Last Blog Post

Wow, today is August 31st.  Time to write my last 'regular' blog post.  I've been writing this blog for a little over two years now and I have a lot of mixed feelings about its end.

Almost three years ago we found out we would be moving to Italy for a two year assignment.  It took almost 9 months to process all the paperwork and make all the arrangements to live and work in Italy.  It seemed to take forever to get to Italy.  Time flies.  Now we are home and our time in Italy almost feels like a dream.

We had an amazing experience.  Italy was all that we hoped it would be and so much more.  So much more!  It was truly the opportunity of a lifetime.

I would highly suggest to anyone reading this to seize the opportunity to live abroad if it ever presents itself.  It will change you.  It will change your view of the world.

We were able to experience so many places and activities while living in Italy.  We climbed and toured more castles than I can count.  We toured more museums than most people get to experience in a lifetime.  We viewed many marvelous cathedrals.  We successfully navigated subway systems in over a dozen European cities.  We marveled at all kinds of architecture, from modern to early centuries.  We rode on trains, planes, boats, gondolas, alpine slides, mine cars, funiculare, bicycles, buses, taxis, tour buses, and much more.  We saw the Mona Lisa, the statue of David, and so many other greats I can't even remember them all.  We cruised the canals of Venice in a gondola.  Drank wine on the Grand Canal.  Enjoyed the views from the Eiffel Tower.  Walked through the Red Light District of Amsterdam.  Watched the Tour de France, the Tour di Suisse, the Giro d'Italia, the Milan San Remo, and many other professional bike races.  We cruised the waters of Lago di Como and walked the ancient streets of Pompeii.  During our two years in Italy we traveled 201 days.

I could go on and on.  In short, we lived two years of life to the fullest.  NO Regrets!  That was the motto Katrina came up with and lived by it.

So, with sadness and excitement for the next chapters in our lives, I sign off from our home in Oregon.  It's been an amazing two years and I thank all of you for joining and sharing in our journey.

Mike (our friend and Katrina's coworker), Katrina, Me and Brandon celebrating our last Friday evening dinner out at Mexicali.  

Arrivederci e grazie amici - Goodbye and thank you friends.

Patrick, Katrina and Brandon