We leave next Thursday for Italy! It's crazy how it's finally here when I've been planning this trip for almost two years. I have been rereading my emails that I started sending out last year since I printed them all off and have them in a folder. Some emails are about the towns we will be visiting (walking to) and some are about each day on the trip and what to expect. I also sent out emails about Italian history and foods and culture so I practically have a book now! ha!
A few months ago I started making lists - the ones I'm famous for. Lists for clothes, lists for my carry-on, lists for my purse, lists for my housekeeper, Jamie, lists of things to do before I leave like stopping my mail and the paper, making copies of my passport and travel info. Lists for the drug store, lists for the sporting goods store, lists for the dollar store, lists for the clothing stores. And as we've gotten closer to departure, those lists are becoming shorter. But I still have some things to do.
Cindy is coming in two days and we will compare lists! We can do some of our last-minute shopping together which will be fun. Cindy, Andy and I will leave the house next Thursday around 7am to drive to our wonderful little airport here in the Springs. There will be 8 other people from the Springs who will meet us at the airport and we will all fly together from here to Chicago and then to Zurich and then to Florence.
We will land in Italy on my birthday and I'm really hoping that I can enjoy that day despite jetlag! So, wish me luck! What a grand way to celebrate turning 39 - again :-)
Here are some more photos I found online of some of the towns we will be visiting:
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| Montalcino |
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| Monte Amiata |
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| Montecatini |
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| Monteriggioni |
Now, about those adorable lion cubs! I can't stay away! I have been twice a week to see them since they were born as they are about the cutest things I have ever seen. I can tell them apart now and it's fun to see their personalities showing themselves. The lightest colored male (who is easy to find as he has a funny shaped ear) is named Aslan. He is the strong silent type. He is content to explore on his own and find a quiet spot where he can watch all of us. The darkest of the cubs is the other male named Boma. He has more black markings where the female, Elsa (named for her grandpa, Ellson), who is also darker than Aslan, has more rust colored markings. She is fiesty and brave and loves to eat. Boma seems to be the most playful and enjoys mom's tail! So here are some updated photos of the cubs. They are about 10 weeks old. No captions needed. Just enjoy the little ones and momma :-)
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| L - R: Aslan, Elsa, and Boma |
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