PALIO!!!!!! July 2 2018

Church in Montevarchi

Started off the day with our first church in Italy.  New branch formed that covers Siena, Arrezo and Montevarchi.  Well attended, and we were grateful for the translation service.  Weonly stayed for sacrament service, promising to come back next week for longer.

After watching England wallop Panama 6-1 at the local pizza/gellato place (Slurp in Cavriglia) we headed out to Florence to show Tones some of the sites.  Nothing was open being Sunday and the streets were quiet.  Dinner in a square and a puppet show for the kids, and then we headed for the local medieval football game, which we couldn't get into.  And then on to the big Florence fireworks display over the river, celebrating the patron saint of Florence John the Baptist.

Long walk back across town ad heavy traffic, and fell int bed after midnight.  Great day - but oh the great days are now blending in to each other and time is passing at an all too quick of a pace.  Needs to slow down!

3 weeks in. Time to recap...

Arrived in Cavrigia a few days ago.  Already been to Cinque Terra and Siena.  Florence tomorrow.

To be honest the first coule of weeks have been crazy, hectic, and yet wonderful tour across Europe.

London, Worthing, East Grinstead, London, Paris, Milan, Venice, Verona, Switzerland and finally down to wondeful Cavriglia.

The memories have been immense - both good and bad.  Almost missing the Eurostar, missing the Paris to Milan train, booking Jed on the wrong flight to Paris, booking the Eurostar on the wrong day - all meant for a fun ad full adventure.  All with 12 people in tow, including 2 grand babies.

Somehow we survived the whole thing - and had some great times along the way.

Side note - I think when Meg and I conceived this sabbatical idea - sub consciously we wee trying to recreat the sabbaticalof 8 years ago.  I think what we forgot is that we have all changed.  2 returned missionaries, 1 married daughter with kids, other older kids - and Rosie now as well.  It is all very different on this trip.  But great at the same time.  We have a wonderful family and its good to go through the tough and the great together.

The excitement is building

17 days and counting.

The excitement truly is building as we put the finishing touches to our itinerary.

A week in the UK.
4 days in Paris.
Overnight train to Milan.
3 days in Geneva.
3 days in Venice/Verona.
5 glorious weeks in Tuscany.

And 13 people who mean the most.  Including grandchildren.

It will be a feat if we can pull it off - just getting places will be an adventure in itself.

And how?  Saved up air miles (thank you Delta), hotel points (thank you Marriott) and car rental points (thank you Hertz).  Not to mention an incredibly cheap, wonderful and rustic farmhouse in the middle of the Chianti region of Tuscany (thank you Leonardo).

The plan is to update this daily - and let you keep up to date with the daily laughs, struggles and sights of this once in a life time trip.

It's going to be great...