Geo: 45.4637, 9.18813We left our hotel for another ride on the efficient Metro system (from Centrale F.S. train station to Duomo we've got it down). The morning was much cooler and less humid as we waited for our Autostradale bus and walking tour. We found ourselves in an international group, including people for Kuwait, Dubai, Austria, Florida, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Germany, and us. Everyone was able to make sense of the tour in English. The tour started with an orientation to the Duomo area (Duomo is the third or fourth largest cathedral in Christendom depending on who you listen to). We would come come back to this site later for a more detailed exploration. We then walked into the Galleria, dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, the king who successfully unified Italy in 1861. The Galleria was ... read more

Geo: 45.4637, 9.18813We woke up early to finish packing and get "Happy Venice Apartment" back to its original state. Breakfast today consisted of less messy hard boiled eggs (Jeannette's idea), rolls, and fruit. At 10am we were on our way to the San Marco vaporetto stop. As we left the apartment, we smiled at the familiar smear of poop on the sidewalk. The first time we came across it, we were reminded of a saying used on the London Tube, “Mind the Gap!” So, each time we came home to our apartment, it was, “Mind the Crap!” We patted ourselves on the back for leaving Venice behind as successful minders of the crap.A ride down the Grand Canal later, we found ourselves parked at a table in F.S. Ferrovia (train station) waiting for our express intercity ... read more

Geo: 45.4345, 12.3384Temperature, that is, centigrade. Good morning, Venice.Our day began early so that Barb and Rich could head off to San Marco Basilica in hopes of avoiding long lines. Fortunately, they had shade. We enjoyed a cooked breakfast of eggs, sausage, cheese, rolls, tomatoes, cereal, coffee, tea, and orange juice. At the grand cost of 3 euros each courtesy of a grocery store called COOP.Rich and Barb headed to San Marco and were very impressed by the amazing mosaics that told the story of Adam and Eve through the Resurrection. The total effect was bringing light into the dark interior of the awe inspiring building. They paid extra to see the four horses that had unwillingly galloped all over Europe through the centuries as a symbol of power, from Constantinople to Rome to Paris and ... read more

Geo: 48.22, 16.37We met Michael Dorsch as expected at Most. His girlfriend couldn't make it because she wasn't feeling well, but we had a great time nonetheless. It was an interesting study in degrees of separation as Michael is the son of Rich's college roommate (Tom Dorsch), cousin to Jim who Jake taught, and friend of Natasha, both Jake and Mandy's friend from high school.Dr. Dorsch is a newly appointed professor of economics at Central European University and is launching a new interdisciplinary program in public policy studies. The program will include experts in philosophy, economics, political science, history, and sociology.We had great conversations about a number of topics including the impact of economics on political decision making (for better or worse), the state of modern Hungary, and his excitement at launching the new degree program. ... read more

Geo: 47.4984, 19.0408Tuesday was to be an uneventful day of travel. We had time to enjoy a leisurely morning of breakfast, coffee, conversation, and packing up our gear for the trip from Kaunas to the Vilnius airport. After a hot ride, we sought out our gate for LOT Polish airlines that would carry us from Vilnius to Warsaw and then on to Budapest.At the gate, Jake was again a victim of facial profiling. "Can you open your bag?" And so it went. One of Irena's gifts, a bottle of Lithuanian firewater called Zalgiris was confiscated. Apparently there was too much fire in the water for LOT Polish airline policy. Nevermind Barb's identical bottle, two bags behind, went right past the same security checkpoint. The guy behind the screen was probably texting someone about his new “score” ... read more