Venezia (Venice)

We left Firenze (Florence) to go to Venezia (Venice). Florence had much more character than Rome, and Venice has much more than Florence!  But Venice doesn't have incredible statues and amazing museums all over the city, like Florence.

After a ferry ride on the 2 line - basically a ferry Metro system - we got off at Saint Mark's square. We walked into yet another huge and gorgeous cathedral! The whole ceiling was covered with small squares of gold mosaics, arranged to form biblical images. I can't even imagine how the artisans placed every one of those small pieces of gold! The whole place was full of iconography, crucifixes and candles.

Then we dashed over to get pizza, while passing hundreds of tourists and countless merchants trying to sell trinkets to tourists. The signature items on these stands are masquerade-style masks and jewelry made of Venetian glass. We also walked around the Fifth Avenue of Venice, where all the fancy store fronts displayed expensive jewelry and intricate glass statues and chandeliers.

After some window shopping, we wandered through many alleyways and crossed some bridges. All the decorative gondolas were clearly solely for tourists to snap photos and take rides. Every corner revealed yet another picturesque scene. What a gorgeous place to visit!

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much more as you see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10

Vatican and Rome

Buongiorno di Roma!

None of us speak any Italian, but it's been fine, since the Italians all speak with their hands :)  they even speak with their hands while they are on the phone. It's ridiculous!

We did a whirlwind tour, since Chad and Chet were here just last year. Basically the whole city is full of ruins.  Vast marble columns laying in random squares throughout the city.  It's crazy how much history lies here. We wonder whether the Romans appreciate it or are totally jaded.  If you grew up here, would you still be fascinated by the art and history?

Did you know that the Sistine Chapel was Michaelangelo's first painting? He is a sculptor by trade. He had unbelievable talent. What ever happened to the skill of marble carving?

I always forget how hot it gets! So we went to the supermarket and got ice cream. One euro per tub of yumminess is better than four euro for a small cone on the street.

Despite the extensive history and copious amount of art, marble, columns and statues, we weren't incredibly thrilled with Rome. Granted, we greatly appreciated it. But it was such a touristy city. Every monument was crowded with tourists. The streets were lined with hawkers trying to sell knock-off goods at ridiculous prices to gullible passersby.  Even in the squares, people would come over with a bouquet of roses and stick them into my hands. And then they ask for payment. They don't respect "no". Once I accidentally dropped three roses on the ground because he had stuck them in hand and let go of them before I could get away :-P

Even despite all the tourists, we still enjoyed incredible pizza, pasta and pesto, and gelati.
My favorite part was that we could cross the street whenever we wanted. Most crosswalks had no lights. Once we stepped in the crosswalk, the cars would just stop. It was slightly terrifying but also super fun. And we were completely awestruck by the Vatican Museum and all it's sculpture and frescos.

We're off to see the rest of Florence, then Padua, Venice and into Croatia :)

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37

Florence

Greetings from Florence!

What a stunning city. It's much smaller than Rome. Still crawling with tourists, but far less obnoxiously than Rome.  Everything is gorgeous - marble and statues and majestic cathedrals all over. The Duomo - the largest dome in the world - is also remarkable.

Michaelangelo's David is located here. How ironic that the little shepherd boy is so gigantic :-P

In the amazing Uffizi Museum, we saw Caravaggio, Donatelli and Berscolini.  Such talent!  The marble sculptures are a clear favorite.  They don't allow photos in most places, but you can still see a couple below.

Then we tried to find dinner and stumbled upon an artistan leather worker.  He makes fancy purses and murses.  We got some. Then he recommended a hole-in-a-wall pasta place, which was delightful. Then a quick stop for gelati before climbing to Michaelangelo's Piazza with a view of the city. We love Florence!

Ciao!

"The mountains melt like wax ay the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness and all the peoples see His glory." - Psalm 97

Barcelona

Buenos dias y bonjour :)

We're in the French Riviera, after two days in Barcelona, which is an incredible city. According to legend, Prince William the Harry slayed a dragon and  was given the city.  He is the father of Catalan, the region of Spain where Barcelona lies.  The Barcelonans are super passionate about being Catalan, speaking their own language, flying Catalan independence flags out of all their windows, and very proud of their culture.

Dragons are in many Catalan legends, including the one of Saint Geordi (George), who slayed a dragon in North Africa and was named the patron saint.  They memorialized him in a sculpture. This same legend exists in multiple European countries, including in most of the Baltic countries, which also memorialize him with legends and statue. So we're wondering why each country thinks the story is their own, and who started it. Did dragons really exist? 

Fun fact: the city also has a law against buying and selling marijuana, but not against growing it or smoking it.  So the seeds were sold on the street.

A favorite Barcelona place was La Sagrada Familia, the cathedral that Gaudi built.  It's absolutely unbelievable.  He is definitely my favorite architect of all time.  It's unbelievable to see his works all throughout the city, as common life for the Barcelona locals. Gaudi expresses unparalleled creativity in his works. Dr. Suess may have taken some ideas from him. Gaudi's works are sometimes so childlike; other times, incredibly majestic; and most times, unfathomably grand. Check out a few pictures. 

  

These other pictures are from all over the city.  Enjoy!

Verses of the day:

"You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty." - Psalm 18:27

"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." - Psalm 19:14 

The Great Europe Trip!

We just made it safely to Dublin, and we're ready for 13 countries in 34 days :)  Here is an itinerary of our major stops.  Stay tuned for lots of pictures!

• Dublin, Ireland
• Barcelona, Spain
• Nice, France
• Florence, Italy
• Rome, Itlay
• Plitvice National Lakes, Croatia
• Budapest, Hungary
• Vienna, Austria
• Bratislava, Slovakia
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Berlin, Germany
• Rothenburg, Germany
• Munich, Germany
• Cologne, Germany
• Black Forest, Germany
• Lucerne, Switzerland
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Brussells, Belgium
• Brugges, Belgium
• Paris, France

"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Philippians 1:27

Doy Gracias a Dios Por...

Hoy es el dia de gracias en los estados unidos. Todos los años, yo escribo una lista de todas las cosas y personas que Dios me ha dando. Siempre quiero dar gracias, pero muchas veces se me olvidó. Yo tengo mas bendiciones que puedo contar. Dios es muy bueno.  En verdad, no es que mi vida es perfecta o que no tengo problemas. Hay muchas cosas que quisiera cambiar en mi vida. Pero, no importa. Hoy, estoy dando gracias.

Primero, doy gracias por mi Salvador y Señor, Jesucristo; por salvación, la Biblia, las planes de Dios por mi vida, Su fidelidad, Su bondad, Sus mandamientos, la reina de Dios, el juicio, los cielos, mi esperanza de gloria futura, la verdad, sabiduría de Dios, mi iglesia - Big Apple Chapel, la Iglesia Biblia Bautista de David. Yo vivo llena de gozo, amor, gracias, integridad, misericordias, paciencia, dominio propio, paz, bondad y humildad, porque Dios me ha dando esos, cuando estoy siguiendo a El. 

También, doy gracias por mi familia - mis hermanos, mis padres, mi abuela. Yo no había sido yo sin ellos. No puedo imaginar la vida sin ellos. Doy gracias por todos mis amigos. Todos mis amigos me han cambiando un poquito. Yo podria escribir bastante nombres de amigos aqui.  Algunos son ejemplos de Cristo y sus vidas. Otros buscan sus propios ambiciones. Otros sirven a otros en compasión y amor. Yo doy gracias por todos ellos. He recibido muchísimo de mis amigos - edificación, regalos, amistad, oportunidades hablar y debatir de todas las enigmas del mundo.

Dios me dio la gracia para graduar de Grove City College y para entrar en Universidad Fordham, gratis. Dios me dio un trabajo que me encanta, y compañeros de trabajo muy divertido. Doy gracias por la economía, las políticas, la filosofía, el lógico, el desarrollo, los libros, los autores brillantes cuyos han pensando de esas problemas y han escribiendo libros que puedo leer y entender. Por capitalismo y libertad. Por los institutos y fundaciones cuyos promuevan libertad. Por los estados unidos, aun que tienen sus problemas. Doy gracias por mi mente y la nivel de inteligencia que Dios me dio.

No podría olvidar mi gratitudes por el internet, ésta sigla, computadoras, celulares, música, películas, Broadway, ciudades grandes, oportunidades para viajar a muchas países, la idioma español, toda la belleza en el mundo, el arte, la creatividad, comidas muy sabrosas, flores, y todos los gozos del mundo. Yo puedo escribir por toda la noche contando mas bendiciones. Es la verdad que tengo mas que merezco. Claro, no merezco nada. Siempre doy gracias a mi Dios y a personas por su ayuda y su consejo. La vida buena y la vida mala es un grande parte una diferencia de perspectiva. Los personas sin gratitud, enojado con Dios, faltan gozo y amor. Nosotros - con gratitud y obediencia a Dios - tenemos la mejor vida posible.

"¡Gracias a Dios por su don inefable!" 2 Corintios 9:15