Jennifer Montgomery

layfamily

Jennifer Montgomery

Funny enough, we got the travel bug at a time when we thought we wouldn't be able to go
Shortly after our daughter Logan got sick with cancer we decided that we wanted to start traveling. It became our escape from the hospital and our reality.
I think it is our passion. We love to travel and our family does it very well. Lugging the meds, and stressing about not having insurance on the trips always seems to melt away when we get on the plane and realize how grateful we are for one more experience and memory together.
I don't think that we would have ever really made travel a priority the way we do if it wasn't for our situation.
Now instead of thinking we can't go.....we think we can't NOT go!
To me showing the kids the world is such a gift. I want them to know that we are just one small piece of a giant puzzle....
So off we go on our biggest trip ever, Europe....one month.

11 days after we found out Logan is having seizures after being stable from her brain cancer for 18 months. Am I scared to be going....yes....but not as scared as I would be if we were those people who decided not to go..... Thanks for following us on this journey.....(and I don't mean this trip)

Santorini and Sicily

Europe » Greece August 14th 2011

P1040336

layfamily

The last 2 stops on our trip have both started with the same letter but couldn't have been more of a contrast. Santorini was gorgeous and exactly what I pictured Greece to be like. Corfu and Argostoli were nothing like Santorini, their architecture was much more European than the whitewashed cave houses we expected to see. We were a bit surprised by this. Both Jared and I were expecting all of Greece to be just like the pictures from the internet but really, the images most of us have in our minds are contained on this one small island. We started our day off with a wine tour which was so interesting. Wine is grown very different on the island of Santorini then any other place in the world. They make little baskets close to the ... read more

Cruising...

Europe » Croatia » Dalmatia » Dubrovnik August 13th 2011

Worn out feet

layfamily

It's been a few days since I updated...we've been quite busy since we got on the ship on Tuesday. 3 stops so far Dubrovnik in Croatia and 2 stops in Greece. Argostoli and Corfu. Dubrovnik was absolutely stunning. It's a city that is built around the old fortress from early days. The walls of the fortress are spectacular. Nearly 80 feet high and 20 feet thick. It took hundreds of years to build and was used in the early days to fend off attackers. Today it is the primary tourist attraction in Dubrovnik, although many people still live inside. Most of the city is built on a hillside and there are literally thousands of stairs that need to be climbed in order to get anywhere. Everyone we saw was in pretty good shape in that town ... read more

Finally....Italy!!!!

Europe August 11th 2011

europe so far 315

layfamily

Finally....Italy! I have to admit I did shed a few tears leaving Portugal. It was so beautiful and we had such a great time with our friends that it made it hard to go. I guess in a way that it was the perfect time for us to go since we weren't ready yet. My girlfriend Janice always says house guests usually go bad faster than fresh produce...isn't that true. But still, looking back at the Isle of Farol as we pulled away from the dock on our ferry, I got all nostalgic. Seeing our friends waving and bidding us farewell...kinda reminded me of Mama Mia with Meryl Streep standing on the dock. That secluded little piece of paradise was amazing and I sure hope one day I can return. So,we drove back to Seville in ... read more

Is this Portugal or is it Paradise?

Europe » Portugal » Algarve » Quarteira August 8th 2011

europe so far 140

layfamily

There have been so many moments on this trip when I feel like someone should come along and pinch me. I have to pause and take it all in because it almost seems surreal, like I am in a dream... Am I really sitting at a little table in the south of Spain drinking blanco sangria listening to this perfect musician playing the accordion? Or watching the flamenco dancers so passionately and aggressively expressing themselves through their dance in a tiny show theatre on some random side street? Could it be possible that I am in one of the 3 biggest cathedrals in the world? And are my eyes failing me? Or is that pair of Italian leather shoes really only 15 euro? I love this place And then there are the moments when someone needs ... read more

Making our way to Spain!

Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Seville August 3rd 2011

The mighty cathedral

layfamily

In my mind there has always been something romantic and glamourous about the thought of traveling. I've always pictured myself somehow gliding through Europe, gracefully stopping to see the sights. Well, was I in for a shock on this trip! Although,so far it's been amazing, it's also been a lot of back breaking work. Lugging 133lbs of suitcases, 3 backpacks, and 2kids through the maze of planes, trains and automobiles has been somewhat of a challenge. Add not speaking the language here in Spain and my inherent need to be polite and I am finding myself very frustrated at times. (that is it I am learning Spanish) Having said that, it has been good developing my patience and beyond amazing to say the least! Our last day in London was grand! Although we weren't fortunate enough ... read more

We made it to London!!!!

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London » Earls Court July 30th 2011

London

layfamily

July 30,2011 So we made! As luck would have it we checked in to our pre flight room at the Westin and were given an upgraded corner suite on the 11th floor. Of course….I thought it was all a good sign that this trip would go off without a hitch. I could sleep and breathe easy. However, we woke up on the morning of our flight to find out that our camera charger was broken. Shit…no pictures of the European adventure? Well of course that wouldn’t do…so Jared figured it out. 100 dollar cab ride to Best Buy head office and a time crunch and we were back in business with a new charger and multiple replacement batteries. Ok breathe….things are falling into place. Then, we arrived back at the hotel with about 20 minutes to ... read more

The night before we go!

North America » Canada » British Columbia » Maple Ridge July 27th 2011

Our own little emergency room

layfamily

I can remember the first time that I was going on a real vacation. I think I was about 11 years old and I was going to Disneyland with mom and my brother and my great-granny. I couldn’t sleep for days. My brother had matching twin beds in his room and we’d lay and talk all night about what it would be like when we finally got there. What rides we were going to go on, how much candy we were going to eat….I was so excited that it almost consumed me to point that I couldn’t function. I kinda feel like that about this trip. Well the consumed to the point I can’t function anyhow. It is less than 24 hours before we go and I still have so much to do….but can’t seem to ... read more

Joined	July 21st 2011	Trips	1
Last Login	September 2nd 2011	Followers	0
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