all aboard to the inauguration!

I just purchased Amtrak tickets to head down to DC next week for the inauguration. For the price I paid, I could have flown round-trip from Nebraska to New Jersey!  But can you really put a price on something as historic as the inauguration of Barak Obama as president?
Of course, the friend I’m going to [...]

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i’m a “published” photographer

My photo of the Rialto Bridge (above) taken on my honeymoon has been included in the newly released sixth edition of the Schmap Venice Guide. Does this make me a published photographer?
About Schmap:

Schmap is a leading publisher of digital travel guides for 200 destinations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. More [...]

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floodwaters in venice

Have you heard about the floodwaters in Venice?  On Monday, the waters reached 61 inches, their highest point in 22 years and the fourth highest flood level since 1872.  Isn’t that incredible?
Here are some photos of popular tourist spots in Venice that I took while on my honeymoon in September and ones from AOL News [...]

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road trip to minneapolis

Over Columbus Day Weekend, J and I took an impromptu road trip to Minneapolis to check out furniture options for our new house.  The plan was to go to West Elm, Crate&Barrel, Room&Board, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and IKEA (of those six stores, we only have Pottery Barn in Omaha).  Of course, a trip to [...]

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a wonderfully exhausting honeymoon

J and I had a truly fantastic time in Italy. The past ten days were completely exhausting, though! I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep and a day without sightseeing tomorrow.
As wonderful as our honeymoon was it feels good to be back–even though we haven’t quite made it to Omaha yet.
Can’t wait to catch [...]

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when in rome…

Today we leave Florence to go to Rome for the remainder of our honeymoon. I can’t believe it’s almost over! While in Rome we plan to:
* See the Colosseum, the Forum and the Pantheon
* Visit Vatican City
* Spend time at the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
* Tour the Jewish Ghetto
* Shop and eat more gelato!
(Rome [...]

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first time to florence

Today we leave Venice and head to Florence. Sights to see in Florence:
* Accademia
* Duomo
* Giotto’s Tower
* Ponte Vecchio
* Bargello
* Medici Chapel
* San Lorenzo Market
* Uffizi Gallery
* Church of Santa Maria Novella/Old Perfumery
* Santa Croce Church
* Pitti Palace/Boboli Garden
Florence is my mother’s favorite city in the world, so I have very high expectations! From what [...]

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veni vidi… venice

1. Colors of Venice, 2. Venezia Maschere – Venice Masks, 3. Santiago Calatrava’s new bridge for Venice, 4. Night in a venetian alley, 5. green liquid street, 6. traffic lights in venice
Venice is our first stop in Italy. We’ll be there from Tuesday afternoon until mid-morning on Friday. On our agenda:
* St. Mark’s Basilica and [...]

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ciao, italia!

Italy, here we come! J and I leave for Italy late this afternoon.  We’ll arrive in Rome early tomorrow morning and then hop on a train to Venice. After spending three days in Venice, we’ll go to Florence for three days and then take the train back to Rome for the last three days of [...]

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what i’m bringing to italy (so far)

Last night I began trying on and laying out all of the clothes I’m planning to bring to Italy. This is what my packing list looks like, not including toiletries and accessories (note we will be arriving in Italy early in the morning on Tuesday 9/9 and leaving in the afternoon on Thursday 9/18):

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