A Taste Of Europe

Brandon and I spent the end of June and beginning on July in Europe. We flew to Barcelona, Spain where we got on a Mediterranean cruise that sailed to Italy, Monaco, and back to Spain again. 

We'd been anticipating this trip for quite some time, and were thrilled when it finally arrived. Our first day we spent on a bus driving around Spain. Because we arrived in Barcelona at 1:30am our time, that day is a blur and we spent most of our energy trying to keep our eye lids open. However, what we did see was beautiful and so unique and different from the United States. 

Day two we spent in Monte Carlo, Monaco. This city must be one of the wealthiest we'd ever been in and is known for it's casino and outrageous cars. Everything shouted out, "money, money, money". I've never seen so many ferrari's, lamborghini's, etc... in my life.  

Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy was our next stop. This was my favorite day of our cruise. We rented a boat with some of our friends and sailed along the cost. We stopped to swim, visit small villages, and eat. 

 

One of the villages we stopped at long the cost was Portofino. This place was breathtaking. We felt like we were in a movie or painting, and couldn't get enough of the colors, flowers, boats, ally ways, and culture. 

After Portofino we sailed on to San Fruttuoso, a charming beach with a hotel and a few restaurants that can only be reached by boat or on foot making it a quiet and private destination. We ate lunch over the water and swam with Jesus. 

Some years ago a man named Guido Galletti created and placed a sculpture of Jesus near the spot where Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use SCUBA gear, died in 1947. It depicts Christ offering a blessing of peace, with his head and hands raised skyward.

We had the chance to swim atop of the water where we looked down and saw the statue of Jesus through the many small fish. 

Day three was spent on the beach at Alghero, Sardinia, Italy. This was the only picture I got that day as I wasn't feeling 100% and all we did was read on the beach. 

Palma de Mallorca, Spain was one of my other favorite stops. We rented a taxi with some of our friends, Mike and Amy, that took us straight into town to a pearl factory. Our husbands must have felt like pampering us and bought us each a pair of authentic pearls.  What a great way to start the day. :) 

After that we explored a bull rink, a glass factory, and then headed on to Valldemossa. 

Valldemossa, Spain was stunning. Everything was stone with green shutters. Pots of beautifully planted flowers hung throughout the village taking my breath away at every turn. I kept thinking how much I'd love to send or take my mom here as she adores flowers and would be oohing and awing over every one. 

Along our drive we stopped to take in the view. 

Similar to our first day, our last day was also kind of a blur. By day seven we were getting tired and our bodies and minds were beginning to feel exhausted. So, in Valencia, Spain we merely walked around visiting here and there and taking pictures of this and that. 

Thank you to my sweet husband for such a wonderful trip!! I couldn't have asked for a better vacation. Europe is all that I hoped it would be and more. I love you babe!