Roman Holiday

As I think we've said before, 2009 was a whirlwind kind of year. We started off with moving to a new apartment, then running the Boston Marathon, getting engaged in Sydney, traveling to California a couple times, to Guelph and I also left my job at Northeastern to finish my Masters and student teach. On top of it all we thought, why not plan a wedding? We tend to enjoy being busy, though I am sure most of you know that.

Saying that, our honeymoon was something that had to be planned on the fly. We knew we were going to be in the UK for a good stint as many relatives, including both my sister-in-laws, could not make it to Boston for the event. We decided to have a party at Matt's cousin Sarah's restaurant (The Lemon Tree) in Hornsea, Yorkshire on the 27th of December so that those who could not make it could celebrate our marriage with us. This coupled with Christmas and New Year's meant that the honeymoon had to exist around all the time we knew we wanted to spend with family. We figured we would have an immediate mini-moon and at a future date, have another longer honeymoon. I finished student teaching on the 12th of December and we were on a plane on the 15th. I spent a good chunk of time with my 8th graders studying the Reformation, so when Matt mentioned Rome, I thought - Perfetto!

We spent about 6 days in Rome staying opposite the Tiber in the Donna Laura Hotel. The weather was a bit rainy and cold, but welcome compared to Boston winter. We wandered the streets of Rome stumbling upon history in such capacities that I could sometimes barely comprehend being from the good "Ole" US of A. Just strolling on the street you realize how many people have crossed the same bridge, stared at the same buildings, leaned on the same wall. The sites and sounds are such a unique amalgamation of ancient and modern. The blending as well of Roman culture with those of other European nations and the United States was something that made me feel alien and at home all at once. I did not dream in all my life I would be walking towards the Pantheon hearing Lady Gaga drift out of the speakers of a posh clothing shop. Each day brought new sites and sounds and every time I spotted something I studied in college it made feel as if I finally was completing parts of my academic adventures.

Our Roman Holiday brought us into a new chapter of our life together. It marked another experience which is uniquely Matt and Rinnie and reminded us once again why we are each others' favorite travel mates. We started an amazing journey in 2009 and we ended it in a fashion which we hope marks the majority of our lives - in discovering fun, love and life in new and exciting places, together.

Carpe diem!