Home Stretch

Hello everybody...

We are almost done with our tour... it is a bittersweet feeling. I can´t wait to see everyone and yet I am sad to leave Europe. It has been an amazing experience. I feel like I have grown up a lot. Could it be that I am ready to become an adult? Who knows... haha!

We leave Germany tomorrow... I love this country... it is by far my favorite (are you shocked?). I am so sad to be going home. The Wellendorf family has been so kind to us. They have a special place in my heart. I was really sad to say goodbye to them. I will tell you all more stories of their generosity when I get home.

Germany is the most beautiful country. We went to Baden-Baden today and I felt like I had gone back in time. All the buildings look like they came from the Pride & Prejudice times... plus the fact that we were in a horse carriage helped with that effect. I have amazing pictures. Unfortunately I am not in many.. I had awful allergies today. I also got to participate in a "fun" run... I about died. (Remember Sean A´lee when you tried to get me to start running... I wish I had) I toughed it out and make it through the 4km run. Yes... my legs are already sore.

I will leave you all with that small story... we have to go pack and move on to our final stop. Antwerp, Belgium. OOOOOO WAIT!!!! Tell Izaak that Germany (Colonel Klink country) has made it to the European Cup... He might think it´s cool because he plays soccer and all... P.s. tell him they call it football over here. It´s kind of funny (but let´s be honest... the name makes much more sense here than what we call football in the great USA!... hehe)

I love you all and can´t wait to see your beautiful faces! xoxox!!! See you soon...

Danielle... signing out!

Very cool... but very short!

So Talia and I went to church today... in Vicenza Italy. We were sitting there quietly when I noticed a little boy running around with a familiar book in his hands. It was Dave Bowman's book... Who's Your Hero?

How cool is that? It's international!!!! Maybe you already knew that but I was blown away. So if someone could pass that along to him... it might make his day. It sure made ours. Anywho... I don't have time to type out a huge blog. Probably won't be able to until later today... if not then... maybe tomorrow. Who knows?

Love you all!! More comments please!!! xoxo

Dani

Northern Italy... so much better than Southern Italy. Who knew?

So can I just say that I love Vicenza!!! It is absolutely gorgeous and green!!! No wonder Talia spent 3 months here. Plus, the house that we are staying at... is huge. We are staying with the Coin Family. They are the nicest people, I am really enjoying getting to know them. I took plenty of photos of the giant house for all of you. So yay!!

Yesterday we spent the day around Vicenza. We walked through a couple of vineyards.... I was really excited, they were beautiful... Talia took me to the secret place she found last time. (Lost of pictures of that too) It's nice having her around... she has been a very helpful tour guide. hehe.

Today we travelled to Verona (sound familiar?) It's where Romeo and Juilet are from. P.s. Did you know they were real people? I had no idea. Verona is such a pleasant little town. It has the 3rd largest Colloseum and they still use it for shows like Aida, and Rigoletto. How cool? Talia and I got seperated for the 1st time on our trip... for like 2 hours we couldn't find one another. We ended up meeting back at the train station. You know for a 6 week tripo only getting lost once isn't too bad.

I know that dad told me to take pictures with people in them (like Talia and I) and I have but you have no idea how picturesque things are in Europe... so hopefully I have a good balance of both people and landscapes. Hopefully no one will be too bored. hehe!

Tomorrow we head to Venice (I'm sure that you are jealous Sean A'lee... I don't mean to rub it in, k maybe just a little... you know I love you). That should be an experience. I can't wait... so look for another post in a couple days about that trip.

Tonight for dinner I had an Italian pizza with french fries on it. I know it doesn't sound that appetizing but believe me it was delicious.

Only 12 days until I come home... no matter what that countdown says... I come home on July 2nd (that is if the planes aren't full... prayers please). I love you all very much. Miss you and can't wait to see you... or for those of you who LOVE LIVING in WA (Erika... haha) who I can't see, I can't wait to set something up so that you and I can be on the phone and chatting about all of the pictures I've taken. Love you very much.

Talk to you all soon!

Dani

Athens

So we finally arrived in Greece. Only a day late because apparently the Pope couldnt get enough of Talia and I. He followed us to Brindisi and therefore our ferry was cancelled; there was nothing coming into or going out of the port that day. So we had to go to Bari and then take a 16 hour ferry ride to Patras Greece, then a 4 hour train ride to Athens! YAY!!!

Oh P.s. Natalia and I almost got robbed (by "Natalia and I" I mean me). Scariest thing ever... I am pretty sure I could be happy never EVER going to Southern Italy again. I will save that story for when I get home. It isnt fun to think about. Its all good now though so no worries! We are truly be protected and continuously put in the paths of people who are kind and help us stay safe.

So onto Athens...

It is seriously the coolest place we've been... The only bad thing is that there is no way to see it all in 3 days... you know what that means? I HAVE to come back! Awful huh? haha! Today we went on a $5 tour around town with our KU friends (thats for you Casey) it is so neat seeing all of these old ruins. These guys that we met... Brodie & Brad are very good at being our protectors. We feel much safer especially since our encounter with the scary thief. They left today though to head to the island of Eos. So it looks like we are on our own again. Another bummer... we can't go to Sparta. I feel awful but its 153 miles away from Athens and we just don't have the time. I still found Casey something cool for his birthday though... can't wait to go buy it and bring it home, He'll love it!

P.s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASEY!!! I love you very much and miss you like crazy! xoxo!!!

Anywho... we haven't gone to the Acroplys yet but we WILL be doing that. I apologize this post is so vague but what fun is it to tell you guys everything and then have nothing to talk about in 2.5 weeks?

Well I love you all... thanks for the comments and thanks for taking the time to read this boring entry! Talk to you again soon!

Dani

Rain Rain Stay Away!!

So it has rained every day since we left London except the past 2 days while in Roma!!! I hope the sunny streak continues!

I was able to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa yesterday!!! It is leaning quite a bit I'll have u know! We got to Roma late last night and today we went to see The Vatican (some people didnt know what the Vatican was... Casey... so for everyone else The Pope lives there... and it is its own country too!) Anyway, the place is huge!!!!! And the the Basilica took my breath away! It is the biggest Catherdral in Italy... amazing! We are going back tomorrow because the Pope is giving a public address at 10am... how cool! I get to see the Pope... I'm not even Catholic and I'm excited! Well i promise next time I will have more details but I wanted to give ya the latest!

I didn't have a lot of time to write but I do appreciate everyones comments they make me smile! Dad's made me cry... I am such a baby! haha! I love you all... can't wait to see u! I know my countdown says something different but I come home in approx 21 days. I really do miss home... but I'm glad to have all these new experiences and new friends... Talk to u again soon!

Just sitting in Nice (its pronounced Niece) hehe!!!

So we made it to our hostel and can I tell u I hate the rain!!!! It seems to be following us everywhere we go... there is no escaping it. But before we got to Nice we took this incredible train ride... one of many I guess but this one was my favorite. I wrote it out perfectly in my NEW journal (because yes my very nice Italian made journal is floating around France... maybe the hand full of entries will get published and I'll become famous without even trying. Thats the one good thing that could come from a lost journal.) Anyway, back on topic... the train ride was right along the Mediterranean Sea for the most part. Try and imagine the darkest green you can. Thats the color of the trees spread all along the mountains and every so often there are these villas with pail white walls and salmon colored roofs. With beautiful flowers outside every window ledge (that was for u Brecky... you'd absolutely die!!!). Top all that off with a stunning view of the sea... no ordinary sea... a teal blue color that fades in and out of a deep royal blue. I hope these words are descriptive enough because it's practically indescribable. Could you imagine waking up to that view every morning? Some people have all the luck huh?

I am hoping tonight that I can get back on the internet and upload some pictures.. but it once again depends on time. I love you all very much. Miss u! Keep me posted on your lives too! xoxo

P.s. Spain was incredibly fun but short... Barcelona... (or Barthelona if you speak Spanish Spanish) was neat but that is a story that must be saved for when I get back home. You will understand why when you hear it.

Love you!!!
Danielle Rose

NO TIME...

sorry i have no time to update i am at this really expensive internet cafe in balaruc france.... we head to nice france tomorrow and then into italy. yay!!! i lost my journal so hopefully i can find a new one.. then really keep u all informed. i love you all and i am safe. talk more later. xoxoxo

Brant i miss u like crazy and love u.... how is summer?

Breck i miss u like crazy and love u.... how is summer?

Izaak i miss u like crazy and love u.... how is summer?

haha... gotta go... bye bye!!!