Finally...I was blog blocked!!

For some reason I wasn't allowed to login to the Round Robin blog and had to get a new invitation from Billie. Weird.

Anyway, I hope all of you received my separate email with the link to all my pictures from the cruise around Italy. It was the trip of a lifetime and I hope you kids don't have to wait until you're 56 to take a trip like it. If you didn't get the link and haven't seen the pictures please email me at randi.davis@verizon.net and I'll send it to you. I took over 300 and narrowed it down to 230 to post on KodakShare. I set up a slide show in the order I took the photos and most have a caption so you can read where we were that day. We left on June 24th and flew to Rome on a charter flight with all State Farm agents and their families. A bus took us from the Rome airport to Civittavechia, the port where the boat was docked. We sailed that evening and when we woke up in the morning we were at a port in Sicily. John and I spent the day in Taormina exploring and shopping and eating gelato - yum! It was so hot and we had packed our swimsuits in a backpack so we stopped at a local beach for a nice swim before we went back to the ship around 4pm to get ready for dinner. Every night was at least a four course meal, delicious! We sailed again while at the dinner table. We looked up to discover we were moving. The ship was so huge we could hardly tell. The next morning we woke up in Malta. The most unbelievable place I've ever seen. We spent the day in Valletta. John and took an excursion called "The Knights of Malta". We learned about the knights who conquered Malta in the 1200's and toured the Inquisitor's Palace and the prison where they kept prisoners waiting for trial. Very interesting. Again we went back to the ship around 4pm to dress for dinner. The next morning we woke up in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Who would have ever thought Croatia was so beautiful. Not me?! We took an excursion into the countryside where we visited a flour mill and enjoyed snacks of dates, figs, procuitto, cheese and bread, wine and local liquers. Then we had time to explore Old Town Dubrovnik which was enclosed with the 80 foot wall. Over 2,000 people inhabit Old Town today. We walked the wall which was 6,300+ feet around the city. It was hot, hot!! We had dinner at a sidewalk cafe and didn't have to return to the ship until 10pm. Lots of fun!

The next day was a "day at sea" while we sailed all the way around the boot of Italy back to Naples. From Naples, John and I took a jetfoil to the Isle of Capri, about a 45 minute boat ride. Then we took the Funiculare up to the heart of the city. We took a bus to Ana Capri and a single chair lift to the very top of the island. It was absolutely beautiful. We had lunch, explored and then went back to the ship. The next day we woke up at the port of Livorno, Italy. John and I took an excursion deep into Tuscany. Our two stops were Siena and San Gimignano. Both were everything I expected to see in Tuscany but more beautiful.

The last day was supposed to be July 2nd leaving again from Civittavechia. As we ate our breakfast and waited for our group to be called to go to the airport, the Captain came on the loud speaker to tell us that our charter plane was grounded in Atlanta with an inoperable radio. So we would have to stay on the boat and the boat would have to keep to their schedule and sail away! Oh darn! The plane was able to catch up to us 2 days later in Malta. I never thought I would see Malta once, but twice in one week?? So cool. Please enjoy my pictures!

I went to see Lollie this last weekend. I took Caleb and Griffen so they could play with Israel. It was blazing hot but between Chuck E. Cheese, video games and the park in the evening we were able to keep them entertained. Perris sang for us and played the piano. That girl has Memaw's musical talent, that's for sure.

So that's my summer so far. I am desperately seeking a full-time job and would appreciate your prayers. It's been very frustrating and discouraging so far.

Love to you all!!
Randi