Quick Update

As our hotel guy is letting me use his computer out of the kindness of his heart, this will be quick. We are currently in Rapallo, Italy and just got back from a day long hike and swim in the Mediterranean at Cinque Terre. Soooo very great. Ancient towns perched and stacked up on the hillside cliffs overlooking the crystal clear sea. Now we are ready to head out on the port town to find the best local food and drink in the neighborhood...spaghetti last night, but time to look into the seafood options. Past few days have been highly busy with the group and a really great time. Beautiful wedding in the French countryside and a roadtrip through Provence to reach this spot just south of the Italian Riviera. Tomorrow Hayden and I strike out to round out our European adventure just the two of us in Venice. Got to run, but hope you guys are all doing just great. Everyone here says hello...canàt wait to see you all again, but know that we are all together having great laughs in some of the most amazing places Içve ever known. Love you all, see ya in a few...

Two More

PS - not sure when we will be able to post next...tres busy next few!

Trying...

Pictures of first week...

Friday Pig Roast

Hi everyone, I am writing this one from Tournon just outside of Valence where the wedding will take place tomorrow. Quaint French town with vineyards creeping up the sides of every hill along the river Rhone. I think we agree that we could totally live here. Met up with JR and Marie and the rest of the US contingent last night when we rode in on the train - ended up in the same car as some of the wedding party. Fun. So we hit the town and had a blast, probably awakening some pretty cranky French folk in the middle of the night... had to be expected. Earlier we left Paris and took a 12 hour tour in Tours of the chateaux in the Loire Valley. Neat for sure, but right now I do not want to see another castle for a good long time. Awesome weather. Tonight is a pig roast in front of the Tournon ruins then tomorrow the ceremony. Sunday we will go tubing down the Rhone with everyone in the sun and Monday we head out for Italy. Funny keyboards they have here... but will try to post pictures now. Having the times of our lives and love and miss you guys...

Last Day in Paris

Hello again! After three days in Paris, we leave tomorrow at the crack of dawn for the Loire Valley with the castles and quaint towns. I think we are ready to chill after a few full days of crazy fun. Last night we played the part of a summertime Parisian and shared a bottle of wine on the Seine - earlier we checked out the Sacre Coeur and climbed to the top steeple to look out over the city. Sorry, no disc reader in this Internet cafe, but will post new pictures as soon as it is possible. Zach made it in tonight and more friends start rolling in tomorrow ...tonight after dusk we will go up the Eiffel Tower for a fine farewell to Paris. Hope all is well in your parts of the world. BTW, we were milling away the hours at a street cafe at 1:00am the other night and "Apple Bottom Jeans" came on... so we still get tastes of home even here. More later!

Bon soir, K & H

Vive la France

Hello from France! We arrived safely yesterday morning... without our backpacks (thanks once again, United) but we have been making the most of it and our doing our best to stink up Paris. This is truly one of the most gorgeous cities on the globe. We walked 1,000 miles in a day just absorbing everything and looking about. Our hotel is just adjacent to la Madeleine, which is great access to just about everything. Oh yeqh, update on the bags ...word is they have arrived in Paris and are in transport to the hotel, great news to our neighbors wondering why we are wearing our t-shirts inside out today. Seriously though, what an amazing place. I will try to upload some photos, but we have sipped coffee and wine in front of many of Paris' most beautiful landmarks...ps the Eiffel Tower is blazing bright blue at night (maybe for the Olympics?) and sparkles in dazzling white lights for 10 minutes on the hour...awesome. Hope you all are well! Love, Kate and Hayden