Travel Memoirs: A Dreamy Train Ride

It was one of those moments when you wake up in a strange bed and feel disoriented, wondering where the heck you are. And then I remembered, Oh yes, I'm on a train.

It was five weeks in during my semester studying in France when classes halted for a two week-long break. In these five weeks, I had made friends with two American girls from my study abroad program and another Swedish girl from one of our classes. Together we had decided to set off to southern France and then on to Barcelona to fill our two weeks with as many adventures as possible.

I had volunteered as trip organizer, booking our flights and accommodations. Though we could have flown to Nice, it was cheaper to take a train, and after all, why not take advantage of France's famously speedy and efficient railway systems? I also had always thought the idea of taking a sleeping car and traveling overnight on a train to be appealing, and perhaps even slightly romantic. Thankfully the girls seemed to like my idea and I booked our tickets.

We knew full well that our sleeping car wouldn't be spacious or glamorous at the rate we paid, and we were curious to see how six individuals were to fit into one sleeping compartment. Yes--we would be sharing a compartment with three other strangers! We ended up sharing with a mother and her two children, both of whom were extremely quiet, well-behaved, and slept soundly.

The beds pulled out of the wall and were stacked three high on either side of the compartment. By the sheer kindness of my travel mates, I ended up on the lowest bed. Our train had departed around 10:30 at night, and by 11:30, we were all tucked into our beds, partially as a courtesy to the very sleepy children curled up opposite from us.

As I lay there, I stared at the twinkling stars out the window by my feet. The clickity-clack of the train quickly lulled me to sleep, and I slept deeply and soundly the whole night through.

I awoke early, as sunlight began to peek into our compartment. I propped myself up on my elbow to see out the window and stared for many moments, certain what I was seeing was an illusion. It was the sea!

There was my first glimpse of the Mediterranean, seemingly yards away outside our window, sparkling with the most gorgeous shades of orange and red from the sunrise. I was in awe, feeling I had stepped into a dream. This--this was one of the most beautiful sights my eyes had ever seen, and appearing at such an unexpected moment.

A huge smile crept across my face as I took in the beauty of the sea in the utter quiet and stillness of our little train compartment. What a glorious beginning to our adventures along the sea.

July Fourth Fun

Our Fourth of July started with a lazy day of sleeping in. {It was delicious!}

In the evening, our church held its annual community Fourth of July event. The church property is a prime location for watching the fireworks, so we offer an outing for families full of free food, games, and musical entertainment. Matt and I took turns volunteering to help run some of the games {so the other one could be with Makenna}. We had such great fun!

Matt's parents also stopped by for a bit, so Makenna got some good "Papa and Nana" time.

Makenna and her best friend, Melanie

We were excited to introduce Makenna to magical fireworks...that is, if she were still awake. And she was!

Makenna's initial wide-eyed reaction to the fireworks display. About ten minutes later, she fell asleep.

We adore our church and we have met and made some of our very closest friends through this wonderful community of believers. How endlessly thankful we are for these friendships.

What a lovely Fourth of July we had celebrating our great nation! God bless America!

Newborn Photos

I don't have to tell you that Matt and I were crazy to move into our first home one month before our due date. And in all that craziness, one of the things that fell to the wayside was locating a photographer to do newborn photos after Makenna's arrival. I actually DID have it on my "to do" list in the days just before Makenna's due date, but she decided to show up a tad early, so there went that plan.

I also must tell you that I even debated on whether or not to get newborn photos done. They are really expensive, you know. And how could I even be sure I'd be happy with them? In light of all the money we've been spending on the house {and the baby!}, we weren't sure it'd be the smartest investment of our money.

And then, as you know well, I got sick immediately after delivery. And then Makenna got sick with RSV and we did the whole hospital-thing. By the time we got home {again} from all that, she was over two weeks old and I still didn't even have a clue what photographer to use.

Enter Bobbi of Bobbi Rattai Photography. She was recommended to us by our close friends. I was very impressed with her website and the newborn photos she posted. The biggest factor was that we were informed she would be willing to come to our house to do the photo session. This was of course essential since we can't bring Makenna out anywhere. And after contacting Bobbi, I learned that her son also contracted RSV {he was just eight weeks old}, so she could totally understand our circumstances. My other huge requirement--one many photographers don't offer--was a CD with a copy of all the images and the rights to print them and use them as we pleased. Bobbi had everything we were looking for.

I received the CD of photos two days ago, and after looking at the first few, my eyes filled with tears of joy! I really can't put into words how beyond pleased we are with these photos. They're better than I'd ever dreamed. Hands down, this was some of the best money we've ever spent!

Oh, and Bobbi? Well, I could sing her praises all day long. She drove nearly two hours to our house, and she was here for a full three hours. And...Makenna even pooped on her! {Bobbi kindly reassured me, in all my horror, that it happens to her all the time at newborn shoots}. You better believe we will be going back to Bobbi for more pictures in the future!

I'm not going to show all the photos, but without further ado, here are my favorites:

Couldn't. Be. Happier.

European Honeymoon Cruise, Part 4: Venice

{Read part one here.}
{Read part two here.}
{Read part three here.}

Our final Italian port of call was to none other than the dreamy city of Venice!!

Our cruise ship was docking there overnight, so we had the chance to spend one and a half days in Venice altogether.

We stepped off our ship onto the cobblestone streets of Venice and felt as though we had been transported into a dream world. I knew that Venice was going to be incredibly beautiful, but I didn't expect it to be so breathtaking. It's very hard to even find words to describe just how beautiful it was.

I hope you can get just a teensy glimpse of the beauty and loveliness of Venice by the following photos, though pictures can't begin to capture the ambiance and the magic...

Matt was very patient with me while I snapped so many photos to try to capture Venice on camera...

We had such a marvelous, unforgettable time strolling the streets of Venice during the day. It kept us on our toes as well, since Venice is an absolute maze of tiny streets, canals, and bridges. We definitely wouldn't have been able to navigate the city without a clear map!

Our one night in Venice...well, it was an unforgettable night, let me just start with that. It was so unforgettable for two reasons: 1. We took a fabulous gondola ride through Venice 2. Said gondola ride was accompanied by an encounter with Obnoxious American Tourists.

We had booked an excursion with our cruise company for a gondola ride in Venice. It included a taxi boat ride to and from the city center where we'd board our gondolas, which allowed for me to dress up in heels and not have to worry about doing lots of walking and getting my heels stuck between cobblestones.

We were ecstatic--we were about to have one of our "dream experiences"! We had put on nice clothes; after all, who wants to go on a dreamy gondola ride in Venice in shorts, a tee shirt, and flip flops?

We arrived to the city center after a very choppy taxi boat ride and then followed our guide to the gondola-loading point. Matt and I seemed to be one of the only young couples in this group, but that wasn't such a huge surprise since it seemed that at least 60% or so aboard our cruise ship were over the age of fifty.

The process of loading guests onto the gondolas began. Matt and I were surprised and a bit dismayed to see that two couples were being loaded onto each gondola. That wasn't at all what we had expected. There was a double seat at the back of the gondola where one couple could sit together, and then two seats along each side where a couple would sit facing one another {not really prime for viewing enjoyment--as lovely as it is to stare into one another's eyes, the whole purpose of this excursion was to enjoy the view of Venice at night}.

When it was time for Matt and I to get onto a gondola, we were loaded onto one with a couple already seated on the double seat at the back. It was a heavy-set American couple, probably in their sixties. They quickly introduced themselves in a friendly, thick {albeit loud} Southern accent and proceeded to chat us up. The wife, {let's call her Mary} was dressed in capris, a flower-printed tee shirt, and sandals. The husband {let's call him John} was wearing cargo shorts, a tee shirt, and tennis shoes.

As our gondolier pushed off to follow the others down the canals, that seemed like the most appropriate and polite time for Matt and I to turn in our seats and face our bodies frontward. This not only allowed for us to best take in the Venice sights, but it provided a way for us to avoid obligatory conversation with the other couple. Don't get me wrong, they were very friendly--it just seemed very apparent that if we got into chatting with them during any part of the gondola ride, we'd likely get stuck in conversation for the whole gondola ride.

As we got under way, we heard Mary turn around and ask the gondolier if he spoke English. {And let me reiterate that especially with Mary, if she said something, she said it L.O.U.D.} The gondolier replied, "a little" in a very thick Italian accent.

Then Mary said, "Oh of course you do. Everyone speaks English nowadays."

We knew at that moment that we were in for a ride to remember.

Mary gabbed to John throughout most of the ride. John said very little.

At one point, our gondola was gliding down a particularly narrow canal. Mary had been quiet for a bit too long, and I gathered that she was thinking something over.

Finally: "They really weren't thinking about the size of cars when then designed these streets, now were they?" she mused. "You couldn't even fit two cars down this street."

A few moments later: "Now, did they build the city first and then flood it, or the other way around?"

"I'm really not sure, honey," John replied.

Matt and I were shooting each other tiny looks out of the corners of our eyes, trying to hide smirks.

When our gondola entered into the largest canal in Venice, we were able to float side by side with other gondolas from our excursion group. This was excellent because the gondola next to us contained an extra passenger--a local guide who likes to give historical commentary on gondola rides. We could hear him well {we were literally floating side by side} and since John and Mary were interested in the commentary as well, they were abnormally quiet.

But then, Mary became annoyed with our gondolier. He was chatting quietly with the gondolier next to him, and although they really were talking at a reasonable level, they were apparently interfering with her ability to concentrate.

"Hey--Fellas! Hey! Fellas! FELLAS!" she was yelling at them.

The two gondoliers finally realized her yells were directed at them and they looked down at her.

"I'm trying to LISTEN and I can't hear anything with all your yackin'!" Mary scowled.

It was clear by the looks on both of their faces that they didn't comprehend a single word Mary said. They went back to talking quietly. Mary gave a very impatient, over-dramatic sigh. {But thankfully she didn't say anything more!}

Floating near to the other gondolas allowed us one other advantage. One of the gondolas had two extra passengers: an accordionist and a singer with a very robust, stereotypical, belting Italian voice. It sounded beautiful, and it really was the ultimate addition to our gondola ride. We were probably able to enjoy this musical accompaniment for the last fifteen minutes of our hour-long gondola ride.

Even though Matt and I didn't have a gondola all to ourselves, or we didn't get to sit side by side, we actually really loved our whole gondola experience. John and Mary provided a dose of humor to the whole event; they certainly didn't "ruin" it in any way for us.

A nighttime gondola ride in Venice with Matt was truly one of the most romantic, magical experiences of my life. We had thought Venice was infinitely beautiful during the day, but nothing can compare to her beauty at night. The city comes to life and yet seems so serene, all aglow with the soft lights of street lamps and windows.

Yes, a gondola ride in Venice is ridiculously expensive, but I promise you, friends, this is one experience you absolutely cannot miss if you have the opportunity to visit Venice. The lovely, dreamy city of Venice tops my list of "most magical European cities" beyond a shadow of a doubt. But a nighttime gondola ride in Venice? That rates as one of my favorite memories of my whole life! That's just how incredibly magical it was.

After the gondola ride, we had about forty-five minutes of free time to enjoy the city before our taxi boat would take us back to the the cruise ship. Matt and I walked slowly, hand and hand, taking it all in. There were pleasures to be had for all the senses. Those moments couldn't have been any more perfect, save for the fact that we knew sooner or later, the evening would come to an end.

Enjoying the Venice at night:



On the taxi boat, about to return to the ship:



Indiana Jones really sums it up when he says, "Ahhhhh.....Venice!"

European Honeymoon Cruise, Part 2: Rome

{Read part one here.}

Our very first port of call on our dream honeymoon was none other than the legendary city of beauty and romance: Rome!

Our cruise ship had lots of excursion packages available at each port of call, but we felt perfectly confident taking on the vast and sprawling city of Rome, just the two of us.

Why? Because the semester I studied abroad in France, a friend and I spent our week-long Spring Break here in beautiful Roma. We literally walked the entire city several times over, so I knew it's layout well. I also still had my handy map of Rome from back then, which would help keep us on track.

Matt and I had mapped out our day in Rome the night before. I let Matt choose where he wanted to go and what he wanted to see since I had been there before. Our time was going to be pretty limited and there is just so much to do and see in Rome, so Matt really had to be specific. I was perfectly fine with whatever he wanted to do and I was getting a kick out of getting to play "tour guide" again.

Our ship docked at the coastal city of Ostia, Italy. Since Rome isn't right along the coast {but not too far}, we had to take a 45 minute train ride to get into the heart of the city. On the way there, my little heart was fluttering with excitement at the thought of getting to experience this gorgeous, historical city again, and share in it's beauty with the love of my life.

We arrived to the central train station in Rome and from there, started to make our way towards the iconic symbol of Rome--the Colosseum. We zig-zaged through tiny, cobblestoned streets, marking our way on the map of Rome I held in hand. {nothing says "tourist" quite like wandering a city with a big map in one's hands, right?}

Finally, we were there. I love this area of Rome not only for the Colosseum, but because it is the heart of ancient Rome itself. Of course one can find ancient Roman structures scattered throughout the city, but here is where the highest concentration of ruins lie.

I only took this one photo of the Colosseum because I already have oodles of photos from my first visit to Rome. And....we were at an angle that didn't provide the ideal view of the structure. See?

It's still impressive, but one can't see much of the beautiful facade of the Colosseum from this angle.

Matt decided it wasn't a priority for him to go inside the Colosseum, as long as he saw it from the outside. I agreed--the inside is wonderful, but the entrance fee is pricey and with the lines to get inside, we would have sacrificed quite a lot of our precious time.

With our backs to the Colosseum, we made our way up the Via Sacra {via means "street"} and as we came to the top of this short, ancient road, we saw this:

Isn't Rome just magical?!

We then made a short, steep descent into the Roman Forum. This is where one can walk through an area which was once the vibrant center of the ancient city. The archaeologist in me adores this place. Here is where all the important government buildings of the Roman Republic were located. The Senate and the Republican government were formed here. It was also the center of public life in Rome, as processions, speeches, trials, and other public events were held here.

It's a bit hard to imagine now, but this once was a most glorious, grand sight to see.

Matt with the Forum in the background, as well as Palatino hill:

From there, we made our way along one of Rome's busiest streets, past the Piazza Venezia, and then down some narrow, quieter streets, until we came to another of Rome's famous site's--the Trevi Fountain.

The Trevi fountain is gorgeous--a sight to behold. And the legend goes that if one throws a coin into the fountain over his or her shoulder, it will ensure that individual's return to the great city of Rome one day. Matt and I both did so, for good measure.

About to throw the coin over his shoulder...

Our next stop was to visit the great Pantheon, an ancient Roman building still fully intact. It is breathtaking and to this day, it has the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. Unfortunately I didn't get many good pictures of it on this visit because it had started to rain at that point, but I do have better pictures I'll share when I revisit my first trip to Rome.

Here we are at the Pantheon, sheltering from the rain. We had just stopped in a little pizzeria off a tiny side street and ordered some of the most delicious pizza. True, Italian pizza, with a hand-tossed, thin dough, and the perfect Roma tomato sauce, cheese and basil. Really no words can describe it other than sheer bliss.

Miraculously, after we had finished enjoying the Pantheon's interior, the rain stopped! And we saw not a drop for the rest of our day in Rome.


One of my absolute favorite things in Rome is walking through the many tiny and utterly charming side streets.

The sounds of the city fade away and all is quiet. The buildings are full of character, quirks, and the most subtle beauties.

I found this enchanting door and declared that if I were to ever live in Rome one day, this would be the door to my home.

After a lot of walking {whilst enjoying some delectable gelato, no less!} and simply taking in all the magnificence of Rome, we found ourselves at the Tiber River.

The Tiber river is nothing lovely to look at; in fact, it's gross. It's full of algae and garbage. But then again, I'm not surprised, since this river has been home to the center of civilization for thousands of years. It does add character, that's certain.

Our final stop in Rome was to none other than Vatican City.

Sadly, we didn't have enough time to go inside the church. We had to make sure we had plenty of time for the train ride back to Ostia to board our ship before it departed. {although, being stranded in Rome doesn't seem like such a bad thing!}

We got to walk around Vatican City for a short time and I stopped to by a Rosary. Even though we're not Catholic, there seemed to be something very special about owning a Rosary from the Vatican. The little vendor told me my Rosary had been blessed by the Pope himself. I have no way to be certain if that's true or not, but it is a lovely thought, indeed. My Rosary from Vatican City is something I'll always treasure.

We boarded our train for the coast and settled into our seats, exhausted but utterly satisfied. Even though one day is not nearly enough time to be able to enjoy all of Rome's endless treasures, it was enough to leave us enchanted by this magical city. There has been a deep impression left on our hearts by the history, grandeur, beauty, and culture of Rome--an impression that truly cannot be forgotten.