When in Rome....

Last Wednesday we left for italy!! Before we left, we celebrated Bellas birthday with a "pup pie" bday cake....




Then she realized we were leaving town as all the suitcases came out, and her and Evan had a moping moment....




We have had an AMAZING 5 days in Rome- I so badly don't want to leave, but off to Florence we go!! As I write this we are headed to Florence on the train, and before we make many more memories in Florence, I want to capture for memory all the amazing moments of Rome!!
For starters, we arrived at 8am, after a 9 1/2 hour flight, an ambien that failed to work, and only 40 minutes of sleep- voila! Rome apparently doesn't believe in customs or emigration, so off to get our bags, to the hotel (we were lucky to have a room ready!) and off to Rome to explore. We did a great amount of walking around, followed by our first pizza right outside the Pantheon...








and then first and all time favorite gelato- at Giolitti's!




We then headed back to the hotel to commit the European traveler sin on the first day- a nap! While I napped, Evan showered- I was quickly and startled awake by a phone call from the front desk, and they kept asking if everything was ok, they see the reason emergency- I still have yet to figure out what Evan thought the string attached to a switch in the shower would do, but he pulled it, setting off the emergency call to the lobby! Then to dinner and early-ish bedtime!
The next day, Friday would start with a 7am arrival of the Vatican, for a tour starting an hour before it opens to public- best idea ever! We were 2 of 20 people total including 4 guards in the Sistine Chapel, then continued our guided tour through the Vatican. No, I didn't go wake up the Pope, but we did see which bedroom window was his.












The goddess of fertility... In our tour guide's own words, I'll let you guess how she got her name...




This spinning sculpture in the garden represents life and fate, I found if fascinating..








Those windows top right are the pope's living quarters...
















We spent the rest of the day wandering and exploring several parts of the city,mending the night with a fantastic dinner at Antica Pesa! Who knew choosing a wine for dinner could be so difficult?!




Saturday we explored on our own (with Rick Steve's podcast) the Colosseum and Forum- both so incredible to believe I am at the places I learned about in the history books so many times! Saturday it rained off and on, but we ducked under a few rocks ere and there and managed to get away without getting soaked!












Several weddings around the Colosseum on Saturday...




To be continued......

The blog is on the move.....

Well the blog has already moved!  This blog is currently tied to my old email address, and the address to the blog was not so fitting for describing US, as it was just ME, so I have created a new address and all new blog entries from now moving forward can be found at: http://dancingthehokeypokey.blogspot.com 

See you there!!

Back to life, Back to reality...

Getting back to reality has been rough - turns out, even rougher than we expected, but this too shall pass.  There have been some fun things since returning, however! :)  Tuesday night after getting back from Mexico on Monday night, Patrice and Avi came over and were so sweet to bring such a sweet gift!  We loved spending time with them in Mexico and the gift was so very unnecessary - we are so lucky to have them as friends, personally to me, Patrice has proven even more how amazing of a friend as she is one of those friends you know will always be there through the good and the bad times, and Evan and I are both so lucky to have such great friends like that in our lives. 

When they came over, they brought their sweet 6 month old puppy Yogi.  He is absolutely adorable!! Sweet Yogi and Bella met for the first time, and it was love at first sight!!

Wednesday night I had girls' dinner night out, catching up with more sweet friends. Thursday was a bit of a rock road (and not in the ice cream sorta way) , but as my Mr Helmsing (my Senior High School Government/Economics teacher) taught me on the first day of my Senior year, there is only one thing that is really important in the "real world" and if you remember the wise words of Bob Marley, you will always have something to fall back on...  "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right. Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!" So as crazy as it sometimes seem, I have been able to sit back and take those words to heart. 

Friday was a bit of a hectic day, but I decided after a few errands that a little ice cream was MUCH needed.  We stopped at Bruster's and luckily for Bella she was also with us - I wasn't sure if they still had them, but they surely did - we ordered a "puppy cup" for Bella, and boy oh boy did she go to town... 

Anddddd it's gone in seconds...

Friday night we had a great night out to dinner and drinks with our other sweet friends / neighbors Amy and Evan. No, I am not kidding. This really happens. Yes, Amy is from Alabama, and their last name starts with an R. Amy and I have become close friends over the past several months as we now live in the same neighborhood. They also have been there for us when needed, and I am constantly reminded that friends make the world go round (as do family!!!)!

While we have quickly been snapped back to reality, on the bright side, business is great and busy!! More fun business news is shortly around the corner as well!! I guess both good and bad-  when it rains it pours!  I'll just keep singing Bob Marley along my way! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Last couple days in Cabo - until next time, Paradise!

I got a few more pictures from dinner at Flora Farms with Avi and Patrice - I absolutely loved the place! Thankfully (due to the driving conditions) we took the suggestion of others and got there before sun down to experience the surroundings fully as well as ensure we got there safely :)

Patrice and I at dinner..

The last few days in Cabo were fabulous and quite relaxing and fun!! We took Avi and Patrice to the airport after breakfast on Saturday, got back to the house, changed, and hit the golf course!!  I have decided golf is a whole different world in Paradise!  I mean how could you not love to play no matter how well you hit the balls when you are surrounded by such beauty?!

If anyone heard on the news who was jailed while we were in Cabo, and knows whose house this is, will find it funny to see that they were putting what looked like jail bars up on these windows when we passed the house on the golf course! :)

An absolutely beautiful sunset after a fun day on the golf course!!

We had an adventurous and absolutely delicious dinner at the club, including the run away golf cart incident, and came home to see a fireworks show at the hotel next door! It was a fun surprise!

Sunday was another beautiful day of golf in the morning!

I want my own "cheif" in the backyard now!! I now call throwing away things chief - like, "Evan, can you please chief this junk piece of mail for me" -  I just think its such a fabulous concept and great use of space!

Right before the 18th hole we had out "last shot" before out last shot - which was also the last shot of the trip - "arriba, abajo, al centro - let's drinko!"

After our last round of golf we had lunch and some pool / beach time - the waves were enormous!

The last night we had plans of going out to dinner, but were tired and felt like staying close to home so we ate at the club.  It was a special treat to walk up to the club for dinner and see Irvin who used to work at the club (prior to his serious accident) eating dinner at the club with a family that has a house on property as well as his own family.  It was such a special moment.  All of the staff was so excited to get to spend time with him one at a time, and it was so special to see him at the table while they all enjoyed a friendly and nice dinner!  I love that people keep bringing him back on property for everyone to spend time with and see!  It is remarkable to see his progress in person after knowing all he has gone through!

On Monday we left for the airport late morning for a noon flight.  It's always hard to leave paradise, but always such a special treat to get to spend time there! The wonderful staff there that have now become friends and we know each other on a first name basis are always so sweet and overly accommodating.  They each made sure to come over to give us hugs before we left! They also make it feel that much more like paradise!

Just another day in Paradise...

We have had a great few days in Cabo with Patrice and Avi. This morning after breakfast we took them to the airport and Evan and I have had today together, as well as tomorrow and we have to leave paradise on Monday! We have a busy few months ahead of us, but it's always sad to leave here!
The other day we went into Cabo since Patrice and Avi had never been. About 20 seconds after making a smarty remark about the sign that said to pay before returning to car (making fun of Julie and my "incident" last summer), mr perfect Evan had us stuck outside the parking garage!! Of course with three cars growing in number to 5 behind us-there was no backing out and going in a new gate at this point! He pressed the help button, to of course get a guy that spoke no English on the other side of the speaker....


About 8 minutes later the sweet man on the other side of the speaker was out at the gate to help us in... Maybe EBob won't make fun of us anymore!! :)


We spent time relaxing by the pool- Evan apparently meditating in the pool..


I fell asleep for a little bit and woke up looking around to see where he was and he was across the pool hanging out with the college students on spring break! At least they were from The University of Alabama!


On the way out to dinner one night...


We went to flora farms and absolutely loved it!! We will be sure to go back again- the property was amazing and such a great atmosphere. The only downside was the service at the very end got very slow and then not until after they brought the check did they mention the credit card machine was down. It was still so good I'd go back in a second! The picture turned out dark and you can hardly see Avi and Patrice but I loved the tree!!


We sat right in front of the band..


On the way to dinner again last night before Patrice and Avi left...


The weather has been different than I have ever experienced here- it has been perfectly BEAUTIFUL in the mornings until about 1:45 and then from 2-530 it's overcast/ almost what would seem cloudy at home but just a thin constant layer and then beautiful again from 530 until sunset- even the staff has agreed the weather has been odd but as long as its not raining all is good!! :)
One more day and a half in Paradise and then it's back to reality! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!



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Apparently my sinuses and Cabo don't get along well?!

We made it to paradise yesterday right before lunch time, had lunch at the Club, then had a fun day settling into relaxation mode.


Unfortunately although I absolutely love Cabo, apparently my sinuses most definitely do not! I woke up this morning with a sinus infection!!! :( Luckily I learned my lesson when I was here a year and a half ago and now travel with antibiotics and plenty of mucinex. Hopefully I can kick it quickly with antibiotics and over the counter stuff. Luckily I don't feel all that awful so I'm still able to have fun!
Yesterday we went to the park for a little bit, a few hoops, and Evan practiced his golf (yes, with the kiddie set- Maggie could have beat him!!) I probably should go practice too, though. They have a left handed set- I should probably practice on the tennis balls before I lose all the balls Betti left me to play with! :)


This morning involved some serious whale watching, binoculars were also involved..


Then I headed to the steam room in the locker room- thankfully all alone this time! :)
Then we headed to the beach for a walk...





and relaxation by the pool! The outdoor pursuits guys were pretty excited when Evan said he wanted to ride on the slip n' slide they were working on perfecting!! They were so excited, thatit apparently took 3 guys to water it to get it ready ...


After Evan and Avi went a few times, Patrice also decided to go for it...


The last time Evan went down the slip n' slide it ended with a flop onto the beach and what was possibly a concussion!! I was a bit nervous when he wanted to go again! Thankfully this time he has perfected his "landing" skills!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wppH9y-fNXc

Tonight we are heading to doc's for dinner- then another day of fun in the sun tomorrow! Have a good night!! xoxo

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Location:Mexico