Bags All Packed

Our bags are all packed and we are ready to go!  

Just to be clear i know my bag is images of France, not Italy but they didn't have an Italy hard case so i did the best i could.  LOL!   The good news is i think i will be able to spot my bag!

Today 5 o'clock hit and i had a great big grin on my face as i two-stepped out of work officially starting our vacation.  Our fellow travel mates will make their way from La Grande to Boise Friday afternoon for a giant sleepover at my house before taking our taxi at 3:50 am to the airport.. yes you read that right.. 3 in the morning we will be up and going.  For most that might mean trying to go to bed early and get a good nights rest but not at our house... for it is the opening game for BSU vs. Michigan St.  We will be yelling and cheering BSU on as they start the new season hopefully with a W on the board for their first away game.  We are even fortunate not to miss a game while away as we arrive home from Italy just in time for the first home game.  GO BRONCOS!  All that know Robert and i know we love college football so we have even factored in when other games will be on Saturday to see which ones we can watch in MN layover- no surprise there right.

Robert and I are super excited now i just have to wait one more day!  I have been checking in with my grandparents, aunt Judy and my mom the past few days and you can just feel the energy building for a fun adventure.  

Fun Days Ahead

Trip Itinerary

Departure Flights Saturday Sept 1^st

·         5:35 AM to 9:19AM (Boise to MN) Delta 5835 (2.44 hour duration)

·         7:30 PM to 10:45 AM (Sept 2) (MN to Amsterdam) Delta 264 (8.15 hour duration)

·         2:10 PM to 4:25 PM (Sept 2) (Amsterdam to Rome) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 1603 (2.15 hour duration)

Sunday Sept 2nd

·         Arrive in Rome

1.       Hotel Donna Laura

Monday Sept 3^rd- Rome

·         St Peters Basillica

·         Walking tour of Rome

·         Panoramic tour of Capitol Hill, the Forum and the Colosseum

Tuesday Sept 4^th- Siena/Florence

·         Drive to Siena- walking tour

·         Drive to Florence- dinner

1.       Ac Hotel Firenze

Wednesday Sept 5^th- Florence/Pisa

·         Guided tour of Florence

·         Drive to Pisa- leaning tour and Cathedral

1.       Ac Hotel Firenze (Florence)

·         Celebrate Mom’s Birthday

Thursday Sept 6^th- Florence/Venice

·         Morning Free in Florence

·         Drive to Venice

·         Free afternoon in Venice

1.       Bonvecchiati Hotel

Friday Sept 7^th- Venice/San Marino

·         Guided tour of St Marks Square

·         Drive to San Marino

1.       Grand Hotel San Marino

Saturday Sept 8^th – San Marino/Assisi/Rome

·         Free time in San Marino

·         Drive to Assisi- explore medieval city

·         Drive to Rome- special dinner at typical Roman restaurant

1.       Roma West Hotel

Sunday Sept 9^th- Rome/Sorrento

·         Drive to Sorrento

·         w/Stop in Naples for panoramic tour on the way

1.       Conca Park (Sorrento)

Monday Sept 10^th- Sorrento/Capri

·         Take trip to Capri on hydrofoil

·         Visit island

·         Return to Sorrento for dinner

1.       Conca Park

Tuesday Sept 11^th- Sorrento/Rome

·         Free time to explore Sorrento

·         Depart for Rome in afternoon

1.       Hotel Donna Laura

Wednesday Sept 12^th- Rome

·         Return flight home

Return Flight Wednesday Sept 12^th

·         6:20 AM to 8:50 AM (Rome to Amsterdam) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 1596 (2.3 hour duration)

·         1:30 PM to 3:30 AM (Sept 12) (Amsterdam to MN) Delta 247 (9 hour duration)

·         9:55 PM to 1157 PM (MN to Boise) Delta 3479 (3.02 hour duration)

Count Down to Italy

Our trip to Italy is just around the corner and I am so ready to go!  We leave next Saturday at 5:35am on the first leg of our journey to Italy via Minneapolis and Amsterdam to reach our first destination of Rome.  I have had my clothes packed for over a week already and finally couldn't take Robert not being packed so packed for him this weekend... i am a lucky girl and he didn't seem to mind.  My aunt Judy and i are all about the preparation, gotta look good on vacation- hence I got my hair done yesterday and love the new A-line cut.

This trip has been a dream for years of mine... and two years in the making in planning.  I started planning this trip with my mom, aunt, grandparents and a few of my mom's friends two years ago.  Meeting my soul-mate Robert 14 months ago and having him come too only makes this trip all that more special.  

To get ready for the trip we have poured over travel guides (National Geographic is our favorite), watched any movie we own with Italy references (Angels & Demons, When in Rome, Italian Job and Best of Europe- Italy).  Had great intentions to learn basic Italian through Rosetta Stone before the trip but slacked off a bit so apps on our phone will have to do if needed. Hopefully the following will get me though: Ciao (hello), Arrivederci (goodbye), grazie (thank you), Parli Inglese? (do you speak English), mi scusi, dov e il bagno? (where is the restroom) and some basic counting.

Hoping to blog the trip as we go as there will be so many memories i want to remember forever and need someplace for the thousands of pictures i am sure to take to be showcased.  So Ciao Italy, Arrivederci Boise (for at least a few weeks).