Ryan and got back from Italy and finally got over our jet lag!  The trip was amazing.  We have over 350 pictures and figure you only want to see the highlights.  So here's a shortened diary of our time:

Friday: Ryan and I took off with no checked luggage.  Compared to the Mexico vacation, where we took half our house, this was some what challenging. I'm guessing it was more challenging for the people who had to sit next to me on the plane coming home! 

Saturday: We got into Milan, took a train down to Florence, and arrived in my favorite city from our trip.  Michael and Erica were nice enough to let us crash in their honeymoon pad, which had a kitchen, living room, dining room, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, etc, etc, etc.  Nothing could top the view, though.  It is located in the middle of Piazza Del Signoria, which is the Times Square of Florence.  The apartment is the 3 windows with the original 15th century bust in the middle.  The other picture is the view from our living room. 

Saturday-Sunday: Pictures from Florence!

Monday: The whole wedding crew met at the Florence Train Station and we rented 5 cars to drive down to the Chianti Region.  Ryan thinks Florence is super easy to navigate and highly recommends renting a car there.  (Or maybe not...)  After Ryan finished touring every city street, he picked up me, Dani's grandparents and brother and we headed down!  The place we stayed was a working vineyard that had rooms/apartments for the entire wedding crew.  It was beautiful and it looked like it was straight out of a movie.  

Tuesday:  Erica, Michael, Ryan, and I took the car around the Tuscany (a couple times) to taste wine and find yummy cheese!  The boys started out driving (hence the multiple trips around the region!).  It didn't last. Once the girls took over the wheel we found amazing wine with amazing food.  

Wednesday: We spent the morning in Siena and the afternoon in San Gimignano.  They were really cool cities.  Here are some pics of what we loved best...

Thursday: WEDDING DAY!!!!  Dani and Ryan made it official in a great ceremony that was held in the City Hall.  (Does the outside of the hall look familiar?) The ceremony was great and the reception was almost surreal.  That kind of setting can really stop you in your tracks. It was a great day!  (Also, it was Ryan's 31st birthday.  I'd say it was a memorable one!)

Friday and Saturday:  We went to Cinque Terre to hike off all the wine and cheese we had in Chianti.  This was a picturesque place comprised of 5 hillside towns along the Italian Riviera.  They are connected by a hiking trail that took us about 4 hours to complete. 

Sunday and Monday:  To quote Dani, "Don't you love being in love in Venice?".  Venice certainly has it's romantic qualities.  Sunsets over the Grand Canal, Gondola rides, music in St. Mark's Square.  It's all very romantic and was the perfect last stop on our trip. 

Tuesday: One last view from the plane. This trip was one of kind.  Great food, great views, and great friends!  

KK

:)