For the last few months I've been hearing voices in my dreams.... Ever since Kirsten left Darden, we've been wanting to return to Italy. Our last trip was when we visited Tuscany and came upon the Chianti Classico festival (I believe this to be a Portal to Heaven). As you might remember, Kirsten and Bea had to come home because of their burden of employment. I wanted to stay and continue looking for the portal, as you can imagine that wasn't going to happen. So somehow they managed to get me a seat on their return flight. As always, when you want to stay there's a seat. Well the stars aligned, Kirsten is no longer chained to Darden. Some how she was able to get the keys and unshackle herself. The only regret was not being ... read more

Gutten Morgan Herr Voghan Day 2 July 9, 2014 Gutten Morgan Herr Voghan Arrgggg, whattt. It’s breakfast time Voulds Uses like some kaffee? Yes, please, I sit up and Kirsten is looking at me and says “Good Morning Sunshine” I fall back into my seat and close my eyes. The pilot comes on over the PA and announces “good morning folks we’ll be landing in Frankfurt in about 45 minutes”. We land and make our way to passport control; Kirsten always goes first she flies through. Making small conversation getting the agent to laugh. Me they look at me, look at my passport and look at me. Vhy ares uses here Stephan. I try to make them laugh by answering I’m on Wacation. Sometimes it works, this time it didn’t. He finally stamps my passport and ... read more

Day 24 April 29, 2014 Heading home to Orlando Ring, Ring, Ring, its 6am and our wakeup call is here. Kirsten hasn’t slept at all she is coming down with a head cold and I’ve been fighting allergies this whole week. We get dressed and I head down stairs to the lobby. I logon and check the flights. They look great, the last few trips I’ve taken it’s seems to go haywire at the last minute. Not this time we’re listed and it looks like we’ll get on ok. Opa and Oma arrive in the lobby along with Kirsten. We make our way to the car and pile in. Kirsten cranks it up and down the road we go. We need to gas up the car so we start looking for a gas station and find ... read more

Day 22 April 27, 2014 Are we in Toledo…Ohio? We left our cool dormitory at San Rafael. It was 2 degrees centigrade. I mean COLD! We drove over the Sierra Guadarrama Mountains. Whenever were in Europe and going through some mountain range there are always motorcyclists. Today was no exception 100’s of motorcyclists; they were all over Kirsten zooming around her like flies. After crossing the mountains we were ready for a nice lunch on side of road. We drove and drove and drove. No place was scenic enough. Finally Kirsten hunger won and we stopped. It wasn’t the most scenic but we had lunch. Yum! After lunch we continued and came upon the little village of San Martin. It has a very cool cathedral, I mean like built into the mountain type. So we stopped ... read more

April 24, 2014 Thursday night at Haro We woke up and it’s raining. Kirsten is first into the shower and I’m second. We’re down stairs and find Hedy and Bill already having breakfast. We relax and have a nice breakfast. Our hotel receptionist reminds us it’s Market day in Estella. Kirsten is excited and of we go to the market. The first market has shirts, pants, shoes and any other clothing you can imagine. The next plaza over Kirsten finds the real market, olives, vegetables, and salted fish. No chicken man or pork man to be found. Darn I really wanted some of the local roasted meats. Oh well, after walking the market we deicide it’s time to go. We load up into the car and off we go to visit the cathedral, it the 8th ... read more