Ciao!

Over the past 3 days in Italy we have come to realize how limited our understanding is of Italian. That being said we are having an excellent time. The flight from Amsterdam to Rome was relatively short and uneventful. Dad was asleep by the time we took off and Justin wasn't far behind him. Mom and I didn't get much sleep but we did manage to get Madelyn to sleep, which was good for her. Aside from a first night adjustment of being awake from 1:0-2:30 am, Madelyn seems to be adjusting to the time change better than I am. She slept all night last night and was not ready to get up in the morning.

On Saturday we attempted to visit the Colosseum since our desk clerk at the hotel told us it was open until 7:00 pm, but as it turns out it close at 6:00 pm. So, we walked around the outside and went around the outside of the Roman Forum, and then had dinner and went back to the hotel. The

only unfortunate event of the night was when we burned out the CD player that we brought with us so we are music-less for Madelyn's sleeping, but we seem to have done alright so far.

Sunday morning we got up early and went to the Colosseum – it was open this time. Madelyn appropriately oohed and ahhed, but also fell asleep in the backpack carrier Becci and Micah carried. Then it was back to the hotel and to the ship.

Today we had our first stop of the cruise in Messina, Sicily. Our excursion took us to a cathedral in Messina and the Astronomical Clock. Madelyn fell asleep while I was carrying her around the cathedral and attached museum, so I missed the noon show of the clock because I was sitting in the shade, however the clock was on the fritz so it sounded like I didn't miss too much. We also went to see Christ the King Cathedral which overlooks the Straight of Messina.

Becci, Micah, Justin and I also completed a little shopping around Messina not far from where the ship was. The weather has been beautiful, and Madelyn has been an outstanding traveler. However, the internet on the ship is pretty slow and expensive, so I am not sure when this post is going to make it up or if any of the related pictures will be uploaded. We will give this a try!