Thunderbird Falls & Lake Eklutna

Our summer in Alaska was gorgeous this year, so Vince and I tried to make the most of our time off. I had been wanting to visit Thunderbird Falls, so we headed out one sunny afternoon to check it out. It is a relatively quick drive from where we live, so it was a great impromptu trip!

Signs at the trailhead

T-Bird Falls :)

The trail to the falls is only a mile, so we 

decided to go check out nearby Eklutna Lake

Good times at the beach; looks like a great place to camp next summer!

Summer Fishing On The Kenai

July in Alaska means two things: good weather (usually) and red salmon. Vince and I were bound and determined to fill our freezer with fish, but our time was limited... The solution? Dipnetting! For those of you unfamiliar with this, the process is as follows: you get a fishing license, get a dipnetting tag, grab a big net, and head for the river. From there, all you have to do is stick the net in the water and be patient- as schools of fish enter the river, they will swim right into the net. Pull up, place fish in cooler, and repeat. 25 fish max per person, per day ;)

We made arrangements to stay with my cousin in Soldotna the night before our fishing trip and booked a local guide to take us out on his boat (much easier than trying to fight the current and haul in fish!)

The cute fam (& Vince) playing "Apples to Apples" with the kids :)

On the boat!

Cooler #1...

...and Cooler #2! 

We didn't get our limit, but it was plenty for us. We picked up some ice, visited some friends in town, and headed back home to Anchorage for a marathon "fillet night." I was a little rusty, but we eventually got all the salmon cleaned, vacuum-sealed, and in the freezer :)

Fond Farewell

Sigh. Our time in Italy was coming to an end. It had been a trip of a lifetime so far, and I was sad that we had to leave! At least we had until late afternoon before it was airport time. We packed our bags, left them at the front desk, and headed out to enjoy our last few hours in The Eternal City.

I HAD to see just one more market- Mercato Trionfale

Vince evaluating the cherries ;)

Our first glimpse of porchetta at the Mercato

We left the Mercato and set out for an espresso

This turned out to be my favorite espresso place of the trip

Our next stop was Eataly- it was truly impressive; check out those colors!

The seafood counter

Fresh scallops

Cheese...

The meat counter

Time to try the famous porchetta (at Eataly)- wow

A crispy bit :P

The craft beer counter was next

Last- but not least- gelato

It was nice to have one last meal before we headed to the airport for the grueling trip home. With heavy hearts (and luggage!), we made our way to Fiumicino International...

Thankfully, our trip home went off without a hitch, and we made it home safe and sound. We were truly blessed with an epic honeymoon and we can't wait to go back :)

Day 7 In Rome

Our 7th day in Rome was our last full day, so Vince and I decided to take it easy and try to see a few of the sights we hadn't seen yet. Our first stop was the Borghese gardens...

Serene

Our next stop was Piazza del Popolo

Statues in the Prati neighborhood

Next? The Castel Sant'Angelo; this catapult was inside

Vince and I enjoying the view from the top :)

The highest point of the castle

Espresso time! Cafe San Eustachio is a popular spot

From there, we went to find the oldest bridge in Rome

Ponte Fabricio- this bridge was built in 62 BC

We enjoyed our leisurely afternoon until we worked up an appetite

appetite for our last dinner... It was a crazy cab ride there, but worth it!

The view of the patio from our table...

...complete with grape vines overhead

I was determined to try a fried squash blossom before we left :)

Fried gnocchi and Pecorino cheese sauce

Pasta alla gricia- simple, but amazingly good

Last- but not least- was braised oxtail in red 

sauce; one of the best things I tried in Italy for sure!

We finished our meal, found our way to a nearby bus stop (just follow the locals!), and slowly made our way back to the hotel for the night. It was time to shower, pack, and get ready for our long trip home the next day...

Day Trip To Orvieto & Assisi

After a relatively tranquil day at the Vatican, Vince and woke up ready for our next day trip to Orvieto & Assisi. We met our tour group in central Rome, got on a bus, and headed into the country.

The view looking down from Orvieto

Orvieto's main piazza

Charming alley

Orvieto's Cathedral- stunning Gothic style

Sculpture in the entryway

Interior (main floor)

Stained glass

Basement chapel

Ceiling in one of the chapels- beautiful

We all had some time to explore the city before re-grouping at the bus to head to Assisi. Although our group was large, everyone eventually got organized and off we went.

Our lunch stop was an agriturismo along the way

The property was lovely!

Almost to our second city...

We made it to Assisi, got off the bus, and headed 

out to explore the charming city with our tour guide

A neat renaissance festival was taking place- too cool

Alley view

Inside a small church in the older part of Assisi

The Bascilica of Saint Mary of The Angels & The Martyrs

Closer look

This church was pretty special; it was built around the

original church of St. Francis of Assisi (one of my favorite saints)

Our group spent the last part of the trip around the Bascilica and then it was time to head back to Rome. It had been a long day of traveling, but the views, the art, and the history we saw was definitely worth the road time :)