Thankfully, Wes's mother Jane agreed to come over and watch the boys during the scouting trip in Feb. We sort of relived our honeymoon location in Rome without the kids and got to check out Florence for the first time. The only drawback was the pace was a little hectic preparing the way for the student trip. The boys really enjoyed spending time with Grandma Jane. I think she enjoyed it also but was probably glad to see us get back after 6 days with the boys. Jane also got to see Jack's birthday party (he turned 6) and we took a few side trips with her to Gent, Brussels, Maastricht and Aachen. So I think she had a fun trip. Thanks again mom.
Jane on a trip with Wes to Gent
The happy couple at the top of the Duomo in Florence with no bambinosOur first stop on the second trip was Florence. The trip out was smooth and after checking in at the hotel Kathy lead a walking tour of the city.
Here's Kathy doing her tour guide thing and Jesse doing his Gene Simmons impression
Figure of God looking down from the wall of the Duomo
Atlantis Fountain in the Piazza della Signoria
One of the several statues in the Loggia della Signoria
Taking a break from seeing the sightsThe next two days were full of museums tours so I took the boys in search of some green space to play some soccer while Kathy lead the group. The old part of Florence isn't very kid friendly but we finally found a strip of grass down by the river. The foam ball was one of the best things we brought along. The boys could kick it around almost anywhere we could find a quiet corner with no worries for broken windows etc...
Taking a break on the hike back to the hotelThe third day was a wine tour in the Tuscany hills around Florence. The cramped bus ride on windy roads wasn't that fun but the scenery and the tours of the vineyards was worth the trip.
The next day was a free day for everyone so we decided to take the short train trip to Pisa to check out the famous leaning tower. It was a beautiful clear day so we had a picnic in the grass in the shadow of the tower. I was impressed by the white stone of the tower and church set against the well manicured lawn surrounding them. Most of the sites we visit are surrounded by cities and concrete so it was a welcome change. Kathy was less impressed by the tourist trap feel of the surrounding shops.
Picnic at the tower in Pisa
Jack holding up the tower 
The Baptistery
The Baptistery, the Cathedral and the towerThe next morning it was off to Rome. We thought it would be a 3 hour bus ride but it turned into 4 thanks to traffic. After we checked into our hotel we took a short walking tour to the Forum and the Colosseum then back through the Circus Maximus.
Roman Forum
The boys playing soccer with the Loyola students in the Circus Maximus
The next day we had an appointment to visit the Vatican Museum. The museum is large and packed with people so it wasn't a good place to take the kids. Instead the boys and I checked out Saint Peter's square then headed back to the Castle Saint Angelo to play. The castle was originally the Mausoleum of Hadrian built in 135 AD but was later converted to a stronghold for the popes in the 14th century. There is even a raised fortified walkway between Saint Peter's and the castle to provide a safe passage in times of siege. Today there is a small park in the back of the castle. It's one of the only places to take kids in the heart of Rome.
The boys in front of the Castle Saint Angelo
Jesse at Saint Peter's Square
Jesse hanging out with a local. "What English do they speak here daddy?"The next day we went into the Colosseum, the Forum, and Palantine Hill
Here I am leading the tour of the Colosseum (I couldn't let Kathy have all the fun)
At the Colosseum
The Colosseum had displays of all the cool gladiator gear.
Coloring supplies were crucial during the sometimes long Italian dinners
The boys had pizza or pasta most nights - as you can see they usually didn't mind.One day we took a short train trip to Ostia Antica. It's a Roman town that used to be the primary port for Rome. It was abandoned over the years due to construction of a newer port farther north and the shifting of the river and coast line due to natural silting and erosion. Most of the town is pretty well preserved. It's a little like Pompeii. You can get the feel of walking down the streets of a Roman town.
Here's Jack and Jesse gun fighting with the Loyola students in the ruins
Remains of the amphitheater in the background
Ancient Toilet - going to the toilet used to be a social gathering.
Modern? Toilet at Ostia - I think I prefer the one from 2000 years ago; at least you could sit down. Jack said he really needed to go - until he saw this toilet then he decided he could wait. Just to clarify, those raised ridges are foot pads. I'll let you imagine the rest.Back in Rome the next day I took the students up to the Villa Borghese while Kathy took the boys to the Trevi Fountain.
We let the boys have one gelato a dayThe last day (at least we thought it was) we had a few hours before heading to the airport so we stopped in at the Capitoline Museum.
This is a remain of a famous statue of Constantine that used to sit in a giant basilica next to the ForumWe arrived at the airport on time, checked our bags, prepared to board our flight, then was told it was canceled. People were talking about the closure of the entire north of Europe. I was trying to figure out what weather event could close such a large area. Then someone told us about the volcano. We never guessed we would be stuck in Rome due to a volcano in Iceland.
Luckily Christel, Kathy's coworker in Leuven, helped us book a room for the night near the airport. At this point no one knew when flights would resume so we tried to rebook a flight but they told us to wait till the next day. We made the short taxi ride to our hotel. The room was really nice but the hotel was in the middle of a remodel so it was kind of a work zone all around us.
The next morning we found out the flights weren't going till at least the next day and our hotel had no vacancies. So we booked another hotel in town, left our bags at the front desk, and went to the beach to relax for a little while. The beach wasn't quite what we had hoped for. It was sort of like visiting a third-world country. We figured a beach 40 minutes from Rome would be a little nicer. Part of the problem might have been that we were in the off season - but it was still pretty horrible in general.
Luckily Christel, Kathy's coworker in Leuven, helped us book a room for the night near the airport. At this point no one knew when flights would resume so we tried to rebook a flight but they told us to wait till the next day. We made the short taxi ride to our hotel. The room was really nice but the hotel was in the middle of a remodel so it was kind of a work zone all around us.
The next morning we found out the flights weren't going till at least the next day and our hotel had no vacancies. So we booked another hotel in town, left our bags at the front desk, and went to the beach to relax for a little while. The beach wasn't quite what we had hoped for. It was sort of like visiting a third-world country. We figured a beach 40 minutes from Rome would be a little nicer. Part of the problem might have been that we were in the off season - but it was still pretty horrible in general.
The boys didn't mind the dingy surroundings
Fort built from drift woodLater that day we realized the airports might be shut down for several days. That means we had to help arrange some plan to get ourselves and the 23 Loyola students back to Leuven. We also had to change hotels again since our second hotel was booked. Each hotel switch was farther from the center of town so the last place was pretty much in the middle of nowhere.
Christel and Kathy contacted several bus companies. They found an Italian bus that could take us to Milan then a Belgium bus that could meet us in Milan and take us the rest of the way to Leuven. The only problem was that the Italian bus company wanted 3000 euros cash up front by that evening and they barely spoke any English. The nearest cash machines were a 30 minute walk so Kathy tried first. She made it to the machines only to find 20 other people waiting in line and a machine that only gave 50 euros at a time. She also had the pleasure of being accosted by a pervert pulling up in his car as she walked home. After Kathy's fun we tried to call the bus company to say we probably wouldn't have all the money that day. Luckily the hotel manager helped us translate on the phone. She told us it sounded fishy and she would put us in touch with a bus service she uses for the hotel. While they worked on a backup plan I made the 1 hour walk to the other ATM's and managed to get a few hundred more. I had planned to walk over and ride a cab back - but my phone ran out of money half way and I had to hike back.
Christel and Kathy contacted several bus companies. They found an Italian bus that could take us to Milan then a Belgium bus that could meet us in Milan and take us the rest of the way to Leuven. The only problem was that the Italian bus company wanted 3000 euros cash up front by that evening and they barely spoke any English. The nearest cash machines were a 30 minute walk so Kathy tried first. She made it to the machines only to find 20 other people waiting in line and a machine that only gave 50 euros at a time. She also had the pleasure of being accosted by a pervert pulling up in his car as she walked home. After Kathy's fun we tried to call the bus company to say we probably wouldn't have all the money that day. Luckily the hotel manager helped us translate on the phone. She told us it sounded fishy and she would put us in touch with a bus service she uses for the hotel. While they worked on a backup plan I made the 1 hour walk to the other ATM's and managed to get a few hundred more. I had planned to walk over and ride a cab back - but my phone ran out of money half way and I had to hike back.
By the time I made it back Kathy was getting worried that I had been mugged or run over. The good news was that she was able to line up the second bus company. They only charged 2000 and would accept part in cash and part on credit card. So we contacted the students to let them know they would be stuck at the airport overnight but that a bus would come to pick them up at 6am. The students said that the stay at the airport was actually an improvement over the conditions at the low-cost hostel they were staying at in Rome.
Leaving the airport in Rome at 6:00 am with the Italian bus
Driving through the fog north of Rome
Leaving the airport in Rome at 6:00 am with the Italian bus
Driving through the fog north of Rome
Many students were up all night at the airport so they caught some z's on the bus.
Switzerland had some great scenery
Major traffic jam just before the 17km tunnel through the Swiss Alps
Rolling into Leuven at 4:20 am, 22 hours and 20 minutes from departure
Jesse's face tells the whole story
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