Travel

Oct 22, 2023 ∞

Had a great time at Big Cedar Lodge and driving home today. Departed at 6:40 am after being the first customers at Truman’s cafe for coffee. 9 hours of driving with a couple stops on the way. Final total of 1,338 miles in four days!

Oct 20, 2023 ∞

We had a great fall cruise on the Lady Liberty at Big Cedar. I live boat cruises. Fall colors are a little late this year. 🍂

Oct 20, 2023 ∞

We had a fun round of mini golf this morning at Big Cedar. Great course and the large bass was a nice signature hole! 🕳️

Oct 19, 2023 ∞

Giant pretzel from Uncle Buck’s at Big Cedar. 🥨😮

Jul 30, 2023 ∞

Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 17

Weather: Warm morning in Florence. Airports fine.

Pack up suitcases for journey home
Breakfast at hotel
Taxi to Florence Airport
Tyler forgets Pokémon gifts in airport at another gate and runs back and is able to recover them right before we board. 😳
KLM 1642 City Hopper flight to Amsterdam
Flight delayed over 40 mins due to baggage loading issues. Anxious with an already short transfer to next flight.
Another Amazing Race experience as we dashed from the Cityhopper late arrival to gate D47 with only 25 minutes to departure. Cleared passport control on super-fast-cut-in-front-of-everyone and were the last four welcomed onto the plane by the KLM gate agent waving us along! 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♂️
Delta 165 to Minneapolis landed at 5p CT
Lyft ride home
Home Sweet Home!

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Jul 29, 2023 ∞

Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 16

Weather: Hot and sunny.

Breakfast at hotel
Walk to cooking class pickup
Ride to Accidental Tourist villa
Pasta cooking class in Tuscan Countryside with Accidental Tourist
Ride back to pickup location
walk to hotel
Cool down, freshen up
Taxi to Chalet Fontana to get olive oil and honey, but they don’t sell their honey ☹️🍯
Walk back to hotel with “The Struggle”
Cool down and freshen up
get gelato at Venchi
Help Angie get pool open over FaceTime
Walk around and shopping
Tammy and Mazie purchased matching linen shirts
Dinner at New Bridge pizza with Moscato d’Asti
Stroll around Duomo and take in last scenes of Florence at night
Return to hotel
😴

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Jul 28, 2023 ∞

Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 15

Weather: Warm and cloudy in the morning. Hotter and sunnier in the afternoon.

Breakfast at hotel
Short walk to meeting point for David and Duomo VIP Walking Tour
Viewing of Michelangelo’s David
Tour of Duomo of Florence
Walk to special tour of rooftop terrace of Duomo
Walk up to tour dome of the Duomo which triggers fear of heights and makes all but Mazie turn down before proceeding to the top of the dome.
Mazie solo visits the top of the Duomo Dome.
Mazie’s trek to the top of the Dome is extended due to a dignitary from China visiting Duomo
We all collect together and get Gelato at Venchi and Tyler chooses a crêpe instead
Lunch at Central Market: Tyler gets smashburger, Jamie gets Tagliatelli with truffle sauce, Mazie and Tammy split caprese panini.
E-bike Florence & Taste of Tuscany with We Like Tuscany
Stop at Chalet Fontana for Olive Oil tasting.
Walk back to hotel to freshen up and quick change
Ristorante Natalino for Bistecca which is giant and very rare. Mazie gets the House Lasagna and likes it but it is very different than what we usually have for lasagna. Tyler has more pasta with butter.
After dinner Gelato at Rivareno, again Tyler gets a crêpe and this time with two scoops of gelato as well.
Slow walk back to hotel
Stop at Venchi for some after dinner chocolate for Mazie and Jamie

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Jul 27, 2023 ∞

Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 14

Weather: Cool morning in Venice. Very nice. Much warmer in Florence in the evening. Nice in the shade.

Bad restaurant choice for crêpes at breakfast, but had nice seating in the shade
Much better choice for pastries at Pasticceria Giovanni
Return to Combo Hotel to get luggage
Attempt to recreate photo from our wedding.
Water taxi to Venice train station
Train 8929 to Florence
Walk from train station to Arté Boutique Hotel with our luggage
Get checked into hotel, first hotel where we are all in the same room on this trip
Walk to meeting point for our evening Pizza and Gelato class
Recreate photo from our wedding in celebration of our 21st Anniversary!
Take bus few minutes out of Florence into Tuscan hills
Great time at Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class: Tammy and Jamie make Stracciatella and Mazie and Tyler make Pistachio gelato. Everyone makes Margarita pizzas, except Jamie with sausage and spiced oil.
Take bus back to Florence
Walk back to hotel
😴

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Jul 26, 2023 ∞

Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 13

Weather: Warm and sunny, cool evening

Underwhelming breakfast at combo hotel
Walk to Lagoon Excursion: Murano Glass, Burano and Wine
Took boat to Burano with Christiano, Aubrey, and Ozzie on the special local route
Admire Burano lace and watch one of the last 7 remaining lacemakers at work
Rainbow of colorful houses
Enjoy a ton of unique Venetian cookies: chocolate chip, coconut, apricot, and Nutella
Sample tomato, basil, and cream cheese chicchetti as a pre-wine appetizer
Walk around Vinezza vineyard and learn about the struggles of the high ground and low ground grapes
Sample Venuza and Veniza wines
Boat to neighboring Murano island
Glass blowing and sculpting demonstration
Explore the many various glass shops/factories in Murano
Boat back to Venice and say goodbye to Christiano
Walk to a pizza/ panini hole in the wall spot recommended by Christiano
Meander back to hotel and stop at Time bakery for some Doja bread and cream puffs
Pit stop at hotel: Jamie stays behind to update YNAB while Tammy, Mazie, and Tyler venture out to explore hundreds of secret alleys in the city
Tyler buys Real Madrid jersey at soccer shop
Meet up at Birraria La Corte for dinner
Delicious bread, pizza, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, tiramisu, biscuit and marscapone cream basket, and panna cotta
Walk back to Hotel
Chill

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Jul 21, 2023 ∞

Hike to Soglio

Our sixth and final day of hiking into the beautiful town of Soglio.

Part of Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection. Also see Casaccia to Soglio from Europe 2004 Collection collection.

Jul 14, 2023 ∞

Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 1

Weather: Warm & Sunny

DL162 land In Amsterdam (10:26a)
Sit on tarmac for 55 minutes waiting for gate to be available
Clear passport control
DL9568 to Zurich
Landed in Zurich (2:06p)
Checked in at Motel One Zurich
Tuk Tuk Fondue Tour
Walk around old city
Sleep early, everyonr tired

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Jul 13, 2023 ∞

Switzerland & Italy Log - Day 0

Weather: Very nice warm day.

Lyft to MSP. Super nice driver.
Cheeseburgers at Shake Shack. 🍔🍔🍔 Mazie got a quesadilla somewhere else.
DL162 to Amsterdam departing at 7:50pm.
Change to Central European Time, ahead 7 hours.

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Oct 24, 2022 ∞