Finding Balance at the Online Tables: A Friendly Guide for Vegastars Players

Finding Balance at the Online Tables: A Friendly Guide for Vegastars Players

Hey there — if you’re reading this on Vegastars or found your way here because online casinos in New Zealand are your jam, welcome. I wanted to write something that actually helps: the kind of piece you can bookmark, skim when you need quick tips, but also dive into when you want a fuller roadmap for safer, more enjoyable play. This is that piece. It’s written in plain language, with real steps you can take today, and honest talk about the tricky parts so you know what to watch for.

Before we dive deeper, a quick shout-out to where you’re probably headed: vega star casino. I’ll keep this practical rather than promotional. Think of this as a friendly guide to problems players face and sensible fixes — whether you’re totally new or a seasoned slot-sprinter trying to get smarter about your play.

Why a guide like this matters

Online casinos are fun, fast, and full of variety. But that speed and variety can also cause headaches: confusing bonus terms, too-easy spending, laggy support, or just plain burnout. The goal here is to map out those common pain points and give you real, usable solutions so the experience stays fun and never turns into a problem.

Common problems players face (and why they happen)

Let’s start by laying out the typical issues. Knowing the problems makes the solutions clearer.

1. Getting lost in bonus fine print

Bonuses look great at first glance — free spins, deposit match, cashback. But most players don’t read the T&Cs carefully. That can lead to unexpected wagering requirements, game restrictions, or bet-size limits that keep you from claiming winnings.

2. Riding highs and crashing bankrolls

It’s easy to get carried away when you’re winning, and it’s tempting to chase losses when you’re not. Without a plan, small wagers and fun sessions can turn into risky behavior and major spend.

3. Lack of local support or payment friction

Even in markets like New Zealand, not every site is set up with local methods, quick withdrawals, or helpful customer service hours. This can be frustrating and make otherwise simple tasks feel like a chore.

4. Confusing game choice and RTP misunderstandings

Return-to-player (RTP) numbers, volatility, and game mechanics can be confusing. That confusion can lead to playing games that don’t match your style — for example, choosing high-variance slots when you want steady, small wins.

5. Responsible play and mental load

Gambling is designed to be engaging. That’s great in moderation, troubling in excess. Not everyone is prepared with tools or strategies to avoid harm, and that’s a real concern.

6. Device and connection issues

Slow load times, crashes, or poor mobile optimization can disrupt sessions and make the experience more frustrating than fun.

7. Trust and transparency worries

Players want to know that games are fair, licenses are valid, and personal funds are safe. When information is hard to find, trust takes a hit.

Big-picture solution: a framework to stay in control

There’s no single magic fix. But if you apply a simple framework to how you approach online play, most issues become manageable. Think of it as a checklist you can use every session.

  1. Set clear money and time limits before you start.
  2. Choose games and bet sizes that match your goals (entertainment vs. trying to win).
  3. Understand any bonus rules before you accept them.
  4. Use responsible-play tools and take breaks when your mood changes.
  5. Prioritize platforms with transparent licensing, local payment options, and fast support.

Practical steps — the problem solved one-by-one

Okay — now for the hands-on stuff. Below are specific problems followed by straightforward solutions you can implement immediately.

1. Problem: Misleading or confusing bonuses

Solution: Make the bonus work for you by decoding the key points.

  • Check wagering requirements. If a 30x wagering requirement applies to a bonus amount of $100, you need to wager $3,000 before cashing out. Do the math first.
  • Watch for game contribution rules. Not all games contribute equally toward clearing the bonus. Slots might give 100% while table games give less or even 0%.
  • Check bet limits and max cashout caps. Some bonuses limit how much you can win from bonus spins.
  • Prefer smaller, simple bonuses. A modest no-deposit spin pack or a small match bonus with low wagering is often better than a massive promotional offer with heavy strings attached.
  • Keep receipts: screenshot T&Cs or keep a note. If anything goes sideways, you’ll want a record when talking to support.

2. Problem: Bankroll mismanagement and chasing losses

Solution: Treat gambling like a budget category and use behavioral nudges.

  • Set a weekly or monthly entertainment budget. This isn’t the money you “try to grow”; it’s the money you’re willing to spend for a good time.
  • Use session limits. Decide before you start how long you’ll play, and stick to it.
  • Set loss limits. If you lose X amount for the session, walk away. Make X a number that won’t ruin your week if you lose it.
  • Use the “cool-off” technique: if you’ve had a run of bad luck, force at least 24–48 hours before returning. That pause helps reset emotions and reduces impulse chasing.
  • Don’t top up on credit. Treat deposits the same as cash — once it’s gone, it’s gone.

3. Problem: Payment and withdrawal headaches

Solution: Choose and set up payment options before you play.

  • Pick an operator that supports local banking options in New Zealand. Faster, cheaper withdrawals reduce friction.
  • Verify your account early. If you wait until you want to withdraw, the identity and docs process can delay payouts.
  • Know withdrawal limits and processing times. Some methods are instant; others take days. Plan around your schedule.
  • Watch for fees. Compare methods to avoid unnecessary charges on deposits or withdrawals.
  • Keep documentation organized: copies of ID, proof of address, and bank details help things move quickly.

4. Problem: Choosing the wrong games for your style

Solution: Match game type to goals and bankroll.

  • If you want steady small wins, look for low-to-medium volatility slots or table games with a lower house edge.
  • If you chase big jackpots occasionally, allocate a small portion of your bankroll to high-variance slots and accept that long dry spells are part of the deal.
  • Try demo modes first. Free play helps you learn a game’s rhythm and features without financial risk.
  • Use RTP as a guide, not a promise. RTP is a long-run average — it doesn’t guarantee short-term results.

5. Problem: Feeling out of control or noticing unhealthy habits

Solution: Use responsible-play tools and external help when needed.

  • Take advantage of deposit limits, loss limits, and session timers provided by the casino.
  • Use self-exclusion if you need a longer break. It’s a strong tool and meant to be used without shame.
  • Look for reality checks and activity summaries. Many platforms send play-history breakdowns — use them to learn patterns.
  • Reach out for support if gambling is affecting your life. Talk to friends, family, or professionals. In New Zealand, there are local support lines and services that can help — don’t hesitate to contact them if things are getting heavy.

How to vet a casino: quick checklist

Before you sign up or deposit, run through this list. It takes a few minutes and can save you headaches later.

  • Is the site licensed and regulated in a recognized jurisdiction?
  • Is there clear, easy-to-find contact information and support hours?
  • Are payment methods and withdrawal timelines transparent?
  • Are game providers reputable and well-known?
  • Are the bonus terms clearly posted and easy to understand?
  • Does the casino promote responsible gambling and provide tools for limits and self-exclusion?

Checklist in action — how I personally test a site

When I check a new casino, I do these steps in order:

  1. Scan the footer for licensing information and the license number.
  2. Check the Help/FAQ section for KYC and withdrawal policies.
  3. Look at game providers — NetEnt, Microgaming, Evolution, etc., are usually a good sign.
  4. Read a randomly selected bonus T&C and do the math on wagering requirements.
  5. Deposit a small amount with a local method and test a tiny withdrawal to see the process and time it takes.

Practical tips for long-term, sustainable play

Longevity beats short-lived thrills. Here are habits that keep play fun across months and years.

Budget and treat it like entertainment

Label your casino money as “entertainment” in your budget. That mentally separates it from bills, savings, and priorities.

Keep records

Track wins, losses, time spent, and feelings. A quick daily note does wonders. Over time you’ll see patterns and can adjust.

Mix game styles

Alternate between social table games, low-variance slots, and casual scratch cards. Variety keeps the experience fresh without increasing risk.

Use loyalty rewards strategically

Don’t chase VIP status blindly. Evaluate whether the rewards (cashback, free spins, better withdrawal policies) actually benefit you.

Stay tech-savvy

Keep devices updated, use strong passwords, and consider two-factor authentication if available. Also, use the casino’s mobile site or app only if it’s from official sources.

Designing your personal play plan (a template you can copy)

Here’s a simple play plan you can adapt. It’s short, structured, and helps curb impulse choices.

  1. Session length: 60 minutes maximum.
  2. Deposit cap: NZ$50 per session.
  3. Loss limit: stop for the day if you lose NZ$30.
  4. Win rule: bank 50% of any session profit immediately to your account.
  5. Game mix: 60% low/medium variance slots, 25% tables in demo mode, 15% high-variance jackpot play.
  6. Weekly review: 10 minutes on Sunday to check totals and feelings about play.

What to do if things get uncomfortable

If you notice changes in mood, sleep, or finances because of gambling, take immediate steps.

  • Pause play for 7–30 days. Use the site’s self-exclusion or limit features.
  • Talk to someone you trust. Isolation makes things worse.
  • Seek professional help if needed — counsellors or helplines can provide tools and strategies to regain control.
  • Cut payment links temporarily — remove saved cards or block transactions if you need time to cool off.

Remember: recognizing a problem is a strength, not a weakness. The earlier you act, the easier it is to fix things.

Optimizing your play experience — small fixes that make a big difference

Beyond the big-picture stuff, these smaller optimizations can significantly improve how you experience online casinos.

Keep your account clean

Use a dedicated email for gambling accounts. That simplifies tracking, keeps offers organized, and reduces the clutter in your personal inbox.

Automate savings from wins

If you’ve had a winning session, move a portion of winnings to a separate savings account right away. It’s an easy way to preserve gains and reduces the temptation to bet them back.

Use play mode or demo to test strategies

Want to experiment with bet sizing or a new slot mechanic? Try demo mode first. It’s the lowest-cost way to learn things that save money later.

Leverage notifications wisely

Turn off aggressive promotional push notifications if they trigger impulsive deposits. Keep notifications for important stuff like payouts and account alerts only.

Understanding fairness and RNG — the basics without the jargon

Fairness is a huge topic, but you don’t need a degree in statistics to understand the essentials.

  • RNG stands for Random Number Generator. It’s what makes spins and deals unpredictable.
  • Independent audits from third parties (e.g., eCOGRA, iTech Labs) are a good sign a site’s games are tested for fairness.
  • RTP is a long-term average. Short-term swings are normal; RTP doesn’t predict what you’ll get in one session.

Customer support: how to get help fast

Good support saves time and stress. Here’s how to make your support interactions effective:

  1. Prepare screenshots and reference numbers before you contact support.
  2. Use live chat for fast issues; email may be better for complex disputes.
  3. Keep conversations polite and concise — agents often resolve issues faster when the tone is cooperative.
  4. Escalate only if you genuinely can’t resolve the issue; ask for a supervisor or a ticket number to track progress.

Content creators and community — the double-edged sword

Community guides, streamers, and tip-sheets are fun and informative, but approach them with a critical eye.

  • Streamers often play for entertainment and may show big wins but not losses. Don’t treat that as a realistic expectation.
  • Strategy guides can help with mechanics, but there’s no guaranteed way to “beat” the house.
  • Use community insights as inspiration, not a blueprint for bankroll management.

Case study: a day-in-the-life of a smart player

Here’s a short narrative showing how a thoughtful approach looks in practice.

  1. Morning: check the weekly budget and set a session cap. Decide on NZ$40 for an evening session later.
  2. Afternoon: browse the site for new games in demo mode. Pick a slot and try a few spins for fun.
  3. Evening: deposit NZ$40, set a one-hour session timer, and mix gameplay as planned: low-variance slot first, then table games for variety.
  4. Win! Bank 50% of profit immediately. Continue play but reduce bet size to protect the remainder.
  5. Session end: review results and feelings, note any urges to chase losses, and close the session—happy with the entertainment value spent.

FAQ — quick answers to common questions

Q: How much should I deposit my first time?

A: Start small — an amount you’re comfortable losing. Think of it like a movie ticket: the value is the entertainment you had, not the money returned.

Q: Are loyalty programs worth it?

A: Sometimes. If the program gives real benefits (cashback, faster withdrawals, meaningful comps) and you were already going to play at that level, yes. Don’t play more just to chase status.

Q: Can I trust RTP numbers the site shows?

A: RTPs are usually accurate, but they’re long-term averages. They don’t guarantee short-term outcomes. Check for independent audits if fairness is a concern.

Q: What’s the best way to self-exclude if I need to?

A: Use the site’s self-exclusion tool or contact support and ask for account suspension. If you need extra help, combine this with financial controls (remove cards, block sites) and talk to local support services.

Resources and where to get more help

I’d normally include links here, but this post intentionally keeps external referral to a minimum. If you need more help beyond the tools the casino offers, look for local New Zealand support organizations and gambling helplines — they can provide immediate advice and confidential support.

Final thoughts — keep it fun and keep control

At their best, online casinos are an easy and entertaining way to spend a bit of free time. At their worst, they can be a source of stress. Your aim should be simple: maximize the fun, minimize the harm. Use the tips above to build a play routine that fits your life, budget, and goals. If you do that, every session is more likely to be an enjoyable one — whether you win, lose, or walk away at break-even with a story to tell.

Thanks for reading. If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: plan your session, set your limits, and don’t be afraid to use the tools available to you. The games will be there tomorrow, and a little patience makes them a lot more enjoyable in the long run.

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Chiang Mai

During our time in Thailand we are getting to see a wide variety of the country. Phuket was all island and turquoise waters, Bangkok will be a big city, and Chiang Mai is lots of green countryside and mountains. We completely dove in our first night in Chiang Mai.

I had found a “treehouse resort” about an hour and a half outside of the city. So Ryan and I decided to stay in a legit treehouse. And before you ask, yes there were bugs in our bed and yes, it was stupid hot/humid. But it was a crazy cool experience and I’m so glad we did it. The adventurous 11 year old Victoria had to keep reminding the slightly anxious 25 year old Victoria to chill out about the bugs and embrace how incredibly awesome it was to be living in a treehouse for a night. The Treehouse resort is a family owned business, and the grandfather was a former engineer/architect that first built the treehouses for his kids and grandkids. We had genuinely amazing home-cooked meals, and they even washed our clothes for us for a small fee.

On our way back to the city center – we stopped off at what was described to us only as a waterfall. But it was less of a waterfall and more of a local “water park” attraction. Our driver said that we could get out and walk around for an hour and half and he’d be waiting for us afterwards. We had no idea why he would expect us to stay more than a 20 minutes or so this waterfall; even if it was fairly impressive. Both of us contradicted him saying, “oh I don’t think this will take that long”. But as we walked towards the sounds of laughter and kids running, Ryan and I saw why an hour and a half was allotted to this. There were 3 levels of huge rocks creating a natural, yet mild waterfall. There were ropes all along the rocks and kids of all ages going up and down the rocks, playing in the water, and using the ropes to help themselves climb. Ryan was the first to get the itch to jump in. I was thinking a bit more practically, as is my MO, and my thoughts were along the lines of “but we don’t have a towel”. However, even I couldn’t stand sitting by and watching all the fun. We got completely soaked as we climbed from the very bottom up to the top of the waterfall. But as Ryan and I got back into the car (an hour and fifteen minutes later), we both agreed that that was one of our favorite things we had done so far on our whole trip.

In Chiang Mai we stayed at an airbnb in a prime location inside the “old town”, and were within walking distance of a lot of the main sights to see. The old town of Chiang Mai is actually pretty small, and I thoroughly enjoyed just walking around and exploring the city. We went into cafes and bookstores, wats and temples, and got a little lost trying to get out of a market we were sucked into.

Another one of our favorite days in Chiang Mai was spent at an Elephant Sanctuary. Our amazing airbnb host hooked us up with a good deal and we spent a half day at Ran Tong Elephant Sanctuary feeding the elephants sugar cane, cooling them off with a mud bath, and rinsing the mud off in the river. I had never interacted with elephants close up like that before. They are such powerful creatures, but they were so sweet too. They played with us spraying water at us and trying to steal the whole basket full of sugar cane. We really enjoyed spending the day out there.

That same evening we booked a Thai cooking class with Asia Scenic. Our instructor, “A”, was hilarious and made our time cooking very enjoyable. He taught us about the ingredients we would be using, and walked us to the market to buy the ingredients themselves. The cooking class was a small group of 8, and we cooked 5 dishes. A fried spring roll, and noodle dish, soup, curry paste, and a curry dish. From those we all got to choose what exactly we cooked. For example, Ryan cooked Pad Thai for his noodle dish and I cooked Pad See Uw. Everything was a flurry in the kitchen, and I’ll admit to getting overwhelmed once or twice by A’s instructions. But A most importantly said over and over – “cook with emotion”; and following up with “how does your emotion taste”? We never used any sort of measuring cups. We guessed about how much a TBSP/tsp would be of something, and adjusted after the fact for if we wanted it more sweet, spicy, salty, etc. I have to admit – some of the best food we’ve had so far has been from that cooking class. At the end of 4 hours, exhausted from cooking and fully satisfied from all the delicious food, Ryan and I got a cookbook with all the recipes we cooked that evening. It will be hard trying to find all the ingredients we used. But we will most assuredly be testing our skills again in the kitchen when we get back home.

We ended our time in Chiang Mai by taking a drive up the mountain toWat Doi Suthep, overlooking the town below. Ryan and I really enjoyed Chiang Mai and the little surprise adventures it held for us.

Phuket

Our time in Phuket was much too short. But we jam packed as much as we could into the few days that we were there. Ryan and I stayed on the southernmost point of Phuket, at a boutique hotel called The Nai Harn. The hotel was located right on the beach with beautiful views of the Andaman Sea and Nai Harn’s own beach. Nai Harn is slightly less crowded being so far away from the center part of the island – but it’s considered to be one of the best beaches Phuket has to offer; and I wouldn’t be able to disagree even if I wanted to.



We knew in advance that our time was going to be limited on the island – so we booked island tours ahead of time through Vitamin Sea Tours. Ryan and I decided to do both their full day tour of Phi Phi Islands and the full day James Bond tour – which is to Phang Nga Bay (where the 1974 James Bond film – “Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed).

The Phi Phi Island tour was full of sunshine and sunburns. (And yes, we put on loads of sunscreen, mom). We snorkeled, swam, saw wild monkeys, visited Maya Bay (featured in Leo’s movie “The Beach”), and just pinched ourselves all day when looking out at the blue/green water. The Phi Phi tour was definitely a big tourist attraction, and there were many crowds. But our guides did such a wonderful job bringing us to parts of the water where it was more open and free. A highlight was the snorkeling. There were so many colorful fish and coral – and with the water so clear it was extremely easy to see everything.





As I mentioned above, we definitely weren’t as prepared as we should have been for the intense sun. Ryan and I both were pretty significantly sunburned after our first day and toyed with the idea of canceling our James Bond tour. I’m so very glad we didn’t. It was a completely different experience from Phi Phi Islands. The James Bond tour was slower paced, more relaxed, and we didn’t spend as much time in the water/direct sun. Our tour guides took us to a handful of small islands leading to the big attraction – Khao Phing Kan island (better known and now called even by locals James Bond Island). Our guide, Milan, told us that before 1974, this island was a rarely visited, indigenous area. Which is crazy considering that nowadays an estimated 2,000 tourists visit the island every single day.



After visiting Panak Island and having lunch at the floating villages on Panyee Island, we went to explore some caves by canoe at Hong Island. I think that this was Ryan and I’s favorite part of our whole Phuket experience. At Hong Island there are some caves that open up into little lagoons. We were put into an inflatable canoe, and a local paddled us around through the caves. We felt like little kids oohing and aahing at every turn.





Phuket is one of those dream destinations and I feel so blessed to have been able to have seen another part of the world with that much natural beauty. For the first hour or so, I was continually surprised and enchanted by the varying colors of the water. I’d hear myself gasp and try to quickly open up my phone’s camera to be able to take some of the beauty home with me. It never works, and you can never fully capture it. After awhile, I put away my phone and camera and just experienced it all.

Siem Reap

Siem Reap is a small town inside of Cambodia. While there we traveled by tuk-tuk, stayed at an awesome hotel, went to the cirucs, and explored the temples known as Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a series of Hindu/Buddhist temples; the main one was built in the 12th century. Each temple had its own unique personality and we were consistently astonished walking through the ruins of these ancient structures. It is better to just show you, than to keep talking about them.

The number 1 way to get around is via Tuk-Tuk. You can see our Tuk-Tuk driver and tour guide Vone below. Tuk-Tuks are small carriages hitched to the back of a motorbike. Most rides cost around $2-3. It was a great way to get around and see what life was like in Siem Reap, and get a nice breeze while doing so.

Shortly before our trip my mom had sent us a list naming a Viroth’s Hotel in Siem Reap voted the #1 in the world by TripAdviser. Given the low cost of everything in Cambodia we had to give it a try. The design was incredible, it looked like some place straight out of a 1960s Bond Film. And the staff was next level. Every night when you approached the door you were handed a cold towel by the bellman. Little touches like this made our experience wonderful.

We spent our final night at Phare, a Cambodian Circus. The circus was started by a local Art University that takes kids in from off of the street and teaches them skills like ceramics, painting, acrobatics, and design. The show was in a small tent that sat about 150 people. The acrobats were all students at the university, and did everything from fire throwing, to flips, to engaging story telling. As with everything, the pictures just don’t do it justice.

Saigon

24+ hours of straight travel is no joke. To get to Vietnam, we flew from Houston to Tokyo, and then from Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon). There is a 12 hour time difference between SE Asia and Texas. So Ryan and I were definitely feeling the effects of jet lag. We had awesome accommodations at the Alcove Library Hotel, a boutique hotel slightly outside the heart of the city with a rooftop terrace and restaurant, and book themed decor. A hotel after my own heart. They picked us up from the airport at 9:30 pm, making our tired entrance into the country extremely easy. After getting to the hotel, Ryan and I completely crashed and woke up ready to explore the new city.

Our first full day in HCMC, Ryan and I took a taxi downtown (costing all of $2). We decided to hit the main tourist sights and saw the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, and walked through the Ben Thanh Market. Trying to cross the streets in Vietnam is an art form. There are motorbikes or “hondas” everywhere! And don’t think that the sidewalks are just for pedestrians – some drivers use those as well. We learned very quickly to have our wits about us while walking the streets.

The next full day we booked a half day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels. We got to drive about 2 hours outside the city to the outskirts of the countryside. Our guide – Denny – was absolutely incredible. He answered so many questions about the history of the city and the Vietnam War. It was extremely interesting hearing about the effects of the war in modern Vietnam. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an elaborate underground community made up of 3 levels and are over 250 km long (155 miles). Ventilation systems, kitchens, living areas, and bomb shelters were all built underground in these tunnels. Part of the tour allowed for anyone to go into the tunnel and “walk” (which was more like crouch/crawl) about 80 meters. The tunnel size was about 3 meters x 3.5 meters. I was a little anxious about how small it was, but wanted to see what it was like. I only got about halfway before taking a built in exit and emerging dripping in sweat and feeling slightly claustrophobic. It was extremely cramped, extremely hot, and very dark – even with newly installed “lighting”. But it was a educational experience and I’m glad we got to see it firsthand.

That evening, Ryan and I went on a Saigon Food Tour. This ended up being a highlight for us. College students wanting to work on their English picked us up on hondas, and we each rode on the back of a bike. Anh and Linh were our guides, and incredibly sweet girls. But how we were convinced to get on the back of one of those crazy bikes is beside me. However, Ryan and I were both incredibly surprised at how tame the traffic felt from the inside. Don’t get me wrong, it was still extremely different than in the US. But the bikes aren’t allowed to go very fast (about 25 mph max) and we never felt out of control.

While riding on the bike with Linh heading to our next stop – we pulled up to a stoplight. Next to us a mom and young daughter (about 4 or 5) came along side us. As we were sitting there, the mother pointed the daughter’s attention at me and she shyly looks up. I smiled real big and overly waved at the little girl (not gonna lie, I was pretty animated with my enthusiasm but she was cute and I like kids and didn’t give it a second thought). Then the light changed and we drove off. I told Linh as we were driving away – “Aww that was sweet; that little girl was so cute!” To which she responds with – “Um yeah, so actually the daughter didn’t want to put her rain hat on so the mother told her that you would hit her if she didn’t obey. That’s why she was pointing at you and well, I didn’t know how to tell you.” We could not stop laughing for a full five minutes as I coped with my mortification through laughter. Needless to say I learned a very interesting cultural lesson.

All in all, I’m convinced that seeing a city in the night lights from the street point of view is the best way to do it! Over the course of 3.5 hours we went to four different restaurants and had a noodle dish, a Vietnamese pancake, coffee (with condensed milk), and dessert. We were taken to local places and taught about the dishes, how to eat them properly, and were able to ask any other questions we had about Vietnamese culture, cuisine, and lifestyle. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting and just hanging out with locals our age. It was an extremely unique way to experience the city of Saigon.

Steamboat

Getting the whole family together for a vacation at this age and stage of all of our lives is quite a difficult thing to do. However, someway somehow it worked out. From all over the country – Texas, Washington, Louisiana and Georgia – we flew to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for some skiing, snowmobiling, and much needed family time. Steamboat Springs is about 3 hours northwest of Denver and is a beautiful, low-key ski town whose natural beauty seems more impressive every turn.

You’re able to fly directly into Steamboat’s airport in Hayden. They do offer some direct flights into the city, but I did have to connect through Denver from Austin. Regardless – it’s pretty easy to get right into the city. From the airport, we took a shuttle directly to our condo. Our entire crew had 11 people. So we got two condos with 5 bedrooms in total. We stayed at Torian Plum, a condo right off the mountainside. Seriously, everyone could basically just ski off the mountain, drop off their skis, and be less than a five minute walk from the rooms. And the view from the balcony – to die for.


The first full day we were in Steamboat people skied. On Saturday, we had plans to go snowmobiling. We used Steamboat Snowmobile Tours and I would recommend them over and over again if I could. Our guide was great and the trails were just challenging enough to make for an adventurous ride. The entire tour was four hours, with a break for lunch in the middle – which they provided! That Saturday was the coldest day of our trip. It was overcast and snowing all day long; and at 6 degrees, us Southerners (used to 80 degree Christmases) were freezing our butts off. The snowmobiles themselves were easy to handle and drive, and had both hand and feet warmers built into the machine. This small detail was a lifesaver for my cold little fingers.

Our guide had us all ride in a single file line and gave us hand signals that we had to pass down through the group so that we were all in communication and aware of what was up ahead. The tour was perfect, and we all came away unscathed. Although, there were a few close calls. Rick, my father in law,  accidentally tipped his snowmobile over when going through a snowbank. And I accidentally entered into a game of chicken with Uncle Guy in a free for all open meadow. To my pleasant surprise and utter relief, the snowmobile was actually very responsive to my sharp swerve direction. All in all – the snowmobile tour was a major win. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Skiing on the mountain was also an exhilarating experience. It was pretty much snowing our entire trip there, so we were lucky enough to have some pretty good powder to ski on. However, the skill curve was a bit harsher on this mountain. The easy slopes were extremely easy, and the hard slopes extremely hard. It felt as if there weren’t as many options for people at our group skill level – a solid medium skill level. For example, the blues were hard to anticipate the difficulty. Some were extremely flat, others were steep and icy. Which might have been a symptom of the weather this year, since there was very little snow fall in the weeks before we arrived. But we still had such a blast!

My favorite run ran along the top ridge of the mountain. It was a series of blue slopes called Tomahawk to Baby Powder. Tomahawk was the main artery – and Baby Powder was one of the overlapping runs. It was one of the only places on the mountain where everyone in our group could find a route that challenged them with great views in every direction.

Our final day on the mountain we took it a bit more slow and we stayed together more. It was fun because we’d all be near each other – but then some of us were able to break off a bit and cut paths through the trees. Mainly it was just really fun to ski again.






Steamboat Springs was the ideal family vacation. The views, weather, activities – everything was perfect. But I think my absolute favorite part was that it created a place and reason for all of our family to get together. And I think what I’ll remember most is everyone pitching in and cooking dinner together in the condo, and then all sitting around the table afterwards swapping stories and memories.



Santorini

From Athens, Ryan and I took the Blue Star Ferry to the island of Santorini. The 8 hour ferry ride was like a mini-cruise. There were restaurants, decks to sit out on, and shopping stores – and it was the perfect start to a relaxing 3 days. Getting to the port, we had quad bikes there ready for us, and we packed our bags up, put our helmets on, and got our first view of the island.

After getting settled in our airbnb, we were itching to get back on the open road and see more of the beautiful island. We were staying on the southside of Santorini in Perivolos. However, the main tourist cities are on the north side in Oia (Ee-yah) and Fira. So Ryan and I decided to go check out Oia first. 45 minutes on the road was longer than we thought, but it flew by as we took in the scenery. We stayed in Oia till dark browsing this eclectic bookstore – Atlantis Books, finding what would be our favorite gyro restaurant on the island – Pita Gyro, and walking the old streets as the sun set. Driving through windy mountain roads with crazy drivers in the dark is NOT advised. I’m pretty sure Ryan’s heart still beats a little quick when thinking about that drive home (I was behind him low on gas, and he just knew that he’d turn around and I’d be gone). From then on, I was required to ride in front of him at all times. But we made it back safe and sound.

The next day we went exploring! Santorini is known for its red and black beaches. So we went to find them!  The red beach was reachable only by foot or sailboat. After climbing over some rocks and along cliff edges, we got our first glimpse of the red beach – indescribable! I was itching to get into the clear blue water and immediately set out. The water was pretty chilly, but you got used to the cool temperatures quickly and they felt good with the sun straight in the sky. This beach felt so seclusive. Surprisingly it wasn’t crazy packed. A couple dozen people were in the water and a few more uncomfortably laying out on the rocky beach. There was a sailboat taxiing people between all of the beaches – so you could stay on the red beach for awhile and then when you were ready, head on down to the black beach. Ryan and I didn’t do that because we had our quad bikes, but lots of people enjoyed that luxury of going back and forth. The black beach was more of what you’d picture as a typical beach setting – umbrellas, some water toys, snorkel gear, etc. However, the sand was tiny black rocks!

Our last full day on the island we took a 7 mile hike from Fira to Oia. This is a must do if you ever go! We definitely should have started earlier in the day as we were baking in the hot sun. But I’m so glad we did the hike because the trail took us through the main 4 cities of the island – Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia – and walked us along the cliff of the Caldera. I had planned to go down to Amoudi Bay at the end of the hike and swim and cliff jump. However, we were so exhausted after the hike that we decided to just go back to our place and relax the rest of the evening.

We flew out of the island at 11 PM in the evening. So we still had most of the day to do the last things we wanted in Santorini. I had really wanted to jump off the cliff in Amoudi Bay, and went back and forth as to whether or not I should do it. After finally deciding that I would regret it if I didn’t go – Ryan and I headed to Oia and planned to go to Amoudi Bay and get Pita Gyro one last time and then come home to pack up. I am so very glad that I didn’t give up on the cliff jump. That was such a highlight for me. It’s quite a lot of stairs to get down off the cliff (where the city is built) and to the bay, and then we had to climb over rocks till it opened up a bit to people laying out and swimming in the bay. I swam out to the cliff, where a ladder was set up, and then walked up to the cliff. Then I jumped! I knew that if we came back to the island, I might be too old to climb and jump, so I needed to take my moment when I could! Amazing experience that I’ll never forget.

Santorini was one of my favorite places to visit. Ryan and I would forget that there was an outside world. It had this effect of just sweeping you up in its beauty and relaxation.

Athens

Athens is such a cool place to be. It just has so much history. The city is very modern with its wide streets, metro station, and fast pace; but sprinkled amongst all the modern building are little bits of history. Blink, and you just may miss them. Our journey through Athens took us through sprawling streets where we saw old churches and ancient ruins. Everywhere we walked we were always in shadow of The Acropolis, Athen’s main attraction. One of the coolest places we passed through is a small bright white neighborhood with tiny winding passages, and brightly colored windows and doors.

Rick Steve’s audio guide is designed in such a perfect way. As we twisted and turned through the city it’s as if the city is aging. Eventually we made it to The Ancient Agora, the old city center. This is the place that Socrates would have walked around with his students. The area had a bustling market place, a theatre-district, and several temples.

The main street cuts straight through The Agora and leads to the start of the climb toward The Acropolis. The people of Athens would all gather here to celebrate the birth of the city. The celebration would culminate in a parade that went down this exact road and climbs The Acropolis to The Parthenon. The Parthenon is truly a sight to behold. Unfortunately, one side was covered in scaffolding, but even still it was incredible. Interestingly, The Parthenon stood mostly intact until around the 1600s when it was used to store gunpowder and was badly damaged during a battle. After that in the 1800s, England took many pieces off of it and are storing them in the British Museum. One great thing about the way our trip worked out is that we got to see all of those pieces a few weeks ago, on our trip to London.

Directly across from The Acropolis is Mars Hill. This hill has many great stories attached to it, but our personal favorite is from Acts 17. In it, Paul is preaching down in the Agora and gets taken up to Mars Hill, where he preaches to many skeptical Athenians. There is always something special about standing in the place where history happened. It is a reminder that what we call history, somebody once called life. It helps make to give these stories dimension, and them come to life.

Salzburg

Oh Austria, how beautiful you were! I personally loved our time in this country. Amongst mountains, rivers, castles, Mozart, and all things Sound of Music – what could you not love?! We took a slower pace in Salzburg because, well we could. Our first day we spent walking around the old town. We learned about the history of the city from Rick Steves’ city walk. Walked through plazas, toured the Mozart museum (located in the house he lived in), and went through Mirabell gardens.

Our second day we took a train a little bit outside of Salzburg to the quaint Werfen. Werfen is a village cradled between mountains and alongside a flowing river. As soon as we got off the train Ryan and I were like little bobble heads, spinning around trying to take it all in. The best part was as we were walking across a little bridge, we looked up and there was the castle! The very castle on all the lists of top castles in Europe! And boy did it not disappoint. It was so foreboding sitting on top of a hill overlooking the village and river. We started our small trek to the castle, as we had gotten tickets to tour hohenwerfen fortress. The city was so quiet! Barely anyone was out and about. We didn’t even see any tourists walking around – so refreshing!

It was so cool visiting the castle’s inside. But it definitely is a much better experience seeing it from afar. Which was the entire purpose of its creation – to warn off others and to hopefully intimidate them so that they wouldn’t attack the city. I enjoyed learning about the life inside the walls. And the view of the city from the bell tower was breathtaking.

Up next in Werfen was Eisriesenwelt – the largest ice cave in the world! It was quite a hike up the mountain, even with the cable car lift – but it was SO worth it. Only open in summertime, Eisriesenwelt is a must see if you are heading to this part of Austria. Even with it being 85 degrees outside, it was about 30 degrees inside the cave. We sweated hiking up the mountain, and then our sweat promptly froze when inside the cave! (Not really, but you can imagine the shock we felt when entering at first). Inside the cave isn’t lit, as when there is light – life can grow. So we toured the cave with a guide and a gas lantern. You aren’t allowed to take pictures inside the cave as a general rule because it usually disrupts the flow of the group and management wants to keep the groups on schedule. However, our guide was super cool and allowed us to take a few sneak shots as they didn’t hurt anything and we were quick! But I’ve heard that’s not a normal thing – so we were super lucky!

Our final day in Salzburg, I geeked out with a Panorama Sound of Music tour. I am a longtime fan of the movie, and even though I knew it would probably be pretty hokey – I was super excited for this. (Ryan wasn’t as into it as I was, but I think he secretly was singing “Do Re Mi” in his head). It was so fun! I had made a friend in our hostel who happened to be going on the tour the same day and time as us! We bonded over our mutual love for Julie Andrews and as fate would have it – our hostel showed the movie the night before our tour! It made it so much more exciting watching Liesel and Rolf sing “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” knowing we were going to see the actual gazebo the very next day!

The last stop on our tour was the city Mondsee, where they filmed Maria’s marriage to the Captain. The tour group was given about an hour to walk around the city, go inside the church, eat an apple strudel, and snap a picture by a gorgeous natural lake. Coming back to the city we got a few more pictures of Mirabell gardens, where most of the scenes for the “Do Re Mi” song were filmed. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end our time in Salzburg.

Krakow

I’m having trouble finding the words to begin this post. I’ve written and rewritten my intro multiple times. But I now realize that I’ll never find the right words to describe what Auschwitz is and what it represents. I’ve wanted to visit Auschwitz for many years. I’ve watched many documentaries, cried over Anne Frank’s diary, and been to multiple Holocaust museums. The days leading up I had been preparing my emotions and mind for this trip. However, to my surprise, during our guided tour through Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II – Birkenau, I wasn’t as emotional as I thought I’d be. But our tour started off by walking through the infamous gate “Arbeit Mach Frei”.. “Work Sets You Free”, and I felt like my heart froze right there. I immediately was deprived of feeling and responsiveness as I passed through the gate where millions walked to their death. My mind knew where I was. But I just couldn’t grasp it. I started my tour that way. Emotionally slapped in the face so hard at the reality of where I was that I couldn’t make sense of it and felt emotionally “electrocuted” and left numb.

We walked through the “museum” which was set up in all of the barracks. So we moved in and out of different blocks. We walked past so many pairs of eye glasses, shoes, suitcases, pots & pans, and more that the Nazi’s had confiscated when the prisoners had arrived. There was an entire room full of human hair, from the shorn women and children. We weren’t allowed to take pictures in that room out of respect. It was so overwhelming that I literally couldn’t understand.

We walked inside double barbed wire fences, passed the execution wall where they guards would shoot people with little to no reason, and looked in the rooms where people starved to death as punishment. In Auschwitz I most everything was still intact and at the end of our tour the guides took us through the gas chambers and crematorium. It looked just like a plain building where you’d take a shower. But you could still see scratch marks on the walls from those trying to escape. Then you walk into the adjoining room, and there’s the crematorium. It was all so methodically cold and calculated. And you could feel it. There was such a heaviness that you were left unfeeling and incapable of regular emotions. The numbness continued.

After we were finished touring Auschwitz I, we took a short bus ride down the road to Auschwitz II – Birkenau, where the Nazi’s built their biggest death camp running out of space and room in Auschwitz I. It was here that the killing got even more systematic. We walked along the train tracks where prisoners would ride in on cattle trucks. As our group made our way to where the gas chambers would be, Ryan snapped a picture of the crowd walking down the road. We were a few paces behind the group, and for a brief moment I could see it. With the flip of a hand and a split decision, a random stranger decided whether you lived or died. Then you walked down this quarter mile road back behind these trees. There you would strip down to take a shower, and be shuffled into this room to your death. Just as the men, women, and children from our tour group were walking down this road, millions of others had done this exact same walk and met with a very different fate. That walk will forever be engrained in my memory. And some feeling started returning.

At the end of the road there’s a memorial. The Nazi’s had blown up the gas chambers and crematorium in an attempt to hide the evidence of their mass killings. And it was amongst all of this that the memorial sat. That’s where the heaviness and reality of it all set in – I felt the full blow of it all in these words.

“Forever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women, and children, mainly Jews from various countries of Europe.”

Walking back to our bus after seeing everything we saw that day, Ryan and I didn’t even know what to say to one another. We couldn’t form words then, and are still trying to process it all. I’m so glad that we went; the word “glad” feels very improper using it in these terms. But I’ll never forget those who died there, and all over Europe. I will always remember.

Our tours were with Krakow Shuttle and they were amazing. Ryan and I were picked up near the train station (we took an overnight train in from Prague), and driven to Auschwitz I & II, given lunch, taken to our next destination – a 13th century salt mine, and then dropped off at a restaurant back in Krakow for dinner. I’d highly recommend them for anyone wanting an easy, all inclusive tour of Krakow. They made everything so simple. But anyways, after Auschwitz we headed to one of the oldest working salt mines in the world.

Over 325 meters deep, this Salt Mine was huge and had many caverns inside with salt sculptures and carvings all throughout. It was very interesting learning about its history and the stories of the miners. It’s a whole other world under the ground! And everything was made out of salt! We were encouraged to run our finger on the wall and taste it; I did, and I can attest to the fact that it’s not fake salt!

After eating traditional beef and pork dumplings for dinner at a restaurant called Raspberry Grandma (in english), Ryan and I got on another night train – yes, two in a row. We were headed to Salzburg, Austria!

Prague

Prague is a city of architecture. Almost all of the major sites are stretched out on a single walk through both the new and old parts of the town. Because the Czech people have spent so much of the past 100 years fighting for independence there is a wide variety of architectural styles. You can see the curved, nature-inspired lines of Art Nouveau, A medieval tower, gothic arches, and even a Cubist Cafe!

The old town square was one of my favorite places. It is full of incredible structers, but three in particular caught my eye. The center of the square is dominated by a sculpture dedicated to a martyr who inspired a revolution. Looming over the far side of the square is a beautiful old church, who’s towers reminded me of classic fairy tales. My favorite part though, was the astrological clock. Unfortunatly the tower itself was under repair, but luckily the clock was still visible. I loved seeing all the different twists and dials move. It is amazing to me how ancient people were able to solve and understand such complex things about the stars armed only with only a telescope.

There is also a museum that talks about the rise and fall of communism in the area. It was very interesting to see all of the propaganda, and learn about how Lenin and Stalin’s reign effected the Czech people. There even was a piece of the Berlin Wall!

Another place we loved in Prague was the Charles Bridge. This bridge was beautiful from every angle. We really enjoyed walking along the bridge flanked by statues, and street performers on all sides, but the best view of the bridge came from the riverside.

Our final stop in Prague was at Prague Castle. You can see it in the distance above from most parts of the city. We made the climb up the hill, and were amazed at the ancient castle and how, again, it was architecture that really inspired us in this city.

London

We arrived in London, and were so relieved to have some familiarity. I have been to London twice before, and truthfully just hearing English and being able to read the signage was comforting. We got set up at our hostel and walked to the Tower of London. Several people had recommended doing the Yeoman tour, and I am so glad we did. Our guide, Beefeater Dave, was hilarious and a great story teller. He told stories of many of the people who had come through the Tower of London for their final days.

On our second day we spent the morning in the British Museum: The Rosetta Stone, tons of Egyptian artifacts, The Assyrian Lions, and the sculptures off of the Parthenon. After we left the museum, we decided to walk around London and just take in the city. We made our way toward Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. We found a small street lined with book stores full of first editions of all the classics. Victoria loved seeing all the 19th century books. We also went to Fortnum & Mason, a very posh department store established in 1707. We walked around looking at all the high-end and classic British goods.

After that we took a few day trips outside of London. First to Stonehenge, you can read more about that on Victoria’s post. Then we went to Worcester to visit Ashley & Traci. Words fail me to express how wonderful it was to feel at home. We have missed them so much, since they were called to England; and after weeks of traveling in foreign places it was so restful to be with such dear friends. I can happily say that those short days were very uneventful. We just spent time with them, and got to see their new home, new friends, and life. Spent time talking around the dining room table, going to the grocery store, drawing, and playing games with the boys. Traci also showed us around Oxford, where she is attending University. It was so exciting to walk those old streets, and see the life that this family have begun to build.

Ashley drove us back to London on Saturday. We got to our new AirBnb, and spent the rest of the afternoon at the Imperial War Museum in the Holocaust exhibit. It was a sobering reminder of the atrocities of the Nazi party, and what lay before us on our trip: The Anne Frank House and Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

Later that evening we were sitting in our flat, and heard an unusual amount of sirens in the area. We pulled up twitter to find out that something horrific was happening at London Bridge. At the time we knew very little, but sat in front of the TV as the news began to trickle in. I am not one to say “we could have been there” because we weren’t there. But I will say that being only a 15-20 minute walk from Borough Market has made the tragedies that we are faced with every couple months now more vivid. Hearing the sirens fly by outside of our window, made the pictures that we saw following the news reports that much more in focus. It is a reminder that we must reach out to our neighbors. These people are living amongst us. They are lost and confused; and an outstretched arm of sensible friendship may make the difference.

Sunday morning we went to the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. It was hard to see much with the crowd, but the outside of the palace is always an exciting place to be. After that we went to Hillsong Church and enjoyed a church service inside of an old theatre. We capped off the day at a small theatre, The Criterion. We saw “A Comedy About A Bank Robbery”, and it was hilarious and creative. The play had Victoria and I laughing all the way home.

Our last day in London we went to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Westminster is such a cool place, where so many legendary figures in British history are buried. We walked down Whitehall which passes 10 Downing Street and several other great British political locations. Lastly we went to the Churchill War Rooms. It was a very cool exhibit about the life of Churchill, and you get to tour the bunkers that he and his staff worked in during World War II, when London was under constant siege. They also had an Enigma Machine on display!

We really loved our time in England, and it was great chance to recharge with good friends, and familiar language. Now we are officially past the half-way point of the trip and off to Amsterdam!

Stonehenge

Trying to get to Stonehenge was a mess! We missed our bus the first day because we got lost on the metro. Ryan and I are not used to relying on public transportation, and even after 4 weeks here – we still don’t have it down perfectly. Getting better though! Anyway, we were able to reschedule our half day trip to the following day for a small fee. AND I actually got to use one of those red telephone booths in London to call them because we didn’t want to use our cell phone data. So it worked out, because that was super cool!

The charter bus took us straight out of the city of London and through the countryside to Stonehenge. It was about a 2 hour drive, so Ryan and I sat back and enjoyed the view. Our driver was SO FUNNY. We kept cracking up at his subtle jokes and humorous comments.

We actually didn’t have much time at Stonehenge, only about an hour and 45 minutes. But that’s really all we needed. We used the free audio tour and walked all around this massive monument, learning about who built it, why they might have built it, how old it is, and so much more. Although much of it is speculation, it was so very interesting. And experts aren’t even convinced that those who built it finished it! But it took these people many many years to build it, and they had to bring the rocks from very far away. It seriously took a village, and multiple generations to build Stonehenge. However, they weren’t just doing it for themselves – they were building it for posterity. No one really knows exactly its purpose. But experts believe it is an ancient way to tell the seasons and time – as well as, it was a sacred place. There were “healing stones” in the center of Stonehenge that people would travel to come and break off a piece for their loved one who was sick.

There are huge mounds of dirt all around – and historians have realized that those are ancient burial grounds. When excavating, they found tons of artifacts, and bones.

Honestly it was a once in a lifetime experience – seeing something so iconically historic.

Lucerne

As we continued north we made our way to Lucerne, Switzerland. The Swiss culture was very different from their Italian neighbors to the south. The city was extremely clean and orderly. Traffic flowed smoothly, and always had an obvious order to it. The signage was all very simple and easy to follow; despite not speaking the language. The entire town of Lucerne sat on a lake and was surrounded by The Alps. Everywhere you looked, the view was impossible to take in.

We spent the first day just walking around the city, and seeing the main sights. We stood in awe at the giant crying lion statue memorial, got lost in old town, and walked across the Chapel Bridge. The Bridge has an interesting curve as it crosses the lake, and has paintings lining the inside. Unfortunately a fire burned a considerable amount of the paintings in 1993, but luckily a few of them were salvaged.

The next day, we decided to try and climb one of the nearby mountains, Mt Rigi. There was a trail called the ‘Mark Twain Trail’, because Mark Twain himself walked it in the 1870s, and wrote about it in his book A Tramp Abroad. We crossed the lake in a boat, and set out to conquer this 5,900ft mountain on Mark Twain’s trail that culminated at ‘Rigi Kulm’. Victoria was determined that we could do this. I wasn’t so sure. I wasn’t quite convinced that we were fully prepared for this type of activity – but we set out up the mountain through winding trails and up steep inclines anyway.

As we climbed higher the sound of cowbells ringing began to cover the mountain. We even passed through a few small pastures full of cattle. There was a small cafe and hotel with a great view. And there was Felsentor, a huge natural archway.

Each time the tree line would break we would get a preview of what awaited us at the top, but the sun was getting low, and our last boat to get back to Lucerne was not willing to wait. We got to the last checkpoint before reaching the top, and had to decide: do we take the train car to the top from here, or do we race the clock and get to the peak with 20 minutes to spare before our last train down. We had come too far to give up now, and decided to push through. The distance meant very little to no breaks on the last hour up the mountain. At this point we had switched roles – Victoria was very apprehensive of making to the top within the hour. We were both extremely tired as we had already been climbing 5 hours. But this time, I knew we could do it and we pushed through.

Words fail me to not just express the 360 degree view from the top, but the feeling of standing on the tallest point of a mountain after a very difficult day of climbing and pushing ourselves.

We had 20 minutes to snap a few ‘cool adventurer people’ pics, and catch our train back down the mountain. What an incredible day! What an incredible world!

Venice

Our last night in Florence, I pulled out my phone to check Venice’s weather for what I knew was going to be the same perfect weather we had been having since our trip started. However, to my complete dismay it displayed a 100% chance of rain the ONE day we would be in the city. I was frustrated, upset, and disappointed. This wasn’t part of the plan. Of course the one city where we had decided to just stay one night would be raining all day long. As I began to mildly freak out.. okay a little bit more than mildly. Ryan calmed me down quickly with a plan to “just stay an extra night”. I replied – “It’s not that easy to just stay an extra night”. (Did you hear my tone in that sentence). In my head I was ticking off all the complications: more money, changing train tickets, rescheduling our hostel in Lucerne (our next stop), budgeting issues, etc. After deciding to try to make it work, we began making arrangements. We were fortunately able to reschedule our train and our hostel days. And then when we arrived at our hotel, they happened to have a room for the extra night we wanted for even less money than we’d paid for the first night. We didn’t come out even, but we definitely didn’t make a huge hole in our budget – and it’s going to be way easier to make up that gap. Even so, as Ryan said when discussing whether to stay an extra night – these experiences are once in a lifetime, money comes and goes.

With all the hassle that went into getting here – I’m so very glad we chose what we did. What a magical city. Immediately stepping out of the train and into the water bus – I was enchanted by Venice’s charm. The water here is a deep teal, and the city seemed to paint the buildings around the color of the water because the pastel palette all flowed together creating this aesthetically pleasing environment. As you all know, Venice is an island. So to get anywhere, you have to take a boat. It was a short boat ride from the train station and the water bus acted like any city bus with regular stops, passengers getting on and off, and ticket swipes.

The weather forecast held true for most of the day and it rained heavily on and off. Ryan and I were able to walk around a little bit when we got there and grab lunch. There are no cars on Venice – so all of the walkways are just for people. It was strangely natural and made the experience more fun. It felt we were all on this private island just for us, separate from the outside world. For the rest of the afternoon, due to the rain, we rested in our hotel. Our hotel was gorgeous, in an old venetian style right off the canal. By evening the rain had cleared and we were able to walk down to San Marco square. I think Venice in the evening is my favorite, specifically in San Marco square. San Marco square is a 2.5 acred plaza with stone pavement that feels more intimate than it sounds with 3 walls of columned buildings – and St. Mark’s Basilica at the head. There are always people in the square and it’s a sight to behold both day and night. However, in the evening – the cafe’s have mini orchestra’s serenading the square. They all take turns playing, giving each others small breaks, as the music flows across the square. That first night was so enchanting. Ryan and I grabbed a gelato and just listened to the music for an hour or so. It was almost dream-like Everything was lit up and beautiful and all was right with the world.

The next day (the day we were supposed to leave and head to Switzerland), we got started with a tour of the Grand Canal. Again thanks to Rick Steves, we listened to his audio guide explain what buildings we were looking at and others aspects about the city as we rode around the island. I loved learning about the history of the city. I can definitely see how appealing it was, and still is. Apparently, it used to be seen like a Las Vegas of Italy. “What happens in Venice, stays in Venice”. There were many parties, balls, and celebrations held in Venice. And during those celebrations – all would wear masks, and all social classes would be equal for at least that one night. It was a carefree, fun night. However, as time has gone on and the world has gotten smaller, Venice has turned more and more into a museum than a residential area. Rising water levels, increasing cost of living, and the frustration of having to have things shipped into the island has driven most locals to the mainland. Venice is elegantly declining, and who knows how much longer it will be around. But I feel like that adds to its appeal and uniqueness. Unlike Rome or Florence, Venice doesn’t shout its beauty. It has a quiet, slightly melancholy elegance. It’s unspoken, but known that in a few generations – Venice may no longer be a city. It may only be a museum, and it may be completely under water.

A highlight of our time was the tourist typical gondola ride. It was quiet on Sunday night, and Ryan and I got a really unique view of Venice – from its waterfront canals. Businesses and houses would have doors leading right up to the canals. Our guide was awesome and pointed out some more interesting buildings and history, and we got to live a once in a lifetime experience. I’m so thankful for being able to go on this trip. We have seen thousands of years of history, art, architecture, and more. And I’m so excited to continue on. Ciao, Italia!

Florence

In Rome and Pompeii we got to see the world as the Roman Empire had lived, but as we traveled north, to Florence, the days of the empire were behind us. Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, was full of architecture, art, and discovery harkening back to the height of Rome’s power. These were the same streets that Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo would work, walk, and leave their mark on the world.

Our trip to Florence, or Firenze, began with the Florence Cathedral. The church is an incredible sight to see. Every time that I looked at the structure I saw some new detail I had never seen before. We even climbed the great dome to overlook all of Florence, a once in a lifetime view. Almost 500 steep steps through narrow passageways to the very tip of the dome. This building was built with plans for a dome that at the time nobody knew how to build. It took decades for the people of Florence to find someone who could figure out how to build a dome that size.

We also saw so much amazing Renaissance art and sculpture. Two moments stood out in particular. There was a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci that was never finished. You can see several layers to his sketches describing his process. As an artist, it was inspiring to see how he planned and laid out his paintings. Second, was Michelangelo’s David. I have seen this sculpture in school, and in many photographs, and to be honest wasn’t sure what the big deal was. But no photo can do justice to this piece. He stands at the end of a hallway lined with unfinished pieces of Michelangelo’s that you can see chisel marks cut into. By the time you get to the end of the hall and stand under the open skylight you can’t help but be amazed.

Finally, we took a day trip to a vineyard. The scenery was unbelievable, and it was very interesting to learn about the art and passion that goes into making wine. All in all, Florence was a wonderful city. It was a great chance for us to recharge after all that Rome and Pompeii had to offer. We enjoyed walking the streets with a gelato in hand, looking at all the beautiful buildings, and imagining all those who had come before.

Pompeii

I stood on the empty platform, in Naples, looking for Victoria as our train pulled up. She had run to the bathroom while I got our Eurail tickets stamped. There just wasn’t enough time in our 25 minute lay-over for us to do both together. So we briefly split up and agreed to meet at the train platform to Pompeii. The train unloaded. The crowd moved past. She was nowhere in sight. I turned on my phone and began to return to the last place we had been together, as is protocol. She picked up my phone call immediately saying “Where are you? Our train is about to leave!”. I replied, “What are you talking about. I just watched our train leave.” Turns out there were two different trains on two different platforms both leaving for Pompeii minutes apart, and asking somebody who doesn’t speak your language for directions is full of pitfalls. I hurried across the station and we barely made it onto our train in time. Lesson learned. When we arrived in Pompeii we realized our new train had taken us much farther outside the city than our original train would have, so we had the tourist office at the station call us a taxi. We flew through the tiny streets of modern Pompeii, were dropped off at a small bicycle shop, and met by a smiling Italian named Francesco.

Francesco owned the AirBnb above his bicycle shop, and was excited to practice his English. He took us next door to a cafe, treated us to a drink, and waved bye to the barista as if he does this every day. After dropping off our bags and being introduced to several members of his family, Francesco rolled out two bicycles and pointed us down the road to the main Piazza.

Traffic in Italy seems to have no rules. Everyone is aggressive: the cars, the cyclists, the pedestrians; and right of way is determined by whoever got there first. So we hoped on our bikes and began riding through town: over a bridge, across a railroad, through a roundabout, u-turn on a highway and finally into town square. It was a little frightening for both of us, but will definitely be one of my favorite memories. Riding a bicycle with my wife through small Italian roads and alleyways.

From the square we walked to Ancient Pompeii. Nothing can prepare you for walking the streets of this ancient city. No other place has ever spoken to me about the truth of history. It really changed my perspective on looking at history, and seeing it as the story of real people. People with families and jobs. People with favorite plays and foods. People with dreams and entire lives all of their own. These people have been preserved and a few of them are able to be seen around the ruins. When the archeologists would come across a space in the ash and debris they would fill it with plaster. This allows us to see people huddled up covering their mouths and faces. It is definitely powerful in capturing their last tragic moments.

Pompeii is a complete city. We walked through the town square where we saw temples, government buildings, shops, and the baths. Traveled over to the theatre district, and beyond to the gladiator arena. Then doubled back to go out to the outskirts of town where a wealthy family lived. Many of the floors and walls have been preserved so you can see the frescos that adorned the people’s homes. There’s only so much I can say to describe this city – and pictures are only slightly better in helping to capture Pompeii, but I’ll try.