Tuscany

After we left Assisi we rented a car.

A little Fiat.

The thought of driving in Italy with our Italian GPS....
a little overwhelming.

Thankfully, my Mr. Wonderful felt courageous.
I would have surely thrown in the towel!

We stopped in Sienna.
So glad we took the time!

Need to park your horse?
These were scattered throughout the very old town of Sienna.

Every Italian town has its square or piazza.
The hang-out place!

The Cathedral took my breath away and the tears did flow!

Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us!

Heads of Popes........

Even the floors are works of art.

The more humble church of St. Catherine.

Stopping for a shepherd and his sheep to cross.
He was on his cell phone and smoking a cigarette.  LOL!

Pretty sheep dogs.

The views in Tuscany were gorgeous.

We passed vineyards, olive groves, wheat fields, hay fields and fields of sunflowers.

Driving by the fields of sunflowers......warmed this Kansas girl's heart!

Assisi

Pax et Bonum

The most peaceful place on planet Earth.

I loved the narrow streets of Assisi with the overflowing flower boxes.

And don't you love the airing laundry?  So pretty.

Olive Groves

St. Mary of the Angels containing the precious Porziuncola chapel.

So many happy memories in the prayerful haven of Assisi.

Mary art from sidewalk chalk/pastels!

The view of the valley below.

Beautiful Rose Window

We loved the metal work on the old buildings.
Not crazy about dragons but so interesting!

St. Francis, Pray for us.

Rome Continued......

We walked around Rome and saw many of the historic sites.

So amazing to come out of the subway and see the Colosseum looming up ahead.

I loved walking on this path.  How ancient are these stones?
And how can you (Italian women) walk on this in heels?

The Arch of Constantine celebrating his triumph and Christianity.

Victor Emmanuel Monument (first king of united Italy).

I loved that many of the buildings honored the Blessed Mother with her image.

Piazza Navona:  let the people watching begin!

Oh if I could only grow window boxes like these!

Nothing like eating outside!

Rome is a big, bustling, beautiful city.
You need longer than we had to soak it in!

Ultimate Summer Vacation

Back in March our second oldest son tried out for the USA U19 Worlds Ultimate Frisbee team.

Two tryouts were held for the East and West US players.

It was an honor to be invited to this tryout!

The World Junior Ultimate Frisbee Championship is held every two years.

We went through this tryout with our oldest son two years ago with the hope of representing team USA in Ireland.  He was not chosen but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

In April we received the exciting news that Dominic had made the team and would be traveling to Lecco, Italy to represent team USA!

Then the flurry of travel arrangements, fund raising, paperwork etc., began.

Our family and friends were a supportive force that encouraged and helped Dominic to make this dream come true.

In the midst of our son's travel plans, my parents offered to watch our younger children so Ed and I could both take in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!  Our oldest would stay with Ed's parents and continue to work and hold down the home front.

Ed and I decided that if we were heading to Italy.....we needed to visit Rome and Assisi and then work our way up to the lake-side town of Lecco.

Our experience was amazing, exhausting, stimulating, fascinating.....

We are still pinching ourselves....we did what?!?

I am going to try to gather some photos from each location to capture a memory or two of our nine days in Italy.

Our first stop was the Eternal City.

We started our day at the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica.

Michelangelo's beautiful Pieta that takes your breath away when you enter the Basilica.

Swiss Guard protecting the Holy Father and Vatican.

What a blessing to make this pilgrimage together!

Loved the Holy Water fonts!

It is so beautiful to celebrate the universality of our Catholic Faith.