North Island - New Zealand

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North Island - New Zealand

We took a ferry from Picton on the South Island of New Zealand across the Cook Strait to Wellington on the North Island. The seas were really rough that day, and unfortunately I had the worst seasickness of my life! When we got to Wellington all I wanted to do was sleep and do laundry. Chuck, Justin and Tania went out and met some locals and had a few beers. We didn't get to explore Wellington too much, but there's only so much you can do in a limited timeframe!

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South Island - New Zealand

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South Island - New Zealand

After our weekend in Kaikoura, we had a few days to relax and take in Christchurch.  Both Sam and I really loved the city, though it is a bit small and definitely a bit sleepy.  Everyone we spoke to told us that before the big earthquake several years ago the city was a bit more bustling, and you could definitely see how that would be true.  Though they have come a long way in rebuilding, the signs of the damage are all around in the central business district (where we were staying).

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Lugano, Switzerland

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Lugano, Switzerland

Following our month long excursion in Italy, Samantha and I headed north to the lakeside town of Lugano in Switzerland.  We stayed with my friend James' parents, who both work at a school there (The American School in Switzerland).  They have a lovely basement apartment and were gracious enough to let us stay for a while.  I love having dinner with Samantha every night but, it was really nice to have a few more English speakers around to dine with! They also were able to suggest some really lovely restaurants and hikes to really soak in the culture.

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Ortisei, Italy & the Italian Alps

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Ortisei, Italy & the Italian Alps

In Milan we picked up our gem of a rental car.  Its an a little Opel hatchback that struggles with just about everything.  But for $20 per day it’s tough to complain, and the AC works great!  We left Milan and headed up North to the Dolomites (part of the Italian Alps) on recommendation from Dad and Cindy.  We stayed in the beautiful ski resort town of Ortisei, which while technically in Italy has a very Austrian feel.  This meant real beer (!) and hearty food.  

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Split, Croatia & Krka National Park

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Split, Croatia & Krka National Park

We left Montenegro to cross the border back into Croatia and make our way up the Dalmatian Coast. Split, Croatia's second-largest city (and largest city in the Dalmatian region) was a great place to stay for a few days. Split is home to Diocletian's Palace, which is a palace built in the fourth century for a Roman emperor of the same name.

This huge, fortress-like structure is enmeshed in the heart of the city.

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The Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

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The Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

Meteora is one of the most incredible things I've ever seen in my life. In my opinion, it's just as cool as the Acropolis, made more amazing by the fact that far, far less tourists visit this destination, since it's a bit out of the way.

Meteora is a formation of massive monolithic columns, topped with monasteries built as early as the 14th century. It made me think of my brother Justin and my sister-in-law Tania constantly, since he's a geologist and she is a structural engineer--the perfect combination.

The pictures below don't do this UNESCO World Heritage site justice. 

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