Santorini, Greece

In Santorini, the water is too shallow for the ship to dock so we had to get on small tender boats to get to the shore. Wonder what happened to the last ship that tried to dock anyway? It sank. It's still sitting on the bottom of the ocean floor.

Us after docking from the tender boats. That's our ship in the background.

Jeremy, Emmy and I decided to ride donkeys up to Santorini. Santorini isn't actually next to the water but is very high up on top of a caldera. It's quite the hike up or you can take the cable cars to get up there. Or ride donkeys like we did!

We had so much fun riding up. Not the greatest picture but I was on a donkey as well trying to photograph the journey - not the easiest thing to do!

Overlooking Santorini. The entire island is so pristine and white. It is absolutely spectacular against the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea.

I am in love with these windmills. They are all over the island.

Emmy with our tour guide Patricia. She took us to her home so we could see typical homes are built. They are caves that are turned into homes.

This was a blue door that Patricia had at her home. It made a perfect backdrop for family pictures!

The Mediterranean Ocean

Probably my favorite picture of the entire trip. Emmy wanted to play on the beach so badly. It had been raining previous to this so she was so excited to get on the beach. When it was time to leave, she let us know how she felt about it.

Check out the black sand beaches!

Family picture on the beach. In case you're curious - black sand hurts your feet! But we loved it regardless!

Ephesus, Turkey

Ephesus and Kusadasi, Turkey

This was the stop that I was probably looking forward to the most. I have always wanted to walk the streets of Ephesus and see so much of the Biblical history that is there.

Unfortunately as soon as we got to Ephesus and paid our entrance fees, it started a torrential downpour. So we went very quickly through Ephesus, ducking into caves hoping it would pass quickly. Not so much!

After we were all drenched, our tour guide took us back to our boat to change clothes and we went to a rug factory and then to the Bazaar in Kusadasi.


Overlooking Kusadasi from our ship.

In Ephesus pre-rainstorm

It is so amazing - all the ruins are just there for you to see and touch. It's incredible!

Overlooking Ephesus from the top of the hill. This was after round 1 of the downpour. By the time we left, the streets were starting to flood.

At the rug factory. The little white capsule looking things are silk worms in the cocoons. When he sticks the broom looking thing into the large tub, strands of silk stick to it and it then wraps it around a silk weaving machine.

One of the silk rug makers. They only weave for 2 hours a day because it is so labor intensive.

The owner of the store. He gave Emmy her own mini Turkish carpet.

Our favorite sign at the Kusadasi Bazaar.
"Genuine Fake" - love it!

Emmy wanted a Belly Dancing costume. It makes a lot of noise and is pink. No wonder she was attracted to it. No worries peeps - she always wears clothes on under it.

a typical Turkish kabob

Yes, we're cute but check out that gorgeous Turkish tile behind us. I would have loved to bring home hundreds of those tiles for my kitchen!

On the ship sailing away from Turkey

Day 1& 2:Airplanes, Frankfurters and Venice

This year for our family vacation we had the amazing opportunity to go on a Mediterranean Cruise with Leslie's parents.
It was incredible.
The pictures don't even begin to do it justice - mostly because it rained every. single. day in every. single. country. So my camera didn't get as much action as I would have loved. But still amazing regardless. (Apparently we brought the bad weather home with us because we woke up to quite a lot of snow this morning.)

So here's Day 1: The Airplane

Emmy loves to fly. Non stop movies, flight attendants bringing drinks and treats to your hearts desire and hundreds of people commenting how cute you are - total heaven for this girl.

What do you do when in the Frankfurt, Germany airport for several hours?

Why, eat a Frankfurter of course!
Which I must say was the best "hot dog" I've ever tasted. I never want a hot dog on a boring hot dog again. It was divine on one of these crustier rolls. Yummm!
Also stocked up on some chocolate while here. America, take note. Their chocolate is better.

Day 2: Venice!
We love Venice and couldn't believe we are so blessed to get to go a second time. Emmy picked up right where she left off 2 years ago.
Chasing the pigeons.
I'm sure they were thrilled she came back.

At St. Mark's Square. Em really liked this Lion statue.

Emmy and Leslie's mom admiring the fine detail of the buildings in St. Mark's Square. Emmy is quite fascinated with the ceilings and the small details that you find in Europe. My mother couldn't be prouder.

We returned to our favorite bath and body product store in the entire world.
Lush.
Why is it so fabulous you ask?
Because everything in the store is in solid form. Don't want to take shampoo and conditioner with you when you travel? Then buy a shampoo bar - add a little water in the shower and you're good to go. Need some lotion? Rub a little of the moisturizing bar on you and you're soft as can be.
Words cannot describe how I love this store. Emmy also became a fan this trip. She proudly purchased a bath fizzy ball and some rub on glitter.

Beautiful Venice.

She's ready for a masquerade ball.

Posing between 2 pillars. Just because you can. It's Venice.

I want windows like this and beautiful flower boxes.
Sigh.
I'm in love.

Not the most exciting picture but I have to document it. When we were in Venice 2 years ago we have a picture of my mom and Emmy sitting on the Vaporetto's (the water transportation). Emmy loves that picture. When we saw the Vaporetto's earlier in the day she kept telling my mom she wanted to sit by her just like in the picture.
Well, the time finally came to get on the Vaporetto's but poor little Emmy was sound asleep. She missed the entire thing.

Tomorrow: leaving Venice on a cruise ship.

Home.

We are home.
We spent an amazing 11 days in the Mediterranean.
6 airports.
1 cruise ship.
4 countries.
Amazing time spent with family.
1 missed flight.
3 exhausted and very sick travelers.
Pictures to come soon.

Loves.

Even more fun....

What's more fun to do in Salt Lake than ride the train (trax)?
Nothing according to Emmy.
This was her 2nd request.

Her third request was to go swimming.
We had a lot of fun swimming, jumping and splashing.

More fun to be had....

The next stop on our mini-vacay was Temple Square.
This was Emmy's one request when she found out we were staying up in Salt Lake.

Aren't the flowers gorgeous?

Emmy was so excited to see "Popcorn Trees"

Sitting on the steps of the Temple.

Dancing on Temple Square.