We leave tomorrow! on our next adventure - this time with Joey's best friend since high school Art and his wife Lillie - and we are heading to Italy, with a cruise to Greece and Turkey. This one will be a short entry - but count on large ones over the next month! Best, Vicki

After a pretty miserable night of sleep, we woke up early and decided to pack up and head back to the airport . Yes, we arrived early, but why sit at the hotel ? So we hung out at the airport and got on a very packed plane and headed home. And Vinny was there to meet us! And he left us home to a huge pile of mail (of course, after 2 1/2 months there would be lots of mail) ... And so ends our adventure!

So we woke up early after a restless night's sleep (why does it always hit right before you need a good sleep so you can concentrate) and had breakfast at the hotel, packed up the car and hit the road! We wee concerned that there might be snow, but it warmed a touch and we had intermittent rain. Then halfway to Milano - snow! We found the car rental return with little problem, but the cart for our 4 check ins and 2 carry ons was more difficult .. Onto the flight ...

We cleaned up the house, packed our stuff and loaded the car. Once on the road, it started to snow! Got to the Hilton garden suites before check in. Patrick and Lindsey headed off to Venice again but as it was cold and rainy, joey and I decided to stay in the lobby, then in the room reading and watching TV (bbc is all in English). We also reorganized the suitcases (joey) and did early airplane check in (me). We even decided to have dinner in the hotel! Warm, dry,...

I slept till noon! Everyone else was up and drinking - coffee this time - and I slowly climbed down to the kitchen .. And Alice popped in to wish us a happy new year. And she brought coffee! Good, strong, coffee. And croissants! Oh boy .. I'm going to spend the next six months losing the weight I've gained on this trip! Since everything is closed today we took the time to get organized and start washing clothes and packing... So sad! But it is time to head home.....