Dear Friends

Dear friends, family and family friends…

If you are reading this… we are most likely…in Paris. Ok you got me we are actually in Paris. We took an overnight train straight from Rome to Paris. Somehow the fifteen hour train ride turned into an eighteen hour train ride. Unlike flying where you are given all sorts of information as to why your plane is delayed, you are simply left there lying in a small mobile barracks with six other people. But now we are stories up in a studio apartment overlooking the city. No we do not have an Eiffel Tower view but it is pretty all the same. The place we are staying at is cheaper than most hostels and more comfortable then a hotel. The place we are staying at is really heaven sent. We are located one block away from Place d’Italie which is a major central hub for all of Paris. We have a full tiny kitchen, bed, bathroom, and…WASHING MACHINE! This is very exciting since we have not washed a single piece of laundry since we left. Oh did I mention the washing machine is free? Anyways that is a current status and tomorrow we begin our attack on Paris, one item for tomorrow is the Louvre. Well now let’s turn back a page and talk about Rome.

History tons and tons of history is strewn about the city streets as much as the dirt and garbage that clutter every corner. While there is plenty to see there is way too much to smell. To describe Rome I’ll steal a phrase from a woman we met in Venice. Rome is like Disney Land within a nightmare. She was referring to Venice but I think she was just having bad luck. Rome feels rundown, broken and dirty as a City. But take heart my friends there are still things to appreciate. The Colosseum by large (no pun intended) was very breathtaking. I kept catching my mind going back in time in attempt to the events that took place within the walls and to be honest there we moments I was chilled to the bone. Stuart and I had a good talk about all of the bloodshed, persecution, tears, and cheers that filled those walls. About how people were slaughtered for amusement or tortured for a laugh. Sorry, it really is an awe invoking place with its size and structure, but it just holds a lot of darkness within it. We ran around Rome catching what we could with our eyes and camera before we had to leave on our train. There are plenty of street venders that walk around looking to sell you scarves, razors, watches, bracelets and tickets, so if you want another experience haggling can be fun. Stuart has a cute little purse to show for it now. It is definitely a sight-seeing town with all of its beautiful architecture but I don’t think I would recommend it as a pure vacation spot unless you have the money to spend on high class hotels. Well we are off, thank you all once again for your prayers and thoughts. Oh, and a special shout out goes to my brother who recommended the Tide laundry travel packets. Those are awesome!

Peace and Goodwill

Vader & Yoda