Travelling

Growing up with nomadic grandparents (Dad's parents) gave me the bug to want to see as much as I could before I die many years from now.

I've checked a few of those places off my list in 2006. We took a cruise in April that included a day in Rome. We were able to walk in St Paul's, walk the plaza in front of the Vatican, see the Colusseum and the Forum. Talk about WOWS! In October the boys and I marked London off my list. While we flew cheap and stayed relatively cheap, we certainly paid for the trip in other ways. The train ride into town (we stayed about 30 minutes out by train from mid-London) was about $30 for all of us daily. Then of course, the $ sucks big time to the British pound. Fortunately it was still >$2 a pound when we went. Today it's over $2! We got to go by Buckingham Palace (don't waste the time, it's one UGLY building and quite a disappointment when you actually see it in person), Tower of London (WELL WORTH THE MONEY TO GET IN!), Madame Toussad's wax museum (another one of those, don't waste the $100 for two people - Matthew was free), lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, Harrod's Department store (minus the tacky display for Di and Dodi, it was a fine, fun shopping trip complete with Krispy Kreme donuts... most expensive ones I've had but by far the best since leaving the states - a dozen's cost? $25!), Westminster Abbey (an OK thing to see, wish I could have taken pics... the Basilica in Rome let you take as many as you wanted), Hyde Park, British Museum (Rosetta Stone is neat to see up close!). There's just one thing I really have to go back to London for and that's to get to Windsor Castle. That's the one thing we missed out on.

This year we have travel plans already to get going on. Since missing the Paris trip at New Year's, I'll be going on my own in mid-February. I can't wait! An overnighter without kids or David in a room to myself :D Worth the extra 75 euro for the single room :) Venice is still in the mix - want to see it before it sinks away one day. Berlin is something we're talking about for Spring Break this year. CG has mentioned going to Auschwitz - we're thinking of making it a long trip over Spring Break to hit it and Berlin in one swoop. No cruise this year. :( Maybe in another 4 years when we celebrate 20 years marriage, retirement (the following year) and getting one of the baby birds kicked out of the nest (CG will be 18 in 2011) and off to college. I still want to go to Madrid, just not sure if that'll happen. It's the one real big trip of MINE that I might not get to make. Naples is one other place we'd like to go to as Pompeii is there... we'll see if that one works out. Doubtful but I figure i can make a list for David to look at and let him prioritize HIS list and find how much time we can take off to get these trips in.

I'm off to stitch. Been sitting here and cleaning the other room too long this evening.
Later Taters!