tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56748743176033044922009-12-02T22:25:04.021-08:00Old Soles, New ShoesThe Inner Monologues of Ryan and Kristina...Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-36083301565855449452009-08-19T17:30:00.000-07:002009-08-19T17:31:08.799-07:00We're Home! Blog to be Finished Soon!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyZSmi6pcI/AAAAAAAAAcY/a4ZmpToFL4k/s1600-h/IMG_0017.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyZSmi6pcI/AAAAAAAAAcY/a4ZmpToFL4k/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />WE ARE BACK IN AMERICA!<br /><br />Hi Everyone, just wanted to officially let you all know that we are back home in Hollister safe and sound! We had a fantastic trip, and we have every intention of completely updating the blog so you everyone will know how it all ended up! Until then, check out the few posts we were able to get up so far from Croatia, and be sure to check back in a few days! :)<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry<br /><br /><br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-3608330156585544945?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-68055043602925432712009-08-19T13:20:00.000-07:002009-08-19T13:21:07.161-07:00Sutivan Post #1<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi All,<br /><br />On Thursday, my mom's first cousin Vlado and his wife Dusica swung by Postira to pick up Matt, Kristina and I up to spend a day with them in another village on Brac where they have a house, a place called Sutivan. Sutivan is another beautiful little Croatian island town, very similar to Postira in many ways. We had a great time with them, and here are the pics to prove it! Thanks again Dusica and Vlado!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxerEL-F8I/AAAAAAAAAbY/rDHfXFm9Y5k/s1600-h/IMG_9674.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxerEL-F8I/AAAAAAAAAbY/rDHfXFm9Y5k/s320/IMG_9674.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The first thing we did, of course, was hit up the beach! We found a beautiful little cove in Sutivan without too many people, and posted up. The shore, as is typical on Brac, was small pebbles, but about 25 feet from the shore in the water, the ground changed to sand, which was awesome combination because you could enjoy the sand without getting too dirty when it was time to get out of the water. We spent about five or so hours here, which is not too bad for Professional Chillers like us, just lounging around, swimming, and enjoying the warm Mediterranean sun. Here, in my best attempt at "art," you can see Kristina relaxing in the foreground, and Matt halfway in the water in the background. Not too shabby, huh?</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxerlIILDI/AAAAAAAAAbg/jiT3721r-Og/s1600-h/IMG_9697.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxerlIILDI/AAAAAAAAAbg/jiT3721r-Og/s320/IMG_9697.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />In the afternoon, Vlado picked us up from the beach and brought us back to their beautiful little home. He then set to work, grilling a masterpiece of a meal for us the old Croatian way. No charcoal briquettes here, he used real wood! You can't see it in the picture, but his apron said "Master of the Grill." Although, I guess it doesn't really matter, since most of you probably couldn't understand it even if you could see it since it was in Croatian!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxesP5mEKI/AAAAAAAAAbo/Xv3XLp5o6J8/s1600-h/IMG_9705.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxesP5mEKI/AAAAAAAAAbo/Xv3XLp5o6J8/s320/IMG_9705.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The five of us after another extremely appetizing, stomach-stretching meal! Vlado said we couldn't leave the table until everything was gone, and I'm proud to say that I was the one who saved us and allowed us to leave! :) Also, happy belated birthday to Dusica, who was ironically born on the same day as Kristina, August 14!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxesZP4M6I/AAAAAAAAAbw/EYILRm3QllA/s1600-h/IMG_9713.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxesZP4M6I/AAAAAAAAAbw/EYILRm3QllA/s320/IMG_9713.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After the meal, we tried to burn off some calories by walking through the town center of Sutivan at dusk, which proved to be quite a beautiful sight! A local dance studio was giving a performance, so needless to say Kristina was thrilled, and we all enjoyed watching them do Thriller. Here's Kristina and Matt doing one of their favorite things in Croatia, and Vlado joining in: Eating Sladoled! So much for burning off some calories!<br /><br /><br />We had a great time in Sutivan with such wonderful people, and we are so happy that we got to go there during our short time in Croatia. Just another great place we'll have to visit again sometime soon! :)<br /><br />Hope all is well at home!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-6805504360292543271?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-14877965321881883722009-08-19T11:43:00.000-07:002009-08-19T11:45:38.373-07:00Postira Post #3<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi Everyone,<br /><br />We had such a great time in Postira hanging out by the sea and with family that all the days started to blend together a little bit, in the best sort of way! We pretty much lost track of the days, and time really didn't mean anything either, which is just the kind of laid back, relaxed vacation we were looking for. Kristina, Matt, and I effectively became what we liked to call "Professional Chillers," often comiserating about how hard life was when you had to hang out by the sea all day and come home to delicious, overflowing home-cooked meals. Really, people just don't understand what a tough life it is. :) Check out some more pics from Postira below!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxISopyCgI/AAAAAAAAAa4/wzLEecEh7-k/s1600-h/IMG_2482.JPG"><br /><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxISopyCgI/AAAAAAAAAa4/wzLEecEh7-k/s320/IMG_2482.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So, a bit of scenery to show you just where we were. This is the small town of Postira, on the island of Brac, in the Adriatic Sea, on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia (Wow, a mouthful!). In the pic, you can see the main harbor, and the waterfront bars, cafes, and homes/pensions behind. It is a small town (The whole island of Brac only has a population of 12,000 people), but that just adds to the allure of the place. It is stunning!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxIS8v7EGI/AAAAAAAAAbA/A1bo5HgC46I/s1600-h/IMG_9477.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxIS8v7EGI/AAAAAAAAAbA/A1bo5HgC46I/s320/IMG_9477.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Although there are quite a few cars on the island (and thankfully not all of them Yugos anymore, which we have a funny story to tell you about at some point...), a lot of people get around on mopeds or scooters like this one my cousin Nena and Kristina are riding. They call them "Motors." This one belonged to Nena's boyfriend Toni, and he was kind enough to let her nearly kill all of us on it on zippy trips to the town center every day! JK! :)<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxITVwMslI/AAAAAAAAAbI/CMvFT7IrjSI/s1600-h/IMG_9519.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxITVwMslI/AAAAAAAAAbI/CMvFT7IrjSI/s320/IMG_9519.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are again at the beach in Postira, only this time during the day! Actually, it took 2 or 3 days for us to get to the beach in the day time, leading Matt to initially assume that Croatians only go to the beach at night. He said he was tired of working on his moon tan. Here, my cousin Mirela and Matt are washing some fruit in the showers everyone uses to rinse off with fresh water after chilling out in the salty sea.<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxIULlmQmI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/WzSjmFsENS0/s1600-h/IMG_9495.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxIULlmQmI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/WzSjmFsENS0/s320/IMG_9495.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Every night, we were treated to fabulous home-cooked meals by my two amazing Great Aunts, Teta Ksenija and Teta Marija. The food was spectacular, every single night! Here, Kristina and I are sitting enjoying the evening with my Teta Ksenija and her husband, Barba Tonsi (Barba = Uncle), after a particularly scrumptuous meal of home-made gnocchi and pot roast! Gnocchi is a favorite of mine, and after having been dissapointed by the gnocchi I had at a restaurant in Italy, after this night I rememberd why I love it so much!Kristina and Matt had never tried it before, but it quickly became one of their favorites too, and they were definitely talking about it the rest of the week thereafter! Thank you so much Teta Ksenija, and Teta Marija too, for all the wonderful meals prepared with so much love!<br /><br /><br />The pics never seem to do it all justice, but more to come anyway! :)<br /><br />Always,<br /><br />Ry<br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-1487796532188188372?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-39352578444788589452009-08-19T11:34:00.000-07:002009-08-19T11:37:03.495-07:00Postira Post $2<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi Everyone,<br /><br />Sorry for the delay in these posts! Part of what makes Croatia so awesome is that it is a little bit behind, like a step back to simpler times, and as such internet access was a lot harder to come by in the small village of Postira on the island of Brac. I'll also admit too that we were having such a wonderful time that we hardly touched the computer at all! We managed to pic a few of our favorite pics from Postira though, and we'll be putting them up over the next few posts. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxGR1JtqtI/AAAAAAAAAaY/4YQ5F1NuoE4/s1600-h/IMG_9514.JPG"><br /><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxGR1JtqtI/AAAAAAAAAaY/4YQ5F1NuoE4/s320/IMG_9514.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />If you can believe me, this was the view at sunset from our balcony in our little apartment in my great aunts' house in Postira. Not just one night, but every night! Look at the colors! You can easily see the beautiful Adriatic Sea, which we spent probably half of our trip swimming in! At one point, I remember Matt standing on the balcony, muttering sarcastically, "I can't believe I took a 20 hour train ride to come see this!"<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxGSTcj5xI/AAAAAAAAAag/lJYa6Od35fI/s1600-h/IMG_9446.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxGSTcj5xI/AAAAAAAAAag/lJYa6Od35fI/s320/IMG_9446.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The first night we arrived in Postira, the town where my Great Aunts (or Tetas in Croatian) live, we met up with Matt and my cousins Mirela, Ati, and Nena, and headed straight to the sea! I had never been in the water at night time before, and although it was a bit disconcerting at first, I ended up almost liking it better than during the day! We literally had the beach to ourselves! Unfortunately, Matt and I quickly realized that the only way we were going to fit with all the Speedos over here was to take matters into our own hands, as the picture shows. You may want to shield your eyes, that skin is pretty white, it may blind you if you look directly at it!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxGS2bRsQI/AAAAAAAAAao/NQoADAhDDPs/s1600-h/IMG_9448.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxGS2bRsQI/AAAAAAAAAao/NQoADAhDDPs/s320/IMG_9448.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Kristina and Matt, chilling on the cement dock at the beach in Postira, with the Split Futbol team HAJDUK tagged behind them. It is hard to describe the experience of being at the beach on Brac, because it doesn't even compare to what we're used to in California. The water is CRYSTAL clear, as in you can see all the way to the bottom in deep water, even at night time if the moon is out! And it is just the right temperature to be refreshing, yet comfortable. Truly amazing!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxGTE5zJSI/AAAAAAAAAaw/i2QM838OGGg/s1600-h/IMG_2474.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoxGTE5zJSI/AAAAAAAAAaw/i2QM838OGGg/s320/IMG_2474.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We learned the hard way that if we were going to hang out with my Croatian cousins, we were going to have to step up our game! The first night we were there, after hitting the beach, we headed out to check out the night life of Postira. We ended up at one of the few bars along the harbor, "La Luna," and didn't make it home until 3 AM! Guess this isn't so crazy, but for us, it was definitely a change of pace! We had a great time though, and here you can see Kristina and I partying with all my Croatian cousins and some of their friends (Matt is taking the picture). Kristina ordered a Long Island, and the thing literally came in a vase, like for puttting flowers in! It was HUGE! And by her smile, you can tell she definitely enjoyed the whole thing! (Alright, I helped her out a bit too. ;) )<br /><br />And so we had a great start to a great week in Postira! More pics to come!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry<br /><br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-3935257844478858945?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-86935632416411943442009-08-12T04:14:00.000-07:002009-08-12T04:14:38.529-07:00Postira Post #1<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hello everyone!<br /><br />We are now in Postira, Croatia, with some of my cousins and my Great Aunts, Teta Marija and Teta Ksenija (Teta means Aunt). Sorry we haven't really been able to update the blog, but there isn't really any internet here, and we haven't had time to write anything! So just a quick note to let you all know that we are okay!<br /><br />Also, Kristina's brother Matt has joined us, safe and sound, after over 20 hours of train travel to get here! It's great to see him, and have his company, we are so happy!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoKkHC564RI/AAAAAAAAAZU/LUrtsTx9Dyc/s1600-h/IMG_9459.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoKkHC564RI/AAAAAAAAAZU/LUrtsTx9Dyc/s320/IMG_9459.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Less than one week until we return home, and although we are having a wonderful time here, we are pretty much ready!<br /><br />Hope all is well with all of you, and take care!<br />Love,<br /><br />Ry<br /><br /> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-8693563241641194344?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-52666870148908125182009-08-09T03:29:00.000-07:002009-08-17T03:33:25.643-07:00Bol Post #2<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi Everyone!<br /><br />Today we spent the whole day walking around, laying on the beach and swimming in the sea! All the relatives are so loving and fun to be around! Believe it or not one of the older men made fun of my eyes being squinty. Think he thought I was Asian and was very suprised when I said I was Portuguese and Italian! It made me laugh because he was talking in Croatian but Ry and I could tell what he was saying.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sokxi7PEAII/AAAAAAAAAZ4/3s4Qccr6824/s1600-h/IMG_9295.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sokxi7PEAII/AAAAAAAAAZ4/3s4Qccr6824/s320/IMG_9295.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is Ry at breakfast. We slept in past the breakfast with everyone else, but that didn't stop them from bringing us out a donut-like thingy, fresh rolls, cheese, salami, juice and some other lunch meat. It really is great and we are totally enjoying our time in Bol.</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SokxjH6h-xI/AAAAAAAAAaA/wNpeiWZ5gLw/s1600-h/IMG_9303.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SokxjH6h-xI/AAAAAAAAAaA/wNpeiWZ5gLw/s320/IMG_9303.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We found the K Market! I have no idea if they sell anything good, but saw the K and had to take a picture. The bus we took to Bol had K's on their hubcaps! I got totally jealous and almost stole them for my car! JK! Get it? J...K!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sokxjv1eu-I/AAAAAAAAAaI/GBH341BJcY0/s1600-h/IMG_9307.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sokxjv1eu-I/AAAAAAAAAaI/GBH341BJcY0/s320/IMG_9307.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is the town of Bol! It is so BEAUTIFUL and the water is amazingly clear! Ry and I were on a walk this morning and decided to both get in this shot, so we set up the camera with 10 seconds and suprisingly the picture turned out great!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SokxkEb0edI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/WjXiJC1YSUo/s1600-h/IMG_9358.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SokxkEb0edI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/WjXiJC1YSUo/s320/IMG_9358.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ry and I after our last swim in the sea of the day. And yes I think Ry's eyes just might be a tad squintier than mine, or at least one of them! We have been trying to get some color since we are two of the whitest people on the beach! Today we walked down to the nude side of the beach and turned around and walked right back! Oh my my my...things I didn't need to see!! Although I must say there is something freeing about being naked and not caring! I love it over here! There is no judgements! People of all shapes and sizes are either in a two piece, have no top on, completly naked or in a speedo! No one cares! It makes me wish that our society wasn't so focused on weight and what you look like! Makes me realize how shollow we are! Everyone is happy in Bol, and so excited for company and to eat! Whereas in the US, people are angry and counting calories; it's not like that over here. It is a breath of fresh air, so to say! I could definitely see Ry and I coming back here sometime soon and spending more time in Bol!<br /><br /><br />Tomorrow we are off to the other side of the island to a town called Postira, where we will meet up with more family and my brother Matt! I guess there will be no more naked tanning for me! haha! JK!!<br /><br />It's hard not to LOVE it here! There are moments that Ry and I look at each other and just say sarcastically, "man this sucks!" . It really is sooo neat and the best trip and we are just loving life!!<br /><br />Nighty night!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />K<br /></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-5266687014890812518?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-39301992666915382382009-08-08T13:45:00.000-07:002009-08-08T13:46:40.377-07:00Bol Post #1<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hello Fam and Friends!<br /><br />So I'm in Croatia with Ry and all his Croatian relatives. It's great too see where Ry's family roots are and it's fun when Ry remembers something from when he was here like 11 years ago.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3kLMwIO8I/AAAAAAAAAXs/D6-KTABkefA/s1600-h/IMG_9223.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3kLMwIO8I/AAAAAAAAAXs/D6-KTABkefA/s320/IMG_9223.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yup we are in Bol and the beach is AMAZING!! While walking towards the beach I saw this sign! Nudist Beach! So I had to take a picture by it! We didn't go to the nudist beach, but it was interesting on the beach we did go to seeing all the guys in speedos and the women topless. Wish our beaches were like that, a lot less tan lines! Let us just say that we tried our best to fit in! :)</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3kLQ24eII/AAAAAAAAAX0/-mEYGghwsSY/s1600-h/IMG_9259.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3kLQ24eII/AAAAAAAAAX0/-mEYGghwsSY/s320/IMG_9259.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So the entire beach is all covered in these little pebbles. It's way different than sand, but kind of nice. You don't get sand in places that you don't want sand! :) And believe it or not it doesn't really hurt to walk on or lay on.</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3kLruQlxI/AAAAAAAAAX8/oYu9gZhL4L4/s1600-h/IMG_9280.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3kLruQlxI/AAAAAAAAAX8/oYu9gZhL4L4/s320/IMG_9280.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is Ry in front of the sea after a nice swim. The water is clear and we think it's just as nice as Hawaii! There are wind surfers and kite boarders! Looks so fun but you'd have to be so stong! It's sweet, they are going along and then they hit a wave and the kite catches air and they go so high! Fun to watch!!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3kL56PFwI/AAAAAAAAAYE/JeXZBu_raZk/s1600-h/IMG_9288.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3kL56PFwI/AAAAAAAAAYE/JeXZBu_raZk/s320/IMG_9288.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Enjoying our Vacation together!! All done with the traveling portion of our trip and just ready to chill and hangout with relatives and as I'm realizing, "Yedi, Yedi!!!" Which means, "EAT, EAT!!" Only took one meal for us to learn to pace ourselves at the table! :) The Beach in Bol is sooo Beautiful! Hard not to fall in love with it!!<br /><br /><br />Hope all is well with all of you back at home! Mom, just wanted to let you know I'm still alive and doing great! Think I'm going to see Matt on Monday and so we will be together for my Birthday! Thanks for being the best mom and for having me! Sorry I was two weeks late, I was just marinating a little longer!<br /><br />Love you!<br /><br />XOXO,<br /><br />Kristina<br /><br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-3930199266691538238?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-46445069396350178082009-08-08T13:27:00.000-07:002009-08-08T13:28:50.352-07:00Croatia Post #1 - Super Travel Day Continued!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">We are in Croatia! After two relatively hectic days of travelling via various buses, ferries, trains, and of course sidewalks, we arrived at or destination of Bol on the Croatian island of Brac at about 1:00 PM our time. Here's a few more pics from our journey!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3f_RhmLCI/AAAAAAAAAXM/Ks7bw8CatPY/s1600-h/IMG_9177.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3f_RhmLCI/AAAAAAAAAXM/Ks7bw8CatPY/s320/IMG_9177.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is Kristina and I just as our ferry was arriving at the port in Split, Croatia. We got a decent night sleep in our little cabin, and were ready to take on a new day in a new country!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3f_l50tlI/AAAAAAAAAXU/vjbmR3AMpKc/s1600-h/IMG_9182.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3f_l50tlI/AAAAAAAAAXU/vjbmR3AMpKc/s320/IMG_9182.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our ferry got in a bit earlier than we expected, but we were greeted very quickly by two of my mom's cousins here in Croatia, our saviours! This is Kristina sitting down briefly with one of them, my cousin Silvana, trying to figure out just how to get us from here to Bol on the island. Easier said than done! Many thanks to them, as we probably couldn't have done it ourselves!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3gAOjFZZI/AAAAAAAAAXc/ZS0_xe_hYns/s1600-h/IMG_9188.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3gAOjFZZI/AAAAAAAAAXc/ZS0_xe_hYns/s320/IMG_9188.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We took another ferry from Split to the port town of Supetar on Brac, and then hopped on a bus to cross the island to our destination on the other side, Bol. This is our bus, and the ad on the back clearly shows why Bol was our destination: The most famous beach in Croatia, Zlatni Rat, which translates to something like, "The Golden Cape." It is an absolutely stunning peninsula of little pebbles that extends into the crystal clear Adriatic Sea! Just about a twenty minute walk from where we'd be staying!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3gAfw1z1I/AAAAAAAAAXk/dCDHfaf7-Wk/s1600-h/IMG_9199.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3gAfw1z1I/AAAAAAAAAXk/dCDHfaf7-Wk/s320/IMG_9199.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's Kristina sitting at the bus stop in Bol, waiting patiently for another cousin to come find us and bring us to where we'd be staying for the next two days. All of my family over here has already been so wonderful, they truly are such generous and kind people, and we are so lucky to have them. Many thanks in advance to all my cousins in Croatia, and thanks to my mom for helping set up our trip here!<br /><br /><br />More to come on our first night in Bol! Hope everyone is well at home!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry<br /><br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-4644506939635017808?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-7689574623022606962009-08-08T13:24:00.000-07:002009-08-08T13:25:21.493-07:00Ancona Post #1 - Super Travel Day!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br />Hi All,<br /><br />Well, we're finally just about caught up with the blog, although by the time we get this posted we probably won't be any more! :) As I write this, I'm laying in my "berth" in our three person cabin on our overnight ferry from Ancona, Italy to Split, Croatia. Luckily, there are only two people in this cabin: Kristina and I! Having just gotten over the whole hostel thing, we weren't exactly dying for another new roomate! Anyway, today has been the most involved day of travelling so far, but we've managed to snap a few photos of the experience, so enjoy below!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3fLgP6hfI/AAAAAAAAAWs/mxK7k162DFo/s1600-h/IMG_8710.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3fLgP6hfI/AAAAAAAAAWs/mxK7k162DFo/s320/IMG_8710.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So when we say travel day, we really mean TRAVEL DAY! We've used almost every form of transportation (except air) today: foot, train, bus, wait in line, bus, then finally boat! In the pic, you can see me on the bus from where we checked into Blue Line Ferries at the Port of Ancona to where the ferry was docked, holding our tickets, and wearing my pack. Kristina and I spent pretty much all day in our packs today, definitely earning our trip and getting our moneys worth out of them now!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3fL93qJ9I/AAAAAAAAAW0/D8yFaJh_iM8/s1600-h/IMG_8717.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3fL93qJ9I/AAAAAAAAAW0/D8yFaJh_iM8/s320/IMG_8717.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is our boat, named, incidentally, the Ancona. It was quite an escapade to get onto the thing, but now that we're here, it's pretty cool! Definitely not as convenient travelling by boat as by plane, but kind of a neat experience, like a "mini cruise," as Kristina put it, only "without all the perks," as she made sure to add...</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3fMM-IWEI/AAAAAAAAAW8/x6RRmKzgI30/s1600-h/IMG_8757.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3fMM-IWEI/AAAAAAAAAW8/x6RRmKzgI30/s320/IMG_8757.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So Kristina and I JOINTLY decided tonight that we weren't going to have dinner at the overpriced restaurant on board, but instead would have our own little meal in our nice roomy cabin. Here you can see us sitting on Kristina's bed with our several-course meal: Peanut butter on Ritz crackers, off-brand Cheerios, a few Walnuts, and a bottle of Rome public water! I told Kristina that we were so lucky to be having our third romantic dinner in a row, and she just scoffed at me and said, "Uh huh, sure."<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3fMIC1xVI/AAAAAAAAAXE/ZGDvwcFmx30/s1600-h/IMG_8743.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3fMIC1xVI/AAAAAAAAAXE/ZGDvwcFmx30/s320/IMG_8743.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />When the boat launched, we ventured outside to watch. The dusk had just fallen, the weather was perfect, and there was a large full moon over the water. This is us on the deck of the boat. Pretty cute huh, for a travel day at least!<br /><br /><br />Our ferry will arrive in Split at 10:30 AM local time tomorrow morning, at which point we'll be meeting up with my Croatian relatives. Our vacation in Croatia will have officially begun! :) A nice way to finish off our travels in Europe. We'll probably be a bit more out of touch in Croatia, but we'll try to keep you guys updated when we can here and there on the blog, assuming we can get us some internet! We'll do our best! Thanks for all the wonderful comments, and keep them coming, we love reading them!<br /><br />Hope all is well at home, and looking forward to seeing you all soon! Take Care!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry<br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-768957462302260696?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-60689252046692857602009-08-08T13:20:00.000-07:002009-08-08T13:21:41.229-07:00Rome Post #7<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Ancient Rome is super old. You might say it's super duper old! Rome was very neat and was such a fabulous learning experience. Oh wait! The one tour I was supposed go on, I nearly had a panic attack and had to leave! Good thing I listened in my Art History class at Gav. And better yet that I took it twice to better soak up all the info!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3eUL8vvoI/AAAAAAAAAWM/a5NyXrV83fw/s1600-h/IMG_8708-1.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3eUL8vvoI/AAAAAAAAAWM/a5NyXrV83fw/s320/IMG_8708-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ry took this picture and I didn't even know! I totally just found it when looking through all of our pictures and it made me laugh! So I thought I'd share it with you! Because we all know...When in Rome!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3eUWc8quI/AAAAAAAAAWU/qvbnHL_pUig/s1600-h/IMG_9003.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3eUWc8quI/AAAAAAAAAWU/qvbnHL_pUig/s320/IMG_9003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is where Caesar was killed. Brutus was an honorable man... et tu Brute!?! Those are the only two things I remember learning about Casear in high school, from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. And now there are just a lot of cats here! I have no idea why... but I counted 15 cats and was so thrilled! :)</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3eUuPyaRI/AAAAAAAAAWc/5yRfiCS-QU0/s1600-h/IMG_9035.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3eUuPyaRI/AAAAAAAAAWc/5yRfiCS-QU0/s320/IMG_9035.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is Ry in front of the Colosseum... Alright I hope you are all ready because I'm going to teach you something. that I remember from Art History the second time I took it! Ok, look at the the different levels. They actually all have different columns. All the tops are different: square, curly, and fancy. I know there are more educational names, and I forget what it symbolized, but I thought it was neat to see in real life and not just in a book! (Side note from Ry: Now you all know pretty much nothing more than you knew before! Way to go Kristina! ;) )</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3eVAWlHLI/AAAAAAAAAWk/R2kwJ5lSAHQ/s1600-h/IMG_9075.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3eVAWlHLI/AAAAAAAAAWk/R2kwJ5lSAHQ/s320/IMG_9075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The inside was not like I had imagined it would be! Not sure what I had pictured in my head but it was different. Our methods to have someone take a picture has developed quite a bit over our trip. First, we find someone who is taking a picture of their friend and offer, "Would you like me to take a picture of you two...?" Then they say, "YES!" really happily, and then they offer back! We found it works out great. Another way we do it is by trying to take a bunch of pictures of ourselves reaching out with the camera in one of our arms until someone notices and offers to do it for us. And suprisingly, sometimes people do!<br /><br />Well bye bye Rome and hello Croatia! Off another another travel day traveliest yet!<br /><br />Always,<br /><br />K :)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-6068925204669285760?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-89006066562201122712009-08-08T13:15:00.000-07:002009-08-08T13:16:28.629-07:00Rome Post #6<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">After having checked out the Vatican yesterday, there was one more major stop in our Roman adventure: The ruins of Ancient Rome! Check out some of the pics below!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3dF9QJAaI/AAAAAAAAAVs/5LAlEDwvddQ/s1600-h/IMG_9021.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3dF9QJAaI/AAAAAAAAAVs/5LAlEDwvddQ/s320/IMG_9021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Considering the fact that Roman civilization existed TWO MILLENIA ago, it is amazing how much still remains intact. The Roman Forum, Colosseum, and ruins on Palatine Hill are some of the best examples of this. This picture shows me in front of a particularly well-preserved trio of Roman Columns in the Forurm. (Side note from K: Ry fell in love with these 3 columns because they were "well-perserved specimens" in his words! haha!! Although he won't admit to it!)<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3dGbdAtgI/AAAAAAAAAV0/mc0JcX9-N8k/s1600-h/IMG_8669.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3dGbdAtgI/AAAAAAAAAV0/mc0JcX9-N8k/s320/IMG_8669.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Palatine Hill is a site adjacent to the Colosseum and the Forum where a lot of Roman Palaces, etc. once existed, which are now left as ruins. Here's Kristina, with a little Captain in her (reference to the now infamous Captain Morgan Rum stance in case you're confused), only with the top of a marble column rather than a keg of Rum! (Side note from K: I'm soo cool!!)<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3dG_MMoFI/AAAAAAAAAV8/AE-Rv5U0xp8/s1600-h/IMG_9049.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3dG_MMoFI/AAAAAAAAAV8/AE-Rv5U0xp8/s320/IMG_9049.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's me with some more of the aforementioned ruins on Palatine Hill. The hill also overlooks the original Circus Maximus (Side note from K: do do dooodle do do do do do do..haha like a circus) , which apparently was a chariot race track! Who knew? Maybe everyone but me... Also, some great advice that was given to us: If you want to get into the Colosseum, buy your tickets at Palatine Hill! They're good for both places, as well as the Forum, and there are literally NO LINES! Nice way to beat the hour+ lines circling the Colosseum.<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3dG2IjHtI/AAAAAAAAAWE/rVQVPG78ZAU/s1600-h/IMG_8668.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3dG2IjHtI/AAAAAAAAAWE/rVQVPG78ZAU/s320/IMG_8668.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This pic, again on Palatine Hill, overlooks an ancient Stadium. When I got ready to take this picture of Kristina, she stood by the railing, asked me, "Do people fight here?" and immediately assumed this stance! Even if they didn't fight here, she's now telling everyone that they did! (Side note from K: People fight here!)<br /><br /><br />More to come from Ancient Rome in Kristina's post, hope you're enjoying the pics!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry<br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-8900606656220112271?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-38088583808428686052009-08-08T13:11:00.000-07:002009-08-08T13:13:23.463-07:00Rome Post #5<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">We are leaving Rome today on a train to a port city where we will take a Tinkerbell Fairy to Croatia! We had two Rome-antic dinners two nights in a row!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3cX0hAI_I/AAAAAAAAAVM/S8sNGWIdlVA/s1600-h/IMG_8983.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3cX0hAI_I/AAAAAAAAAVM/S8sNGWIdlVA/s320/IMG_8983.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />As you can tell we totally splurged! We both got a soda, sprite for me and a Fanta for Ry. The first thing other than water that we've drank in a week and a half! Probably the only reason we got a soda was because you pay the same for water! </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3cYGbrvrI/AAAAAAAAAVU/A04a5xqqoSc/s1600-h/IMG_8990.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3cYGbrvrI/AAAAAAAAAVU/A04a5xqqoSc/s320/IMG_8990.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our first Rome-antic dinner was at a restaurant called Rotonda. It was really good, and close to our hotel! I had Spaghetti and Ry had Gnocchi. We also got to have dippie bread so I was happy! The outside of the restaurant was under construction, so actually had dinner under decorated scaffolding! We both agree, as ghetto as that seems, we thought they did a great job keeping a good ambiance. After we finished our dinner, just enjoying each others' company, a woman about 15 ft. away threw up in the middle of the road. She was a smart puker and threw up in a gutter luckily, after she was done some people acidently walked threw it! I was dying and Ry had his back to it all so just knew what was going on by my sound effects and facial expressions! </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3cYSXvWxI/AAAAAAAAAVc/umCHfm1bsik/s1600-h/IMG_9160.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3cYSXvWxI/AAAAAAAAAVc/umCHfm1bsik/s320/IMG_9160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Last night we had dinner at a place called Don Chisci...blah blah blah something, I forgot the name. It was located in the Piazza Navona, where we had the view a very famous fountian by Bernini, and many street performers. Our dinner was good, but we realized that night that when you are young sometimes you get treated like less of a person. It's really sad actually, I believe it's along the lines of ageism! Not that they were super mean to us they just aren't as nice. IDK! Anyways....</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3cYoh8uvI/AAAAAAAAAVk/JVRXx0OrdWY/s1600-h/IMG_9159.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3cYoh8uvI/AAAAAAAAAVk/JVRXx0OrdWY/s320/IMG_9159.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yes I know you all are thinking we actually packed a few nice things to wear in those big packs of ours! We very much enjoyed ourselves, and realized that until we order wine/vino we aren't going to fit in with the crowd in Italy! Oh yeah and start smoking! Nothing more Romantic than having dinner with someone a ruler away blowing smoke at you! Awesome!<br /><br /><br /> The first night at dinner I actually thought Ry was going to propose! He started saying a long list of REALLY NICE things about me, and it was so nice, making me get all teary eyed feeling so loved...and then he ended that with, "I just love you, you make me laugh!" Yup that was that! He is just a nice guy and was just giving me compliments without having to say that before proposing! Made my heart happy! I love that guy!!<br /><br />In case you're keeping count, there are seven more days until my birthday, and 11 days until we head back home (If you don't take into consideration the time delay between us writing and posting this...) :)<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />K</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-3808858380842868605?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-47246350424807129612009-08-08T13:08:00.000-07:002009-08-08T13:09:15.808-07:00Rome Post #4<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi All,<br /><br />I want to take a minute to tell you about a very neat tour that Kristina and I had the opportunity to go on in the Vatican called the Scavi Tour. Essentially, it was a tour of the excavations of the Necropolis underneath St. Peter's Basilica, including the tomb of St. Peter himself! Unfortunately, Kristina's body didn't agree with being underground for this tour, so she wasn't able to go through with it, but she's okay now, was just a bit shaken up at the time. As expected for an excavation site, the passageways were pretty small, and it was extremely humid underground, so it's definitely not for everyone. I wasn't going to continue with it either, but she insisted that I should, so I did. No pictures were allowed, so you'll just have to take my word for it, but it was pretty cool all in all!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3baM-2C5I/AAAAAAAAAUs/ntBBHtVCp0c/s1600-h/IMG_8616.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3baM-2C5I/AAAAAAAAAUs/ntBBHtVCp0c/s320/IMG_8616.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is my ticket for the Scavi Tour. I'm still not sure by what streak of luck I was able to get one, as people normally reserve their spot on this tour like 5 months in advance! A friend mentioned it to me about a week before we left to Europe, so I sent the email asking if space was available on a whim, signing it with the phrase "God Bless," and what do you know, they had an opening! Pretty smart huh! :)</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3bafmsppI/AAAAAAAAAU0/2-rXt16zQQk/s1600-h/IMG_8533.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3bafmsppI/AAAAAAAAAU0/2-rXt16zQQk/s320/IMG_8533.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This tour really flies underneath the radar; very few people even know it exists! As a result, I wasn't exactly sure where we had to go to get into it, so I decided I'd ask these fashionable young fellows! No, they're not street performers, they're members of the Swiss Guard, the sworn protectors of the Vatican, clad in the traditional uniforms designed by Michelangelo himself! Every member of the Swiss Guard has to be male, unmarried, within a certain age, of Swiss heritage, and trained by the Swiss Army. Quite a job! Luckily, they were friendly, not like those stuck up guards in front of Buckingham Palace who won't talk to you, and they showed me where to go. Kristina calls this picture, "Ryan and his boys."</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3baoql11I/AAAAAAAAAU8/QH93XDkKW2g/s1600-h/IMG_8617.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3baoql11I/AAAAAAAAAU8/QH93XDkKW2g/s320/IMG_8617.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Me in front of the "Ufficio Scavi," or Office of Excavations, awaiting our tour guide for the tour to begin. Kristina is here too, in fact she took the picture! It was actually totally a bummer, because she was really excited for the tour, and we honestly didn't think twice about going underground beforehand. She was making Willy Wonka jokes the whole time, totally fine for the above-ground part of the tour!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3baqYkAHI/AAAAAAAAAVE/DbbSvWjHSXc/s1600-h/IMG_8537.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3baqYkAHI/AAAAAAAAAVE/DbbSvWjHSXc/s320/IMG_8537.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The tour ended up in the Vatican Grottoes, one level underneath the main floor St. Peter's Basilica, where many of the former Popes are entombed. We had visited this area earlier in the day, and snapped this picture before we realized we weren't supposed to, as this was a very sacred place.<br /><br /><br />The tour was very cool, and in it we walked on what was originally the ground level of Rome in the 1st century AD, through what was essentially a graveyard (Necroplis in Greek means "City of the Dead") I saw a number of mausoleums from the early Christian times, which now serve as the foundations for the Basilica, and one of the corners of St. Peter's Tomb. Pope Pius XII decided to excavate underneath the Basilica in order to confirm that St. Peter, the first Pope of the Catholic Church and one of Jesus' 12 Apostles, was buried here. In doing so, they found his tomb, hiding underneat several altars that had been built over it throughout the ages, but no remains inside. Incidentally, the bones believed to be St. Peter's remains were found OUTSIDE the tomb, just to the right of it, in a sealed cavity referred to as the "Grafitti Wall." Apparently Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, had the remains moved there in there around the 1500's to better preserve them. While there is no way to be sure that they are actually Peter's bones, the official stance of the Catholic Church is that we BELIEVE they are because there is enough evidence to suggest that they really are. This evidence includes the facts that, among other things:<br />1) Traces of the soil from within the tomb were found on the bones.<br />2) Carbon dating of the bones shows them to be from a man who lived in the first century AD.<br />3) There was a shred of red cloth from Constantine's era that at that time only Emperors or people of great significance would've been allowed to wear, let alone be burried wearing.<br />4) There were no feet bones (For those of you who don't know, St. Peter was crucified upside-down, and in Roman times, to remove the body from the Cross, the feet were often chopped off!).<br />5) There was an incomplete inscription found with the remains stating "Peter is here." Pretty amazing really.<br /><br />I actually got to see the bones, nineteen of them, each preserved in a plexiglass case, laying in the original spot in which they were found. Crazy huh!<br /><br />So that was the Scavi Tour, what an adventure. If only Kristina could've joined me! Hope you enjoy my description, and if you're headed to the Vatican anytime soon (actually, anytime 5 months or so from now...) and not claustrophobic, you should check it out yourself!<br /><br />Thanks all, more from Rome to come!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry<br /><br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-4724635042480712961?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-90691573423440927992009-08-07T01:49:00.000-07:002009-08-07T01:54:29.185-07:00Brief Update: Leaving Italy for Croatia!<div style="text-align: center;">Hi All,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the lack of pictures and posts lately, we have been having some troubles with our internet connection, and quite honestly have been enjoying Rome so much that we haven't had a chance to go through the pictures yet and write things about them! We're really enjoying all the comments though, and trust that we'll get some more content up there as soon as we can! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're just about to check out of our hotel here in Rome, and catch a 4 hour train to the port city of Ancona, where we'll take an overnight ferry to Split, Croatia. There, we'll be meeting up with some of my relatives (our Croatian savior Silvana!) and Kristina's brother Matt! Will be great to see them!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So quite a bit of travelling ahead of us for the next day or so, but should afford for plenty of time to go through the pictures and pick some out for you guys. Don't be alarmed if you don't see any updates for a bit, we just probably won't have access to the internet for a while. But as soon as we do, we'll have plenty to post! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Love you all, hope everything is great, and the next time you hear from us, we'll most likely be in a new country: Croatia! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Always,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ry</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-9069157342344092799?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-40279144861894543002009-08-06T03:21:00.000-07:002009-08-06T03:25:59.054-07:00Rome Post #3<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi All,<br /><br />So much to see here in Rome, already a million pictures, and not enough time to blog it all! Here's a quick updated on our trip to the Vatican yesterday, but let's just say this is only a teaser; you'll have to enjoy the rest of the photos with us when we get back home! :)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnqvstFKa7I/AAAAAAAAAUM/xi9VLNRzeBU/s1600-h/IMG_8873.JPG"><br /><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnqvstFKa7I/AAAAAAAAAUM/xi9VLNRzeBU/s320/IMG_8873.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is us in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. In the middle left of the picture, you can seea giant jumbotron TV screen. When we arrived at the Piazza San Pietro, the Pope was speaking! We didn't actually see him in person, he was too far away, but we did see him on the screens! Pretty cool, but downside was that there was a huge line to get into the Basilica!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Snqvs8t_JrI/AAAAAAAAAUU/0BplBkKyUw0/s1600-h/IMG_8962.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Snqvs8t_JrI/AAAAAAAAAUU/0BplBkKyUw0/s320/IMG_8962.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is Kristina giving her impression of one of the many thousands of sculptures that are housed in the Musei Vaticani, or Vatican Museums. Kristina thought she was being hilarious trying to look like a monkey, but when I informed her that this was a statuette of the ancient egyptian SOMETHIng of Pregnancy, she exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell me, I would've pushed my stomach out!"<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnqvtXlXQzI/AAAAAAAAAUc/XmCP3ZvzjDI/s1600-h/IMG_8952.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnqvtXlXQzI/AAAAAAAAAUc/XmCP3ZvzjDI/s320/IMG_8952.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Us together inside St. Peter's Basilica. This place is truly amazing, and words can hardly convey the grandeur of it all. First off, it is massive, and every surface is covered in marble, gold, or bronze. All of the countless pictures on the walls look like paintings, but they are actually all mosiacs! And the letters you see in the top of the picture are really something like 6 feet tall. Even the large sculptures are elongated so that they look proportioned from the ground hundreds of feet below, but if you were to look at them at eye level, they would seem mishapen! As a sidenote, we've come to the conclusion that we take better pictures of ourselves using the 10-second timer delay on our camera than other people are able to do holding it!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnqvtR--BDI/AAAAAAAAAUk/FyjSIRoqZu0/s1600-h/IMG_8608.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnqvtR--BDI/AAAAAAAAAUk/FyjSIRoqZu0/s320/IMG_8608.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And lastly, here is the view just outside the doors of the Basilica, with Kristina overlooking the Piazza. Look at the clouds, don't they look like they were painted in? Pretty amazing, and we consider ourselves so lucky to have seen it in person!<br /><br /><br />As ever, more to come when we get the chance! I have to tell you about the super special opportunity I had at the Vatican to go somewhere most people never get to go! The SCAVI Tour! Look for that in posts to come! And now, we're off to see more of Rome! Have a great day everyone!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-4027914486189454300?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-47922735994438757492009-08-06T02:23:00.001-07:002009-08-08T14:05:20.077-07:00Rome Post #2<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">In all the cities there is something neat aroud every corner! The day we arrived we "threw away our map" as Ry likes to say even though it's just in his pocket! We take a day to just explore with no real purpose, just seeing what we find just by walking around.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/invalid.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3oWyogCAI/AAAAAAAAAY0/5gwbMA_7sys/s1600-h/IMG_8761.JPG"><br /><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3oWyogCAI/AAAAAAAAAY0/5gwbMA_7sys/s320/IMG_8761.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Behind Ry is the Trevi Fountian. This picture doesn't do it justice, obviously! There were so many people around it that it was really hard to get the chance to just sit there to look and appreciate it for a while.<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3oXHLgFzI/AAAAAAAAAY8/v-wb1aALP2A/s1600-h/IMG_8773.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3oXHLgFzI/AAAAAAAAAY8/v-wb1aALP2A/s320/IMG_8773.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />"What do you say to taking chances!" Anyone who knows me knows that Celine Dion is my FAVORITE!! Funny story about this picture, Ry and I were walking and whenever we what to take a picture we normally raddle off, "how bout that shot," or "you jus wanna be in that shot?" Well Ry said, "how bout that shot?" Looking down a kind of crapy alley way, so I said, "ok" and took a picture, not realizing he meant the Celine (Dion) store right next to it! I got so excited and starting busting up because I thought the shot he wanted was the ugliest shot! And he really just saw something he thought I'd actually like!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3oXJP0HSI/AAAAAAAAAZE/DMVlu0C4YL0/s1600-h/IMG_8778.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3oXJP0HSI/AAAAAAAAAZE/DMVlu0C4YL0/s320/IMG_8778.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ry finally poses for a funny picture! In all the places we've visited they have fresh running water all over, and for us Portuguese this is the best because we could buy one water bottle and fill it up a billion times! Until of course, we accidently threw away the cap! Haha! Yup that actually did happen! :)<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3oXpo1KXI/AAAAAAAAAZM/C0zY3EGTY-Y/s1600-h/IMG_8550.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3oXpo1KXI/AAAAAAAAAZM/C0zY3EGTY-Y/s320/IMG_8550.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ry constantly tells me that he knows where we are or knows where we are going but it finally hit me! He has no clue where he is going half the time, he just follows nuns!! Not a bad idea considering that we were trying to get to the Vatican! God he's smart! I guess he doesn't get all those school awards for not being clever! But I caught on! Can't fool ME!!!<br /><br /><br />More to come!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />K<br /><br /></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-4792273599443875749?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-35629356701359662682009-08-06T01:36:00.001-07:002009-08-08T13:58:06.217-07:00Rome Post #1<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Another Travel DEE!! Today we took a four hour train from Florence to Rome. I must admit that I took a nap for most of the time, because people on the train are were more quiet than those in our hostels! We are really excited to be in Rome for a few days and then off to Croatia! <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/invalid.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/invalid.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3mpGUPnFI/AAAAAAAAAYU/80ul__yNR6I/s1600-h/IMG_8685.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3mpGUPnFI/AAAAAAAAAYU/80ul__yNR6I/s320/IMG_8685.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is me and a staple product in my life, always has been! Peanut butter and Ritz crackers! Thank you to Mary who found travel (snack pack) sized peanut butters! And in Florence we found a box of Ritz at the Market! I was overfilled with joy! I'm not a big deli meat/sandwich kind of person so in my childhood everything revolved around peanut butter: Peanut butter sandwich, peanut butter and ritz, celery and peanut butter...think you get the idea! This picture is great not only because of the amazing travel snack but the resemblence of something familiar on the lid! Anyways think you get my drift, it was so funny and we laughed really hard!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3mpVwHqEI/AAAAAAAAAYc/fCTCBa6w_BA/s1600-h/IMG_8706.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3mpVwHqEI/AAAAAAAAAYc/fCTCBa6w_BA/s320/IMG_8706.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I know you guys probably haven't seen many pictures of us in our packs, because we've been very blessed to have our hostel normally within five to ten minutes walking distance from the train station. In Rome our hotel is about a one hour walk from the train station. We were so excited not to be in a hostel anymore that we set off to our hotel with plenty of motivation. In the picture above, our hotel directly behind Ryan! Our room is on the fourth floor, far right room on the corner (Which is technically the 5th floor for us people from the US, because in Europe they count the ground level as floor zero!). And we have two veiws out our window looking right at the Pantheon! It's AMAZING! Thanks Again!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3mpq5nVdI/AAAAAAAAAYk/6jFp7ScDbns/s1600-h/IMG_8428.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3mpq5nVdI/AAAAAAAAAYk/6jFp7ScDbns/s320/IMG_8428.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Getting to our hotel was well worth the walk, but mind you it was HOT!! Ry and I wore the best colors to walk in of course, faded black and gray! We arrived and had the best sweat marks! What better than to take a picture of this very picturesque moment of my sweaty back! And to top off this picture I'm actually wearing an old sofball shirt that says, "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever!" Suitable for the long journey!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3mp5flHCI/AAAAAAAAAYs/EFZ73rYF7MA/s1600-h/IMG_8427.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/Sn3mp5flHCI/AAAAAAAAAYs/EFZ73rYF7MA/s320/IMG_8427.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ryan and I trying to take a clever picture! Those are our hotel doors and us in the reflection!<br /><br /><br />We are happy to Finally be in Rome!! And have a big day tomorrow!<br /><br />Take Care,<br /><br />K<br /><br /></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-3562935670135966268?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-41108458110899757982009-08-05T09:15:00.000-07:002009-08-05T09:24:37.982-07:00Florence Post #5<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi Everyone,<br /><br />I'm currently writing again from the train to Roma, and I hope the week is going well for all of you! Wanted to share with you a few final pictures from our last night in Florence. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnmyPzwL9NI/AAAAAAAAATs/mZl2kHEYiGg/s1600-h/IMG_8603.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnmyPzwL9NI/AAAAAAAAATs/mZl2kHEYiGg/s320/IMG_8603.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Since we had a later breakfast, Kristina and I skipped lunch again today, and instead opted for a larger dinner. We decided to supplement the free pasta and pizza at our hostel with one of Kristina's favorite treats: A fresh Baguette with Olive Oil and Balsalmic Vinegar, or as she calls it, Dippie Bread! We got the baguette from a local market, and used the free olive oil and vinegar in the hostel. When I came up with the idea to grab the baguette at the market, I thought I was pretty clever, until five seconds after we left and Kristina started smacking me with it the rest of the walk back to the hostel!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnmyQGmctgI/AAAAAAAAAT0/mLHg_Vv8EDI/s1600-h/IMG_8638.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnmyQGmctgI/AAAAAAAAAT0/mLHg_Vv8EDI/s320/IMG_8638.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnmyQ7yDtVI/AAAAAAAAAT8/aUAQzvRZPBU/s1600-h/IMG_8608.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnmyQ7yDtVI/AAAAAAAAAT8/aUAQzvRZPBU/s320/IMG_8608.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnmyRG_dgxI/AAAAAAAAAUE/Uzw0pjmvBuk/s1600-h/IMG_8656.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnmyRG_dgxI/AAAAAAAAAUE/Uzw0pjmvBuk/s320/IMG_8656.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I had both read and heard from other travellers at our hostel about the famous Tuscan sunsets over Florence as seen from the Piazzale Michelangelo, and had been trying to convince Kristina to make the long walk with me in the evening to go see it. On a whim after dinner, we finally decided to just go for it, and started off as fast as we could to get across town. As fate would have it, we evidently got a bit too late of a start, and we never made it to the Piazzale Michelangelo. But we did make it to the riverside, and I can't imagine the sunset being more spectacular from anywhere else! See for yourself in the three pictures above! The last remnants of the storm in Siena earlier in the day made for some amazing colors! Check out the last one, you can hardly even tell which way is up! What a way to spend our last night in Florence... :)<br /><br /><br />As I hope our posts express to you, we've really enjoyed this part of our trip, but we're now ready for something new, and Rome is the perfect destination! Not to mention the fact that we're THRILLED to be done with hostels for a while! :) Not sure what the internet situation will be like in Rome, but we'll try to keep the blog updated as best we can, and hope that you'll keep doing your part by giving us your input in the comments (Thanks Jena and Uncle Dave Brig!). Take care everyone, and know that we're thinking about you, wishing you were all here sharing this with us!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ry<br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-4110845811089975798?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-1928919102962682009-08-05T08:51:00.000-07:002009-08-19T17:26:10.523-07:00Siena Post #2<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi Everyone,<br /><br />Ryan here, sitting on the train from Firenze to Roma! Kristina is next to me taking advantage of the ~4 hour train ride by taking a nap, so I thought I'd try to catch everyone up on the blog a bit. Below, you'll see a few more of my favorite pictures from the Tuscan town of Siena. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyX6vIMN4I/AAAAAAAAAb4/jGMmZfa5tEA/s1600-h/IMG_8510.JPG"><br /><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyX6vIMN4I/AAAAAAAAAb4/jGMmZfa5tEA/s320/IMG_8510.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is our bus, with its route "Siena Rapida" clearly displayed. The bus system in Italy, at least in Florence, is just as easy and convenient as the trains, and it was nice to get to see some more of the countryside without having to worry about where we were going.<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyX7U2QdFI/AAAAAAAAAcA/21cg7mifkwk/s1600-h/IMG_8377.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyX7U2QdFI/AAAAAAAAAcA/21cg7mifkwk/s320/IMG_8377.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We got into Siena without a map, nor any clue what to look for or where to go, so the first thing we did was try to memorize our surroundings so we could find our way back to the bus station! Then, with rain already threatening, we set off at a brisk pace. The first site we encountered was the Basilica Cateriniana di San Domenico in the Piazza Madre Teresa di Calcutta. This massive church had some impressive stained glass (sorry, couldn't take pictures inside...) and an even more impressive vantage point of the old town of Siena, which you can see Kristina standing in front of here.<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyX7xH71zI/AAAAAAAAAcI/GkyyQQRg77k/s1600-h/IMG_8536.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyX7xH71zI/AAAAAAAAAcI/GkyyQQRg77k/s320/IMG_8536.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The old town of Siena is completely composed of little stone alleyways, often quite steep, navigating the three hills that the city sits at the intersection of and the valleys in between. The combination makes for beautiful sites around every corner! Here I am standing in one such alley. I should note also, Siena was much CLEANER than any of the other places we have been to on our trip so far, ie zero grafitti, trash in the streets, etc. One thing we've learned is that a city is a city no matter where one is in the world, and the signs of so many people living on top of one another cannot be escaped until you venture to some place a bit smaller, like Siena.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyX8Z3eInI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/xwMKUgegSRs/s1600-h/IMG_8586.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SoyX8Z3eInI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/xwMKUgegSRs/s320/IMG_8586.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And lastly, we were able to get someone to take a picture of the two of us overlooking one of the valleys of Siena. The church you see in the background is the same one that Kristina is standing at in the photo above, the Basilicia Cateriniana di San Domenico. Pretty cool to have both views!<br /><br />Hope you enjoyed our pictures from this little day excursion. Siena probably is at the top of my list so far of places that I'd like to return to. We're told that it is much neater in the evenings, once the day trippers (like us) have cleared out and returned to wherever they were visiting from. Perhaps another trip some day! Who wants to join us? :)<br /><br />Love Always, and as they say here in Italia, Salve!<br /><br />Ryan<br /><br /></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-192891910296268?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-80407574046417094332009-08-03T13:46:00.000-07:002009-08-03T13:47:50.479-07:00Siena Post #1<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Today Ry and I decided to take a day trip to Siena. It really is what people say, very pretty, clean, beautiful and kind of like a more "intimate" Florence. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SndM8jB9ITI/AAAAAAAAATM/92GDTivk0Vw/s1600-h/IMG_8507.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SndM8jB9ITI/AAAAAAAAATM/92GDTivk0Vw/s320/IMG_8507.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is Ry and I at the bus station in Florence waiting to take a bus to Siena. The bus ride was about an hour and fifteen minutes-ish. We had fun traveling by bus for a change instead of by train. We had fun just talking and laughing at stupid things. We sat in the handicap seating (not realizing) having much more leg room; it was right in front or where the door opens and has the gadget for the wheel chairs. Everytime we would hit a bump we would starting laughing because it literally sounded like the back of the bus fell off!! As dumb as it sounds it was hysterical!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SndM839GgWI/AAAAAAAAATU/OEa2p4neHFM/s1600-h/IMG_8392.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SndM839GgWI/AAAAAAAAATU/OEa2p4neHFM/s320/IMG_8392.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This picture does not do this view justice! Siena is built on a few different hills and you'll be walking and catch sight of a B-E-A-U-TIFUL view down a street. That church in the background was probably half a mile away, on a totally different hill, just happened to be positioned perfectly to be seen through this alley!<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SndM9DoUZZI/AAAAAAAAATc/iL_gmSddOpI/s1600-h/IMG_8551.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SndM9DoUZZI/AAAAAAAAATc/iL_gmSddOpI/s320/IMG_8551.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I forgot what this big building was called, big suprise I know! <em>(Update from Ry: It's called the Palazzo Pubblico, and it sits at one end of the Piazza del Campo, the main plaza of Siena)</em> I just thought Ry looked cute in this picture so I thought I'd post it! There are big buildings like this everywhere here in Europe! The architecture is like nothing we've ever seen before. Can you tell that I tried to pick some of the nice pictures to write about, and can't make a joke so I really don't have much to say! Oh well!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SndM9VO7lEI/AAAAAAAAATk/xmoc1J-9BW0/s1600-h/IMG_8548.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SndM9VO7lEI/AAAAAAAAATk/xmoc1J-9BW0/s320/IMG_8548.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So, we took off to Siena today not thinking anything about the weather, but we got stuck in a downpour thunderstorm! It was actually awesome. A few days prior to our trip I kept telling Ryan that we really should bring a little umbrella just in case it ever decided to rain, so the day we left he went and bought a little umbrella, and thank God he did! About 10 minutes into walking around Siena it started to pour, so we took out the umbrella and jumped into an open door, which happened to be across from a Footlocker shoe store. We hung out for a while and then started to weigh our options: should we take our socks off so we just get our shoes wet so on the drive home we would have dry socks? We have cameras and ipods, and apricot and beef jerky plastic bags, should we eat all the food and turn the bags inside out so at least our electronic don't get wet? Should we go to Footlocker and buy sandals so we can get a bag and keep our shoes dry? That sounded like the best idea till we made it across to Footlocker and the ugly Puma sandals were 14.99 Euro! Hardly worth it! The rain was easing up anyways and we figured if it kept going we could walk barefoot and keep our shoes dry, but we should still get a bag, so how about doing that? Yup, So I unbuttond my shirt, showed a little cleavage, and got a Footlocker bag! Ry was proud and a little jealous at the same time! Just made us laugh and so we put our backpack in the bag! Luckily the thunder and the rain let up, and we were still able to enjoy the beatiful little town of Siena!<br /><br />Well It is about 10:30 PM or 22:30 in military time over here, and we are heading to Rome on an early train in the morning! Hope all is well and talk to you soon!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />K<br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-8040757404641709433?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-71938698543603875892009-08-02T14:01:00.000-07:002009-08-03T00:44:00.300-07:00Florence Post #4<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi Everyone,<br /><br />As you've probably figured out by now, Kristina has a penchant for posting the "entertaining" stories and pictures, so I'll try to fill in some of the gaps with a bit more backstory for the places we've been visiting here in Florence.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnX-wsae0CI/AAAAAAAAAS8/Z1aN8U5Elb4/s320/IMG_8363.JPG" border="0" /><br />Before I dive into descriptions, however, first a revelation that I had today: Kristina cannot eat a banana! I don't know how I missed this little detail in almost six years of being together, but somehow it flew underneath my radar! Here you can see her chewing around the banana, like a piece of corn, avoiding the "hard" part in the middle. Totally made me laugh! :) (In her defense, I have seen her eat a whole banana before, but only when cut into little slices... Go Figure!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnX-wdb7NWI/AAAAAAAAAS0/zVJhjBzAiZo/s1600-h/IMG_8334.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnX-wdb7NWI/AAAAAAAAAS0/zVJhjBzAiZo/s320/IMG_8334.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is us in front of the Duomo, known more correctly as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. It truly is an impressive structure to behold. The top of it is known as Brunelleschi's Dome, which depicts scenes of both Heaven and Hell. Brunelleschi was one of the most iconic engineers and architects of the Renaissance, and he is actually intombed within the Duomo here in Florence.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnX-wZ3S7cI/AAAAAAAAASs/kd4Fh4A_3LM/s320/IMG_8269.JPG" border="0" /><br />This is me in front of the Basilica di Santa Croce, or Basilica of the Holy Cross, another of the many famous architectural and religous edifices in Florence. When trying to gauge the scale of this place, consider just how far in front of the building I am by looking at the tiny figures of people closer to the building. This church serves as the final resting place of many of the most famous Italians, including Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and even more recent figures like Guglielmo Marconi (Inventor of the Radio, for those of you whose brain isn't as throoughly clogged with useless information as mine is...).<br /><br /></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnX-wwsEfzI/AAAAAAAAATE/rYjfwUNxMY8/s1600-h/IMG_8465.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnX-wwsEfzI/AAAAAAAAATE/rYjfwUNxMY8/s320/IMG_8465.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And finally, and perhaps most importantly, a full view of Michelangelo's David, rather than just his ass end being smothered by Kristina's lips. ;) As Kristina mentioned in her post, this is actually a replica, but it stands in the same place that the original sculpture did before being moved many years ago across town to the Galleria del' Accademia to protect it through the ages. Michelangelo's David is considered to be the most perfect sculpture ever crafted by human hands, and in person, it certainly does live up to such high praise. A true sight to behold, and a must for anyone visiting Florence.<br /><br /><br />Hopefully you enjoy the pictures we're posting. Trust me when I say there are hundreds more! And more to come! Tomorrow we will be hopefully checking out a bit more of Tuscany, so we'll be sure to let you guys know how it goes. Have a great weekend, and thanks so much for reading our blog. Sorry about the more "accademic" tone of this post, just wanted to make sure we were conveying all the rich history we're surrounded by here in Florence. Back to entertaining anecdotes soon! :)<br /><br />Love and take care,<br /><br />Ryan<br /></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-7193869854360387589?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-89180560552999541982009-08-02T12:13:00.000-07:002009-08-02T13:13:28.034-07:00Florence Post #3<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Helloooo there Family and Friends!<br /><br />It is Sunday night here in Florence and Ry and I finished having FREE dinner at our hostel a little while ago! I had spaghetti and Ry had pizza with ham and shrooms. It was yummy and of couese tasted sooo good because it was free! Although the price for breakfast and dinner is probably included in the amount it is to stay here, it's nice not haveing to fork out any Euros at dinner time. We had a great full day of walking around and seeing the sights. I wish we would have brought a pedometer to see how much we actually walk all day. We saw the REAL Michelangelo's David today! It was really Neat! And a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. No, not it his junk! "It" the Sculpture! haha!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXlha27VjI/AAAAAAAAAR0/lNLo1CQenos/s1600-h/IMG_8412.JPG"><br /><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXlha27VjI/AAAAAAAAAR0/lNLo1CQenos/s400/IMG_8412.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is Ry at lunch eatting some sort of Panini... and for those of you who read other posts that have realized our only dispute is over eating, you realize today was a great day! We actually ate 3 meals. Think this might be a first in a week! :) I was happy! And my stomache didn't hate my life or Ryan! And I also had a chocolate gelado! It was so good and made me think of my Uncle Dave who always talks about the Gelado in Italy! </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXlhRB3vdI/AAAAAAAAAR8/gSGFN8nm5Y8/s1600-h/IMG_8464.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXlhRB3vdI/AAAAAAAAAR8/gSGFN8nm5Y8/s400/IMG_8464.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yep, this is me kissing The David's stone ass! But don't worry it's not the real David! It's a replica that is in a big square infront of a big building that I forgot the name of. <em>(UPDATE From Ryan: The Building is called the Palazzo Vecchio)</em> I think these kind of pictures are my favorite to take as you probably realize by now, the one of me holding the world, the one with the wings and this one! We definitely took another one but it's not G rated! haha! :) I'll show you when we get home. Seeing the REAL David was really Amazing! Actually all the scuptures we have seen are so neat, they have so much detail and some actually look real, well not really but kind of.<br /><br />Which brings me to the next picture...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXlhw9yaLI/AAAAAAAAASM/zyg8cjl3-vc/s1600-h/IMG_8348-1.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXlhw9yaLI/AAAAAAAAASM/zyg8cjl3-vc/s400/IMG_8348-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Are all these sculptures really appropriate? I mean really...come on! This poor guy is on his knees getting his hair pulled about to get peed on and wacked by a club! All being done completely naked! And on another note, while the person who sculpted this piece was working, who were the poor guys who had to hang out in this position the whole time? IDK... just thoughts that run though my head while walking around Florence appreciating art! And thought I'd give all of you a little insight into how I think.<br /></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXlhpC454I/AAAAAAAAASE/CNpC-g7bJao/s1600-h/IMG_8431.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXlhpC454I/AAAAAAAAASE/CNpC-g7bJao/s400/IMG_8431.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Something I've realized in a week while traveling. I have a door and knob fetish! I know it sounds a little odd, but the doors every where are so cool! I can't help but want to take a picture of all of them. I swear, no two doors are alike! They are all different sizes, colors and have different designs. Some being very intraquite, while others very plain. The way I justified taking this picture was making Ry be in it as well! And believe it or not everytime I see a neat knob I tell Ry, "Go hang on that knob so I can take a picture!" For some reason makes me laugh every time!!<br /><br />Well thats all from me tonight, Sweetest of dreams even though I think it's 1 PM your time! I believe we are off on a bus ride to Sienna for a day trip tomorrow, and then the following day on a train to Rome! Think I'm almost done with traveling, I sound like a brat but truthfully it's different than a vacation. Can't wait till we get to go to Croatia, to be with Ry's relatives and start our vacation!<br /><br />Love always,<br /><br />K<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-8918056055299954198?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-54105257418137838992009-08-02T09:35:00.000-07:002009-08-02T09:35:12.650-07:00Comments! Comments! Comments!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi Everyone,<br /><br />A quick post about logistics. First off, thank you to all of you who have told us in some way, shape, or form that you're enjoying the blog! It's great to hear! We've actually really been enjoying making it as well, so much so that we're probably spending more time in front of the computer than we should be on our EuroTrip. At least, as we tell ourselves in justification, it is a good way to chronicle it all. The next best thing after (or perhaps before...?) a travel journal. Either way, we'll keep trying to update as much as we can to keep you in the loop, at least until we get to Croatia. Once we're there, travelling mode ends, vacation mode starts, and all bets are off! :)<br /><br />With regard to the blog, there are a few very easy things you can do to make it better. First and foremest: COMMENT! Our posting is only half of the blogging experience, and I'm sure veterans like TheMomJen will back me up on this (speaking of which, be sure to check out her blog, Cheaper Than Therapy, <a href="http://www.themomjen.com/">http://www.themomjen.com</a>, spectacular!) The other half of the experience is everyone being able to see your thoughts.<br /><br />Like a picture we post? Say so in the comments! Think something we say is funny? Let us know in the comments? Have some questions, suggestions, or advice? Fire away in the comments! We'd LOVE to hear what you guys think, and love for everyone else to be able to hear it as well.<br /><br />So, a quick tutorial on commenting: At the bottom of any post, you should see a line that says something like "Posted by Ryan at 'sometime' '# comments' ." See the screengrab below for an example. All you have to do is:<br />1) Click the text that says "# comments."<br />2) Type your comment in the dialog box that shows up.<br />3) Choose a profile in the "Comment As:" dropdown box (Most likely "Google Account," for those of you that use gmail. If you don't yet have a Google account, it's simple to set one up, and it's free!")<br />4) Click the Button that says "Post Comment." That's it!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXAP0B2CsI/AAAAAAAAARs/gP9ys-sYhT4/s1600-h/Comments.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnXAP0B2CsI/AAAAAAAAARs/gP9ys-sYhT4/s400/Comments.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />You'll all be commenting in no time! Feel free to check the comments out in addition to the posts as they come up, in fact there are already two on the site for one of our Munich Posts!<br /><br />Alright, if you have questions about commenting, feel free to send us an email and we can help you sort it out. Otherwise, have fun, and let us know what you think! Then you really will be sharing our trip with us.<br /><br /><br />Hope all is well everyone, have a great weekend, and look for more posts to come from Firenze, Italy!<br /><br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ryan</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-5410525741813783899?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-91626408539321378442009-08-02T09:04:00.000-07:002009-08-02T10:46:07.966-07:00Featurette: Kirsten and GB Softball<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Hi All,<br /><br />Just wanted to send a quick message sharing with you some news that Kristina and I got the other day. Kristina's brother Matt's girlfriend, Kirsten, plays softball for the Great Britain National Team. Born in the UK and growing up in Southern California, not to mention playing softbal for Loyola Marymount University for 4 years, she has been travelling throughout Europe with the team for the past few weeks.<br /><br />Anyway, Kirsten just told us that her team would be playing in the Championship game of their tournament, and that qualifies them to definitely attend the World Championships in Oklahoma next year! Very cool huh! Check out the pictures below, Kirsten is the third from the right in the first pic and fourth from the right in the top row of the second pic.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnW5EmD9sLI/AAAAAAAAARc/XND4tbfO7FQ/s1600-h/Steph+09+509.JPG.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnW5EmD9sLI/AAAAAAAAARc/XND4tbfO7FQ/s320/Steph+09+509.JPG.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnW5E6fLXqI/AAAAAAAAARk/oAtRLQU8eFE/s1600-h/Steph+09+527.JPG.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnW5E6fLXqI/AAAAAAAAARk/oAtRLQU8eFE/s320/Steph+09+527.JPG.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Strangely enough, Kirsten isn't the first softball star I've been lucky enough to know! My cousin played softball for the University of Arizona a few years back, and they won the Softball World Series!<br /><br />Kirsten is a wonderful person who deserves all the success she is achieving. Wish her luck as they go into the championship game!<br /><br />Always,<br /><br />Ryan</div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-9162640853932137844?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674874317603304492.post-60615350151094895652009-08-02T00:52:00.000-07:002009-08-02T00:54:33.283-07:00Florence Post #2<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Good Morning (For Us) Everyone,<br /><br />Kristina and I just finished having breakfast in our hostel here in Florence, or Firenze as it is called in Italian. I just want to stress again how awesome this place is. It's called Ostello Archi Rossi, and not only do they have free breakfast and dinner, but they cook it made to order! Also, as you'll hopefully see from the few pictures below, it's just stunning! Anyway, check out the pics for more details...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnVGNVZm6aI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/Wll9wAYFzR0/s1600-h/IMG_8298.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnVGNVZm6aI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/Wll9wAYFzR0/s320/IMG_8298.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is me in front of the hostel, on a nondescript alleyway called Via Faenze. It never ceases to amaze us that everything looks small and like nothing to speak of from the outside, but is usually sprawling and beautiful on the inside! Seriously, without having booked the hostel in advance, it's likely we would just walked past it and never thought twice. Makes you wonder what other things are hidden behind closed doors!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnVGNoEUdlI/AAAAAAAAARE/GSz2qcSJU-g/s1600-h/IMG_8351.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnVGNoEUdlI/AAAAAAAAARE/GSz2qcSJU-g/s320/IMG_8351.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is the courtyard inside the hostel, literally right outside our room! A courtyard, in a hostel!?! Yeah, pretty cool. Only downside was the mosquitos, which Kristina got attacked by last night. She got like 3 huge bites literally within 10 seconds of sitting down! They must like her because she is so sweet!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnVGNzGbOdI/AAAAAAAAARM/2371Nd-u1B0/s1600-h/IMG_8228.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnVGNzGbOdI/AAAAAAAAARM/2371Nd-u1B0/s320/IMG_8228.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is what the interior of the hostel looks like. There are sculptures as well as large paintings and murals everywhere! In the spaces in between the artwork, there is tagging and messages written all over the walls. They encourage it! Kinda neat, like a guestbook inscribed into the building itself. The place definitely has personality, and a wonderful atmosphere. Only downside is our Asian roomates... They kept Kristina up all night with their snoring (sensing a trend...), and woke her up with literally 3 minutes straight of ring tone this morning. Would not shut it off! Also, they apparently like it blazing hot at night time, because they consistently turn off the air conditioning before going to bed. Kristina had to wake up our other roomates (non-Asian) at 3:00 AM to try to figure out how to turn it back on because it was literally too hot to sleep! As Kristina put it the other night, "We're not very good at making Asian friends..." Nothing against them, but the cultural barrier is apparently a bit wider than we might have thought... Oh the things one discovers when travelling! And we're in Europe!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnVGOBGRsfI/AAAAAAAAARU/DzshDeqr8Lo/s1600-h/IMG_8350.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ME4fau1r_fc/SnVGOBGRsfI/AAAAAAAAARU/DzshDeqr8Lo/s320/IMG_8350.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />As I mentioned earlier, breakfast at this place is awesome (Well, to be fair, it's all relative. The last place had NO breakfast, so maybe we're just biased!). You pick what you want from a menu of 10 choices, and they cook it hot for you then and there. I had an egg sandwich, and Kristina had scrambled eggs. Funny anecdote: The menu number for Kristina's scrambled eggs was 8, but it looked like it meant that they were giving you 8 scrambled eggs! Kristina, confused, said, "I don't want 8 scrambled eggs, I just want like 1 or 2!" Awesome. Also, apparently the milk is a bit different over here, because after specifically asking for milk with ice, Kristina tasted it and was severely dissapointed! Perhaps, as ever, our expectations ride just a little to high! :)<br /><br /><br />As high maintenance as this makes us sound, it really isn't like that. But the stories are true, and fun to convey! Kristina has been fantastic, in fact the only charge that could be levied against her is that she is human, and wants to eat like at least 2 meals a day! Can you believe her! How unreasonable! Ryan is attempting to abate hunger by sheer force of will, like a Jedi you might say, but eventually will see the light. Hopefully sooner rather than later, or Kristina will be changing her flight!<br /><br />Alright, well we'd better stop blogging and start seeing the city! Today we'll be exploring the town of Florence itself, so we'll be sure to post some pictures of our discoveries. First impressions: It is really neat here, easy to see why it was the center of the Renaissance. This is the city of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, and others, and it shows through in every single building and street.<br /><br />Have a great weekend everyone, and expect more posts to come (We LOVE free internet!). I intend to put up some instructions on commenting on our posts, as well as a feature on Kristina's brother Matt's girlfriend Kirsten, who plays for the Great Britain National Softball Team. They'll be going to the world championships next year, wooo hooo! We have pics, and we'll post them later.<br /><br />Alright, love you guys, Ciao!<br /><br />Ryan</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5674874317603304492-6061535015109489565?l=oldsolesnewshoes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084676726683008717noreply@blogger.com0