Shane Life

When we started planning this trip, we were filled with anticipation and nervousness. As it got closer, we began to worry that we didn’t start planning early enough. Once we got on the trip, we realized that our nervousness and worry was nothing - this trip was about us. It was about falling in love in another country and discovering that, even worlds away, we are the best of friends.

This may sound somewhat arrogant, but weaker couples would have come unhinged by the struggles and inconveniences we encountered along the way. We returned stronger and more in love than we’ve ever been.

Discovering Paris together was so fun and I imagine we’ll return to Paris and Venice sooner than we’ll return any of our other locations. My negative experience in Florence almost made me want to go back and give it another try. But not enough.

We spent a lot of time in Rome - enough for two separate posts covering all we did. Rome was interesting enough, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. We did, however, see Ferris Bueller and Carrie Bradshaw, which was cool.

After Rome it was off to the Amalfi Coast. It was incredibly beautiful, but difficult to get around. By the end of our trip, we craved creature comforts that we often take for granted (more than 1 pillow on the bed, easy access to food, etc.). But getting home wasn’t easy.

As happy as we were to get home, we were ready to go back after about a week of sleeping in our own bed. Having the experience of this trip will give us more experience going forward. I can’t wait for our next adventure.

Here’s one last thing, a re-posting of my earlier Trip By the Numbers:

• Miles Traveled: over 12,000
• Countries Visited: 2 (and the USA)
• Cities Visited: 8
• Hotels Stayed In: 6
• Hours Spent on Planes: 39.5
• Hours Spent on Trains: 44
• Hours Delayed on Planes: 32 (includes a 24-hour delay in Paris)
• Hours Delayed on Trains: 7 (includes the 3-hour delay that caused the Paris delay)
• Taxis Taken: 13
• Trains Taken: 11
• Subways Taken: 8
• Planes Taken: 4
• Boats Taken: 8
• Modes of Transportation: 12
• Stairs Climbed in Churches: over 1,000
• Times Swam: 5
• Gelatos Eaten: around 20
• Pizzas Eaten: Shane - 7; Alli - 8
• Croissants Eaten: over 20
• Museums Visited: 6
• Americans Met: 19
• Movies Watched: 7 (Including Shrek the Third in French)
• Celebrities Seen: 6 (Jude Law, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Andie McDowell, Nicole Ritchie, and all of Good Charlotte)
• Books Read: 4.5
• Times We Did Laundry: 4
• Souvenirs Purchased: ZERO
• Pictures Taken: 1,920

I hope that you have enjoyed my overviews of each city. It’s been fun to revisit the trip in this way. I apologize for my long-windedness in many posts, but this isn’t nearly as extensive as my written journal, which is now effectively shut until our next trip.

We now return to your regularly scheduled blogging. There’s lots to discuss. Chiefs, poker, US Open Tennis (how good is Roger Federer?), golf, etc. The floodgates are now open.