Indescribable

We ended our time in Rome having done everything that we hoped to do and more. Our guidebook said that one visit would not be sufficient to do and see everything there is to see. However, we feel that we saw and did so much during our stay that we won't need another visit for quite some time!! A couple things to note in case you are thinking of traveling to Rome: go in the springtime! We came at the end of August and it was too hot for us. We spent most everyday walking around in a constant state of perspiration, which means a long day felt much longer. Also, Luke and I saved quite a bit of money by eating the same things. We ate lots of pizza which we could share for cheap, and we bought lots of sandwich supplies and ate that for at least one meal every day. We did eat out a couple times to experience some common Italian dishes such as spaghetti and lasagna but otherwise we enjoyed our simple fare.

A note about public transportation- it was much easier to use than we thought it would be. But it was still overwhelming because often we were standing on the bus or train with so many other people that we couldn't move. I am on the short side so occasionally people's arms would be touching my face as we all held onto the same pole. I was reminded of the Seinfeld episode when Elaine is stuck on the subway on her way to a wedding and she is having a mental monologue due to the anxiety of being stuck on a crowded subway. I felt very close to that sort of crazy!!

Rome was a great place to begin our trip. After a whirl wind 12 days we were very ready to move on. Next stop- Amalfi Coast!! We have 5 days planned here and after Rome it has so far provided some much needed down time. Sorrento is our base and it is proving to be every bit as beautiful as you see in the pictures. From here we have been down to Positano where we swam in the Mediterranean Sea and walked around the picturesque town. Today we took a boat to the island of Capri and did the Blue Grotto which was a fun experience! We took a chair lift up to Mt. Solaro and saw some amazing views and then hiked back down to the town. The island is full of small winding roads that the buses fly down and the streets in the town center are lined with shops and small restaurants. The coastal life is very appealing and we were thinking that we could easily settle into the slower pace here.

So far we have been trying to focus on enjoying each day here and not looking ahead to where our next stop is. I find that this requires a spirit of contentment which I admit is often a challenge for me. However, I don't want to miss making this time with Luke as memorable as possible. I am reminded that this is a dream of ours and I feel thankful that God has blessed us and saw fit to make it come true! Who knows, maybe one day we will live in one of these places (which I bet would give everyone an excuse to visit)!