully restored (finished in 1999).  On the South wall there is also a fresco (painting) which was a portrayal of the Crucifixion.

Today we took the train from Milan into Zurich, Switzerland to our hotel.  we enjoyed a nice dinner in our hotel at Lake Zurich.  Tomorrow we are off to see the Lindt Chocolate Factory and we are headed to find a spa.  We all need massages after lugging around our luggage.  We all ended up buying a backpack that also has wheels to carry along with our suitcase.  I transferred my clothes into the backpack and have souveniers in my suitcase…..man, it is like having Jacob on my back and dragging Logan around on wheels!  HEAVY! 

Sorry it’s been a week since we’ve updated!  we havent had any internet connection between then and now.

Here’s the rundown:

May 3:  We went to the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, St. Peter’s In Chains and the Mouth of Truth.  The pantheon by far was my favorite building to see.  architectually it was impossible to make…..google it if you have time to read about it!  amazing

May 4: Capri Island~ Blue Grotto where we took a 2 hr boat ride around the island and then got into a small row boat and went into the Grotto.  we almost didnt get to go in as the waves were really choppy.  they actually closed it after we were done as it got too dangerous.  It was really beautiful.  You ride the rowboat into the cave where the light reflection makes the water very blue.  it’s pitch black otherwise. 

We arrived and departed by ferry taxi, bus and train.  we went through the towns of naples and sorrento.  we were kinda bummed as we missed pompeii but maybe our next trip, right!

May 5: We  traveled to Florence with a pitstop in Pisa.  From the train ride we took a bus into Pisa.  We all took a pic of us holding up the Leaning Tower.  None of us expected to see all the buildings around the leaning tower.  in the pics you usually only see the tower by itself so it was a nice surprise.  We continued on the local train.  Upon arriving in Florence, we went to the Farmers Market where we purchased kiwi, strawberries, raspberries and bananas for our breakfaast.  We then went to the Accademia and saw the David.  He was much taller than i expected.  We didnt do the “tourist” photo (if you know what i mean…..pinchy, pinchy)  they didnt allow pics to be taken of it.  We ended with the best dinner of lasagna that i have EVER had.  I told the girls that if i was ever put on death row, this was to be my last dinner request.  YUMMY!

May 6 & 7:  We took the hop on hop off bus tour of Florence where we took in breathtaking views.  We then decided that we were not going to get a rental car as driving in Italy is exactly like what you’ve heard……CUHRAZEE.  we opted for a bus instead out to the Tuscan countryside.  We stayed at the most beautiful bed and breakfast for 2 nights and had cooking classes.  We learned to cook authentic spinach ravioli, spaghetti with basil pesto, turkey stuffed with sausage, veggies and a apple cake.  the second night we learned gnocchi, brioche (a pastry called “cat’s tongue”), a beef roast, and potatoes.  We also tried her wine that she makes on her farm.  Seriouslly, the lady that runs this b&b is more awesome than Martha!  she makes paintings, soaps, olive oil, these swing things in her house, teaches cooking lessons, wine…..wow.  we had down time to sit by the pool and read.  i didnt get much reading done as the views of the countryside kept beconing me to notice……spectacular.  We took a walk down her lane and the scenery became even better. 

May 8:  We got up at the butt crack of dawn to catch the bus to catch the train to Venice.  We went to San Mark’s Square, the island of Murano (where they hand blow the glass), shopped and road the water taxi to the Rialto Bridge.  I think venice is so unique.  It is surrounded by water and is amazing to think how they stay afloat!   

Today we are headed to milan…..the shopping capital of the world!  eek.  watchout pocketbook!

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Island of Capri

Us on Rowboat Entering the Blue Grotto

Cooking Class with our Host, Guilietta GondolaDinner on Grand Canal in Venice

Dinner on Grand Canal in Venice

Our Delicious Dinner in Venice.....

Rialto Bridge in Venice