Geo: 45.4345, 12.3384Well, it's 5 pm here on Monday and we just finished a tour of the Jewish Ghetto, very interesting to hear about their history. Went through 3 unused synagogues and a little museum and 2 pieces of art in the Campo that commemorate the Jews lost from Venice in the Holocaust, very sobering...We can't wait to get home and see our family... we will be getting up at about 3 in the morning and getting on the Vaporetto at 4:30 then to the bus station and on to Marco Polo Airport for a 6:55 am departure... hopefully will be able to sleep on the plane, don't really think it will be a problem...Won't be long on here right now as we need to do our online check in for our flight, thanks to those ... read more

Geo: 41.8955, 12.4823Hello all! We are here and for you that have been checking and not finding anything, I am very sorry, we have been very busy as you no doubt have guessed. Everything is going well, except for our feet and backs!! I have no idea how these Italian women walk around in HIGH heels, I am hobbling around in my flat Keens... for a quick rundown (excuse the lack of punctuation and some spelling, different keyboard..) The flight was uneventful except for our transfer at Charles de Gaulle in Paris, we had to run for the gate and they were about to close the entry to the plane but let us on, the reason? we had to sit on the runway and wait for a space to park then had to wait for people ... read more

Geo: 46.2741, -119.274We'll we're trying to get ready to go, again just using carry-ons! It's a challenge especially as it's a colder time of year this time and we need to take warmer clothes. The apartment we are renting in Rome has a washer and dryer so we'll be able to wash our clothes while there. Here is the link to the apartment we'll be staying at in Rome: http://www.b-b.rm.it/accommodations/foto.php?id=439, for our stay in Venice, this is where we are going to be: http://www.caangeli.net/ing/index.htmFor my history students we'll be playing a game I'm calling "Follow Mrs. H" (I know creative) I'll be letting them know here what I've been seeing and where I've been so they can follow along and learn about where I'm at for a bit of extra credit when I get back! We've ... read more

Geo: 48.8566, 2.35097Friday, June 6:We left the apartment after going through the checklist they gave us. We rented from Vacation in Paris, has been a great company to work with (minor plug..) We left about 9:30 am got on the #8 Metro after buying our RER tickets to CDG (Charles De Gaulle Airport). They were ~8,20 euros each, much better than a taxi! and guaranteed to not get stuck in traffic, even better ;-), we transferred at Invalides then to the B @St. Michel and on to CDG! the whole trip from apt to airport lasted 11/2 hours. Our flight left on time (2 pm), we had been told to get to the airport 3 hours ahead of time and we needed every bit of that. We really didn't wait around too much. We arrived in ... read more

Geo: 49.2764, -0.705529Planned to get up at 5 am today but heard Dad's alarm at 4 and never did go back to sleep! We all made it out of the apt ~6 am to make our way to St. Lazare station. When we got there we followed the Grand Lignes signs for the trains to get out of town. After we found this section, next job was to find the right track or "voir" (I think) after asking 3 conductors (because I'm paranoid and didn't want to miss the right train) and checking the signs we were directed to the right place. Again lots of nice help! Changed trains in Caen, quick turn around here, no dilly-dallying allowed! still not hard to do, mostly just follow the crowd. Got off in Bayeaux and was a bit ... read more