Sunday, January 15, 2012

Home From the Holidays


We finally returned home early this week and of course all of the Christmas decorations, including the tree, were still hanging as we left them.  Oh if only the elves had stopped in to help put things away!
 With very little sleep I returned straight to work this week having had the pleasure of nearly 2 weeks off.   Taking consecutive days off for me is a rare happening and I’m so grateful for the vacation days. Please indulge me as I share some of our travels and activities. 

After picking up the grandgirls the day after Christmas we were off to Frankfurt, Germany where I met up with my son and DIL and dropped off the girls before heading to Rome.
View from our hotel room

Believe me, I tossed my coin in the fountain!
We stayed in a wonderful B&B that was right across the street from the Vatican. After two days of sightseeing (and gelato) we were on our way to Pompeii.  I was so hoping we’d be able to manage Herculaneum and Pompeii but it was pouring rain so we didn’t navigate as well as we might have. 
I'm haunted by "The Mule".  Called the mule because he was found beside his mule, positioned as if praying.
Luckily for us the rain stopped and as the sun peeked through the clouds we spotted Positano where my husband and I spent a week, celebrating the New Year and his birthday, taking cooking lessons, relaxing and enjoying Lemoncello, romancing, observing the 12 days of Christmas and EATING!   It was heaven on earth. 

More on the cooking experience later

The view from our room in Positano
We parted ways in Rome and I flew back to Frankfurt.  From there I hopped a train to Trier, Germany.   I must admit it was a little hard to leave the sunny, warm coast to head back to a cold, rainy and dreary looking Germany but the dismal, cold weather made me appreciate the coziness and comfort of German food.  Honestly, it should come as no surprise that I gained six pounds over the holidays.
Sorry Germany.   Dreary looking yes, but I bet it would be beautiful along the Rhine in summer
 My son and his family were visiting relatives in London while I was traveling about but we eventually met up and we enjoyed family days exchanging gifts, holding slumber parties, visiting with friends and doing a little after Christmas shopping before traveling home. 
Jojo the Fortuneteller who made a guest appearance at the slumber party!
 The slumber party with my grandgirls and friends was one of the highlights of the trip to Germany.  It was a night of make-your-own cupcakes, facials, manicures, fortunetelling and movie watching with the sweetest little girls I know.
Don't you love the Positano pottery!!!

I’m already daydreaming about going back.

15 comments:

  1. Ooooh...thanks for the virtual trip, Cheryl! Positano has been on my bucket list ever since Under the Tuscan Sun! It looks gorgeous! I didn't know they had a style of pottery. Now I want to go there even more! lol Sounds like a fun trip...especially the PJ party! Welcome home! If you find out how to get those Christmas-decor-removing elves to come to your house, let me know!...hugs...Debbie

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  2. What a wonderful trip that must have been, Cheryl! It has been 29 years since I was last in Positano but I can conjure up the sunshine, the curious smell of sea and fresh bread, the colours of the water and the pottery - beautiful! How lovely that you were able to combine a romantic interlude with your husband and time with your grandchildren. I'm sure they'll never forget having their fortune told!

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  3. What a lovely, lovely time you had. Welcome back.

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  4. Sounds like an amazing trip! I would be exhausted!
    You should have asked Sue Rue to go over and pack up all your Cmas stuff! That's what friends are for! :)
    Happy 2012!

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  5. Wow I bet you had a wonderful time. Lovely places to visit and to see the Grand Girls is always special. Looking forward to more photos and stories of your trip. hugs, Linda

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  6. What a dreamt vacation you had! I visited the Almafi Coast and Pompeii many years ago and I've always wanted to go back. I'm sure seeing your grand girls was the highlight of your holidays. Welcome home and thank you for your kind notes of condolence.

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  7. What a wonderful vacation! I know it was special seeing your son. Cooking lessons?! I can't wait to hear more!

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  8. Wonderful vacation! Thanks for the tour! I'm one of your newest friends! Drop by for a visit sometime!

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  9. Italy is on my list of places to visit. What a gorgeous vacation you had!

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  10. Your photos are beautiful...

    and my Christmas decor got put up today and I wan't out of town!

    Have a wonderful week! Dixie

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  11. Welcome home. Looks like an awesome trip. Maybe one day I'll convince hubby for us to travel abroad...but we southern hillbillies would probably get lost and never be seen again:) I have been trying to access your blog for a few days but all I got was white space. Then I read on another blog that it would help if I changed to GOOGLE CHROME. I did and now I can get your blog! Only problem is my own blog doesn't look quite the same and everything seems smaller. Hmmm...need to go figure that out.

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  12. I tried commenting previously but it doesn't seem to have gone through. Hopefully you aren't getting this twice! I have been trying to access your blog for a few days but all I would get is white space. Then I read on another blog it would help if I changed to GOOGLE CHROME. I did and now I can get your blog! That's the good news. The bad news is that my own blog looks somewhat different to me and everything is smaller. Better try to check that out! Glad you had a lovely trip. I want hubby and I to travel abroad some day but haven't convinced him yet. We southern hillbillies would probably get lost though and never be seen again!

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  13. You go on the bets vacations ever.....your pictures are beautiful...I have been to Rome but never to the coast...would love to go one day to Positano and do exactly what you did....take cooking classes...Can't wait to hear about them...And next to Paris Germany is one of our favorite places to visit....the food is fabulous but I really love the shopping there...So, where is your next trip going to take you??

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  14. I really enjoyed your trip report. I have been to Italy several times but not to Positano - some of my friends in France went there every summer and told me how beautiful it is – your pictures show that too. This was a vacation to remember I am sure - family, fun, two countries and good food – lovely.

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  15. Great way to spend the holiday. Since you are the fortune teller please tell me a trip to Europe is in my near future:-) bet the girls had a wonderful time with you at their slumber party,
    Joyce

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