The Montage at Laguna Beach, CA

Sunday, November 27, 2011 we went to church with the  Andrizzi's.  Their church is on the same property as the Newport Beach Temple.  A terrific setting.  After church we went home and prepared a picnic lunch to take to The Montage at Laguna Beach.  This is a private hotel which has access to the pubic beach at Laguna.  You enter onto the beach area by walking along a pathway through the hotel property.  It was enjoyable sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean while eating our picnic lunch. We stayed until the sun set over the Pacific Ocean - an inspiring view.

Flynn and the Andrizzi children took a path to the water's edge and enjoyed splashing in the water and climbing over the rocks in the ocean while we stayed on the high ground.

An enjoyable afternoon picnic at the beach. The sun is setting over the Pacific Ocean as we left for the day.  It was a great day spent with the Andrizzi family.

Thanksgiving at Newport Beach - 2011

Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 24, 2011.  We drove down from Salt Lake on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with the Andrizzis.  That afternoon assisted Flynn in putting up their Christmas Lights.  Had our car washed by Andrizzi's roving car washing crew.  They did a great job. Wish they were in the Salt Lake area. Alan called to advise that Easton had arrived in Guatemala at the MTC and was happy to be there as a missionary.

On Thanksgiving Day the weather was as clear as could be and one could see all the way to Catalina Island (a distance of 26 miles).   Went down to the coast for a stroll and visited Inspiration Point.

Later in the day we were invited by the Andrizzi's to be their guests for Thanksgiving Dinner at the Newport Beach Country Club. Meal consisted of shrimp, salmon, salads, chicken, sword fish, rice stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey, prime rib, deserts, etc.

Looking towards Catalina Island

Our queen and her two groomsmen.

We are ready for a turkey dinner.

Where is our turkey? ? ?

Newport Beach Country Club

We are Leaving Rome

Today is the day we leave Napoli and return to Salt Lake City.  It has been  glorious 5 weeks. We appreciate Cydney and Damon's hospitality and for putting up with us and being our chauffeur through the whole of Italy and into Austria and Germany.  They made this truly a trip of a lifetime.  Cydney took us to the Roma airport where we caught our flight back to the United States. Arrivederci Roma! ! ! ! ! 

We are on our way home! ! ! ! ! 

Mother's Day - 2011

Today is Mother's Day. We went to church services this morning at the Caserta Branch then home for a family celebration of Mother's Day.  We had a nice Sunday meal prepared by Cydney.

Happy Mother's Day - 2011

Goodbye to the Naval Support Site Housing

We are so glad to have had you stay with us.

Going Home

Saturday, May 7 - Took two more packages to the NEX to be mailed to Andrea.  Things are winding down as we get ready for Mother's Day tomorrow. Had grilled hotdogs for lunch.

Went to the Arizona Pizzeria one more time before we leave Italy. They really have good Italian pizza and pasta.

Currency exchange rate - $1.53 american = one Euro.

Sorrento/Positano, Italy

Today we went to Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast and took a boat to Positano and made a walking tour of the city.  Positano is a city built on a hill and the only way to get up and down the streets is to walk as there are no roads within the city.  It was a fun day which we enjoyed with Cydney, Savannah and Halle. At the end of our tour, we walked to the top and took a city bus back to Sorrento, got our car and returned to Napoli and home.  We were able to purchase gifts for our daughters, friends, sisters, etc.  Bought some scarfs for the women and chocolate treats for the men.

Foreigner's Club - where all good friends meet
overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean.

View of the bay from the balcony of the Foreigner's Club

City built on a hill

The red hotel on the left is $2500.00/night.

Yum-Yum

Another view from the Foreigner's Club

Cinco De Mayo - Visit to Rome

Today was our day to visit Rome. We went to the train station in Napoli and caught the train to Roma.  Upon arrival we took a walking tour going to the Rome Coliseum, The Sistine Chapel, and Vatican City.  We think this is one of the highlights of our trip to Italy.  We also took a bus tour around Rome to get a better view of the sights.  The Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican were very impressive.

Our arrival at the train station in Roma.

The Coliseum in Rome

Banners throughout Vatican City in preparation for Easter

St. Peter's Square and Basilica

Michelangelo's Last Supper in the Sistine Chapel

An altar inside the Basilica

"Three coins in the fountain, somewhere in the heart of Rome"

Naval Support Living Quarters

Tuesday, May 3 - helped Cydney straighten up her pantry, closets and kitchen.  Took most of the day.  Damon received a Fitness Report from his commanding officer, Admiral Harris, placing him at #3 of 45 commanders on Admiral Harris' staff.

Way to go Damon.

Wednesday, May 4 - another day of cleaning and helping Cydney. Made another trip to the NEX to mail boxes home.  Had a nice lunch at Subway.  Halle and Savannah had soccer practice today.  Our time in Naples is coming to a close as we leave next Monday to return home.

Isle of Capri - Italy

We traveled by boat from the Port of Naples for a visit to the Isle of Capri where we booked a boat tour around the island.  We stopped at many beautiful grottos along the way.  Most dramatic was the Blue Grotto.Cyd took a dingy inside the grotto and took some pictures. The water is the most beautiful blue which is the result of the sunlight being reflected off the limestone in the grotto. Rode an inclined railway up the side of the mountain to reach the city center of Capri.  Had lunch and a self-guided walking tour of the city. Left Capri at 4:30 pm to return to the mainland - Port of Naples.

Hydro-foil boat to take us to Capri

One of many grottos on the isle of Capri

Our tour boat anchored by the Blue Grotto

Inside the blue Grotto

Cydney on her boat ride inside the Blue Grotto

Overlooking the city of Capri

Entrance to hotel on Capri

Rebers

Today is Fast Sunday. We attended church at the Caserta Branch with the Dixons.  Services were from 9AM to Noon. Once again an interesting experience to hear testimonies borne in Italian and translated into English by the full time missionaries.

After our block of meetings we visited with Brother and Sister Reber. They are full-time couple missionaries who just arrived in Naples. Their assignment is to work with the military personnel and others who are not active in the church.  They are from South Jordan, Utah. It was good to get acquainted with them. Their apartment on the second floor is above a local night club, which makes it interesting for them.

Sister Reber plays the ukulele and took the time to teach Halle how to play and taught her a song - She'll be Coming Around the Mountain".  Maybe we will have a ukulele player in the family.

National Archaeological Museum of Napoli

Main Entrance into the museum

We've had it and are waiting for Dad

Typical traffic in downtown Napoli

Today we had planned on a visit to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius with the Dixon family.  Our plans were changed due to rainy weather (light to heavy rain, high temperature 18 degrees C).  We opted to go to the National Archaeological Museum of Napoli.  While enroute, Damon was called to work. He dropped us off at the entrance to the museum and said he would be back in a couple of hour.  Inasmuch as it was raining we welcomed the opportunity to be inside a building for the next couple of hours.   It was very enjoyable to learn about Roman and Italian history.

Later in the afternoon, Savannah had a soccer game at 3:30 p.m., playing in the rain. Her team won by a score of 1 - 0.

Royal Wedding - London, England

Friday - April 29 - The Royal Wedding was held in London, England today.  Prince William and Catherine were married. Spent a lazy day at home watching the events unfold.  Bev had her hair set.  Halle had a soccer game.  Cydney made baked chicken and Margarita pizza for dinner.

ASC (American Soccer Club of Napoli) had a tournament in Caserta, which the girls were involved in.

Nuovo Castle, Napoli, Italy

The Moat around the Nuovo Castle

The Opera House in Downtown Napoli

The City Square in Napoli

Down this alley and to the right is Gambrinus

Thursday Wash Day in downtown Napoli.

Italy's Best Pizza

Inside Brandi's - downtown Napolli

Nuovo Castle