We got our passport ready and our shopping shoes on, 'cause we're going tothe Mediterranean!
Rusty's parents Russ & Cindi try to take us on a big family vacation every other year or so in addition to our annual Powell trips. In the past we have been to Disneyworld for Christmas and most recently we went to Hawaii. (Ok, so the day before I ended up not going, bags packed and everything...funny story about being 5 weeks pregers with Berk and so stinkin sick my Mom had to stay with me for the whole week cause I couldn't get up the stairs without help...) Anyhow. We always have a great time. This last week on Dec 29th they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Kelcie graduated last year and hasn't taken her senior trip yet and once the ball got rolling not only were Kelcie, Russ & Cindi going, but Ryan, Jill's Family, us and our Nana & Bopy.
This summer we are taking a 15 day trip (a 12 day cruise) throughout the Mediteranian! I have never been on a cruise, or out of the US (Mexico doesn't count). Nor have I ever been super fond of the 18 or so hour plane ride that will get me there (22 coming back). Most of our Christmas gifts were cruise oriented. That's why Braden got the IPod, I got a new camera and Rusty got this nifty thing to weigh the luggage! I am so excited! We are forgoing our annual Rasmussen trip to our condo at Snowbird and our annual long Lake Powell trip in order to save up the vacation time were gonna need!
I am so excited. I will be super curious to see how Berk does, he will be 18 months or so when we go. Braden loves flying. he slept the entire 6 hours to Oahu and then some. He is old enough to listen to music, watch the movies or sleep. Berk is gonna need some kid ambien! At least we are gonna have lots of hands to help us. Jill's hubby Bill served his mission in Italy so we can get the insiders scoop there. And we hear if you speak Spanish (Rusty & Russ) they can understand you in most places. So, here's where we are going...
Venice, Italy
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Santorini, Greece
Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Athens, Greece
Naples/Capri, Italy
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Rome, Italy
Florence, Italy
Pisa, Italy
Nice (Villefranche), France
Nice, France
Barcelona, Spain
I Know, couldn't you just die??? I never ever though I would go to Europe. I have serious flying issues but I have gotten more comfortable now that I have kids to distract me and of course the lovely prozac/dramamine effect helps too... But now I am excited at the idea. We will only be at each place a day or so, so it is a good peek into where we would like to go back and spend more time later(and without the kids). I would love to go to England someday with my parents. My Dad served his mission there and even brought a VW Bug home on the boat with him. Yes, I said boat, he is pretty old after all! Teasing Dad. So I can't wait for this adventure to start. I am already making lists and storing away things to take.
So, all you cruise pro's, what do I need to take, not need (hairdryer?) and does anyone know if they sell diapers on board(that question keeps me up at night)?!? I will hopefully have lots of fun stamps in my passport when we get back, as well as thousands of photos to remember this trip of a lifetime!
Happy Anniversary Noni & Pops!
26 comments:
ok I am SOOOO jealous. How fun will that be? You will have so much fun. You keep saying you need motivation for your guys' weight thing I think I might starve myself just to get into the spirit for you! ahaha just kidding.
I'm so jealous too! Cruising last summer with the kids I learned that they MAY have diapers to purchase on the boat, but it will be ridiculously expensive. You should be able to look online for your cruise line for information, helpful lists of what to bring, and what is available for purchase. We bought a book off Amazon about Disney cruises which was the BEST idea ever. We knew everything we needed to bring, what to expect, and most importantly - what NOT to bring. I recommend looking around for a good book/mediteranean cruise travel guide. Also, bring the least amount of clothes that you can - clothes that layer & can be made into many different outfits are best. We brought WAY too much stuff and regretted it the whole trip.
So fun!! I can't wait to see your pictures. See ya Tuesday.
I suppose you have me to thank for this! Well technically we all have to thank my dad but it was partially my idea :) but I absolutely cannot wait! Just promise me that you won't get sick the day before again because even if you do i'm making you come no questions asked.
Oh Caryn! That sounds so very nearly like the cruise Brent's mom took us on 2 years ago. YOU WILL LOVE IT. If you don't come away LOVING DUBROVNIK afterward, then I won't believe you went! Oh man!!! I wish I could go with you. It was so wonderful! However, I don't know if they sell diapers on board, 'cause when we went, we left Mitch with my mom (I was pregnant with Ian at the time). They sell pretty much anything you could think of, so they very well might. But Ami Bethea is right, don't take too many clothes. You want room to bring back goods!! And I assume you're going this summer sometime, right? (Did I overlook the dates in your post?) It will be HOT, so bring light clothes. And bring STURDY, comfortable shoes. You'll be doing SO much walking, and tons of the areas you'll be walking on won't be paved. And it's quite a hike up to the Acropolis, and at strange inclines, so you'll want good shoes. Are you going to ride the donkey up the hill at Santorini? It looked so quaint, but I didn't dare, as I was pregnant, so we took the tram thing. And where are you going to go when you're docked at Naples? Pompeii or Capri? We went to Pompeii. We loved it, but I wish we could've done both. My mother-in-law and everyone else went to Capri, and they loved it. So you'll have to tell me which you chose and how it was. It looks like you have a couple of days in Rome though, so that's good, 'cause there is SO much to see there. Oh have so much fun! DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA! :)
Girl, we can help you out big time! Any questions, just ask. We can give you great tips. Congrats!
I guess we are all jealous!!! That will be so fun. I do not envy the trip though. We had a 24 hour trip home from China with only one child and even though we will take all our children back someday, they will definitely be older. When we went to Hawaii, Vicena made a cute, cute bag for each of the children for the flight. It had all kinds of things to entertain them and then it had about 8 presents in them. They were little things to play with etc. that they got to open at certain times on the flight like after dinner, after two hours, etc. It made the trip bearable and it was only 7 hours. Also, yes pack light, I ended up taking thirteen shirts to China. Oh please. I didn't even wear some of them. Most places did room service laundry. Wonderful!!! Have fun planning.
That sounds like an amazing cruise. I really haven't been anywhere. What an awesome gift. Trips like that change your life!
Oh my goodness, that is the best gift ever!! Tim would love to go on a Mediterranean Cruise. Tim served his mission in France and would love to go back. I'm so excitd for you, you are one lucky gal! Well your blog looks great, good work on changing it yourself!
That is so cool. Crusies are the best. Once you have been on one you will think that is the only way to travel. You will have so much fun.
Right on! That's awesome that so much family is coming with you. I haven't been that far away, but when gracie was about Berk's age we flew to Chicago. One thing to keep her busy on the plane were things with buckles and snaps. She could keep at those for hours. Just an idea.
How fun! That will be such a great experience for you and your family. Oh I can see the scrapbook pages now.....We'll have to have a picture party afterwards...you can get out the old slide machine....ha ha
I hate long flights (I always feel like I am going to drop right out of the sky), but the cruise will make it all worth it! At least when we were flying home from our Europe trip, we had a bunch of returning missionaries on the flight with us. I figured with that many righteous elders on board our plane was destined to stay airborne.
A tip about the long over-ocean flight: tell Rusty to sweet talk the lady at check in. JJ did and she gave us seats on the emergency exit aisle, so we had all the room we could possibly want, and then some! A little flattery and a sly wink go a long way.
You are going to have such fun!
I agree that it will be an amazing trip. I too have never been anywhere amazing, well Puerto Rico for a work convention but that was work right! :) You'll have so much fun! I hope Berk does well for you!
Oh that is so exciting! I am very jealous as it is my dream to go to Europe and I have always wanted to go on a cruise. I am so excited for you guys and can't wait to hear all about it!
I wish I could take a vaction to any where out side of Arizona, much less out of the country. Hope you have a great time.
Caryn... If you need someone to come and help with the kids just give me a call.
How fun! I loved our cruise that we went on for our honeymoon. You are going to have so much fun! I can't wait to hear all about it and see all of your fun pictures. If they do sell diapers I would not buy it on the ship, it will be sooo expensive. Buy it at one of your stops, even if it is a weird brand.
oh im so jealous. it sounds like its going to be so fun! cant wait to hear about it. and that stinks you missed out on hawaii. you should get to go again :)
Love the new look! And, I'm soooo jealous of your upcoming trip! You'll finally be in places, I've never been! That sucks! I'm the "World Traveler" in our family! Heehee!
Hey Caryn! I'm glad you found our blog. Who doesn't know Abby my goodness that girl is popular. I can't believe you are going to Europe that sounds like so much fun. I've never been there so I can't say much for that cruise. The only cruise I've ever been on is one to the Hawaiian Islands, and I would prefer just staying on one island. But I think yours will be different. A guy fell off the little ferry boat and got chopped up by the propeller and so we missed a few ports. I doubt anything like that will happen to you.
That sounds fabulous! I love to travel. It's so wonderful to get a taste of culture else where.
Wow that is a trip of a lifetime. That sounds amazing! You will have such a fun time with all your family. I hope to someday make it to Europe! What great in laws!!
caryn. i am jealous. someday i am going to the mediterranean. someday. tell russ that whenever the next trip is, i'll be more than happy to come along.
You are so lucky! Hope you guys have so much fun! I love your new layout!
Jenny
NO fair! Honestly how amazing is that trip going to be? I do have to say you might be a tiny bit spoiled. Good thing you deserve it! I think that really might just be my dream vacation. Can't wait to see pics and hear all about it!
Since it sounds like you won't be taking much clothes packing light, do you think someone could squeeze me in an extra suitcase. This is my dream cruise! So jealous! I would definitely pass up SF for this...but you can still do both, right?
Lucky! You are going to have so much fun! Ben and I went to Greece for our honeymoon and had the time of our lives. Santorini is hands down the most beautiful place I've ever been. You'll die as you pull up to the harbor.
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