These photos were taken from our recent vacation through Italy.We were there for two weeks, from May 6-20. This trip was at the gracious invitation of Leah's mom, Joyce, and stepdad, Larry, as a way of helping them celebrate their 60th birthdays.

They both turned "the big 6-0" this year, so they asked Leah, myself, and her sister Jona to join them to experience Italy in style!!

Our trip began as we flew from Denver to Chicago, and then from Chicago into Rome, We took a train to Pisa and stayed for one night. After a rainy but scenic day in Pisa, we trained it to Cinque Terra, a group of five villages right along the Mediterranean Sea. We stayed in Manarola, one of the five towns of Cinque Terra. Then it was off to rent cars and drive to San Gimignano, a lovely little hill town known as "Medieval Manhattan" due to its group of ancient towers that shoot up from the hill.

We used San Gimigano as our 'home base' as we took day trips to Siena, Florence, Montalcino, Pastoia, and other little spots in the Tuscany Region of Italy.

After our week in San Gimignano, we drove back to Rome for the last two nights.

I'd like to send a great big THANK YOU to Larry and Joyce for their generosity throughout this entire experience!! They were excellent hosts and great traveling companions.

Hope you like the pictures!

CIAO!!