Live the year with thankfulness, gratitude, respect, patience, charity, and kindness; don’t forget to laugh and smile often, as they are infectious.
In 2015, we had the opportunity to travel to Italy with our dear friends, Joe and Terry Conley. We flew out of Philadelphia as Pope Francis was returning home after six weeks visiting cities across the United States, with Philadelphia as his last stop before heading back to Rome to celebrate his feast-day Mass.
We made plans for our two-week tour through the local travel agent, Laura of Roma Travel. Our first stop was Venice, where we hit all the spots for a welcoming dinner, eating, drinking, and being serenaded. Tour St. Marks. Bridge of Sighs and so much more, and an excursion into Murano for its glass, Burano, and Torcello.
We made quite a few friends, especially Michele and Sharon, who were traveling together from our area, and Scott and his wife, Marcie, from Pittsburgh. Our guide, Massimo, was excellent. Our trip took us through the Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera, then into Florence and the Tuscany area, the Knights of Malta for a balsamic vinegar tasting in Modena, and to Rome to see the Colosseum and so much more, all of which was highlighted by Joe, who procured tickets to the Vatican and the Papal Mass. In each place, the art, history, food, wine, people, and ambiance were topped from one place to the next.
We ended our trip by touring Positano, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast, then headed back to Naples on a puddle-jumper flight to Rome before heading home with memories that still come up in conversation whenever we get together. I can only say that if you ever get the opportunity, we would all highly recommend it!
Shout out to our kids and grandkids for throwing us an amazing surprise 50th Anniversary at Kings Mill, Aston, PA, last evening for a vow renewal celebration with about 100 family and friends. Beaming with pride. love and feeling very blessed.
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