Catch up

Trying to describe how the last week and a half has been is difficult. Since Scott and I left Moscow we have been bounced around from place to place catching trains. Sometimes this was a simple task, and other times it involved panic, running and crying. I also had a bout with culture shock and homesickness. Despite these challenges, I have had a good time. I think the culture shock and homesickness have passed, and I am enjoying my trip to it's fullest extent.


The pictures to the right are from Rome. One on the bottom is Scott cooling off on the balcony of our hotel room. It was cute, cozy, and comfortable and just down the street from the University where Scott had to work the first day. We didn't have much time for site seeing, but we did get to look around at the Coliseum, so I have included a pic of that too.

Next, we caught a night train to Germany where we met up with my college roommate Melanie Horst, and her husband. Even though the are packing up to move back to the states as I am writing, they let us stay with them while Scott measured various skulls in Bonn and Stuttgart. I got to eat some sushi off of little floating boats, eat German ice cream (sooooo good), and hang out in downtown Wiesbaden with great friends (See pic above).

On Friday (19th) I said a hesitant good bye to Scott and picked up my mom and sister at the Frankfurt airport. That evening Mom, Sara, and I caught a night train to Florence.
We got to celebrate Sara's 16th birthday in Florence which was very special. I found that I remember a lot more Italian than I thought, and that has really made this part of the trip easier. We climbed 800 stairs to the top of the Duomo, ate gelato, and great Italian pizza the first day. We ended the day at the Piazzale Michilangelo at a fancy restaurant and the best view in Florence! The picture of Sara on the far right is from the night just mentioned. The picture of the three of us is in front of the Piti Palace.

More later...stay tuned!