"We are going to have a long layover in Heathrow," he said, almost apologetically when announcing the details of our flight. He didn't do well to hide his pleasure. I immediately knew he was as excited as I at the idea. England, and all the British Isles, formed the center of all my childhood daydreams. What fortune that my trip to Italy would include a day in London! Not enough, certainly, Keep Reading >>
Chapter Eight: Zurich
When booking the trip, my husband discovered it was cheaper to fly in and out of Zurich than to fly in and out of anywhere in Italy. That immediately meant we would take that romantic train trip through the alps. It also meant that I could add one more new country to my list. Switzerland! Hooray! Zürich Hauptbahnhof, the largest train station in Switzerland. Zurich is not a large city, so Keep Reading >>
Chapter Seven: Roman Holiday
I could spend a lifetime in Rome and never lose my sense of wonder. From the centuries of innovation and discovery to the constant return to God. I think I'm most humbled by the monuments people devote lifetimes to creating to honor and worship deity. We went in reverse chronological order in Rome. Contained in this stained glass are countless parables and messages. This stained glass Keep Reading >>
Chapter Six: Holy Bologna
We were in Florence. My husband's first college roommate lives in Vicenza. While it hadn't worked for us to get all the way east to visit him, he and his wife offered to meet us halfway in Bologna. So we hopped a train to meet them for dinner. Bologna is a fascinating city. I love that each city in Italy is fascinating and unique. I loved the architecture. And oh! I especially loved the Keep Reading >>
Chapter Five: Firenze
It is so easy to understand how so many artists and writers and philosophizers have lived in Florence over the centuries. Many people consider Florence to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You'll have to see for yourself. Our hotel in Florence was the stuff of Italian hotel dreams. While we were right downtown, a short walk from the train station, our room was blissfully quiet. Keep Reading >>
Chapter Four: Torino
I hesitate to even speak of Torino because it is such a hidden gem. I don't want it spoiled by the masses, I want to keep it to myself. In Turin I ate some of the best food of my life, but I'm saving all the food for a separate post. There are a couple of train stops in Turin. Because of the winter olympics, however, they have added metro lines as well. Clean, new stations greeted us at Keep Reading >>
Welcome Macy’s Backstage to Pentagon City
If you've been a long-time reader of Cherry Blossoms the Blog it should come as no surprise that we are big fans of Macy's and Macy's Backstage. I was lucky enough to cover both the openings of Macy's Backstage at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax, VA and Springfield Town Center in Springfield, VA. Macy’s Backstage offers a store-within-store shopping experience. Each of the stores is full of so many Keep Reading >>
Chapter Three: Milano
Oh Milano, we adore you. From the rooftop of the Duomo to the Galleria, to the Sforza Castle, and the best Napolitano pizza outside of Napoli, and so so so much more. Milano Centrale is beautiful from the outside as well. When people travel to Italy they normally head south. When my husband lived in Italy he lived in the north so we made sure to start our trip in the northern cities. Milano Keep Reading >>
Chapter Two: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, or How We Got to Our Destination Without Any of the Tickets We Originally Purchased
It's a domino effect. The city of Philadelphia shuts down for rain and suddenly we can't make our train in Zurich. Long story short we went through security three times in two non-consecutive airports, flew three different airlines, required ground transportation between terminals twice, purchased brand new train tickets and ate the cost of the original tickets, and somehow made it to Milan only Keep Reading >>
Chapter One: Everything Is Up In The Air Except Us
Not to brag this was the first time my husband and I got away together since parenthood. And of course before that we were too poor to go anywhere just the two of us. So to celebrate 20 years of wedded poverty bliss we got away. Just the two of us. With massive amounts of help from the grandparents. (Massive. I cannot stress enough how helpful they were.) (Also, in defense of my husband I need to Keep Reading >>