Italy With Friends

Sorry for my absence–my internet was down at home for a few weeks. Shortly before I left I gave In the Wabe a bit of a facelift. What do you think?

One of my best friends Aly recently visited with her sister Maddy and we had a blast traveling around together. Aly & I have been friends since third grade but hadn’t seen each other in over a year. She and Maddy are both over six foot and play volleyball at Trinity University in San Antonio.

They spent a few days in Venice, and I picked them up at the train station there. We spent three days around the area before I sent them off to Verona and then Innsbruck, Austria. Then we met up in Milan and they headed to Monaco alone before leaving from Venice.

We picnicked at Lake Barcis, which I posted about a couple months ago–swiss cheese, mortadella, salami, and cantaloupe.

Maddy and Aly.

Aly’s gelato at one of my favorite gelaterias. Hers was vanilla cream ice cream, whipped cream, fruit, nuts, and chocolate sauce.

One day we headed to nearby town of Sacile. I’d never been but a lot of Americans I know live there. It is such a cute and picturesque little town and even has a river running through it!

Maddy and Aly. Aly was standing a step above her in the photo.

How have I gone three years without any photos of bikes leaning against buildings?

Aly and Maddy

After their two days in Verona and Innsbruck we met up and spent three days in Milan, the first at Lake Como.

It took us almost three hours to get to Bellagio on the ferry! We were expecting it to be around 90 minutes, so that really put a damper on the trip. All in all I didn’t really like Lake Como much. Maybe I’m jaded because I’ve lived here too long, but it felt too touristy and just was not very interesting.

Me, Aly, and Maddy at the top of the Milan Duomo. This cathedral is one of my favorite buildings in the world! The first time we went Joseph and I spent about three hours staring at its intricacies.

This photo is from when I took my family to Milan in December.

Maddy and Aly

Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, photo from December

Maddy and me

Inside of the La Scala opera house

My birthday was July 23 and Joseph gave me this beautiful necklace! It’s the “Journey necklace” which I think is pretty popular in the US right now. I’ve worn it nearly every day because it matches everything!

There are seven diamonds. Joseph bought it so that when I wear it I’ll be wearing 21 diamonds total, with the 14 in my wedding rings. 21 diamonds for my 21st birthday! What a romantic :p