Making Memories

For our first wedding anniversary James and I re-visited the awesome hotel we stayed at after the wedding (our pre-honeymoon!).  Boon is so refreshing.  Guerneville is so low-key.  Long weekends are a delight.  Our first year of marriage was fantastic.  We've had so much fun and we bid adieu to newlywed status in style.  

We started the weekend with a hike through the redwoods in the Armstrong Redwoods State Park.  The rest of the weekend we relaxed by the pool, rode bikes into town where we window shopped and ate a delicious (and organic) lunch, caught up on reading, and enjoyed each others' company.  

We were lucky enough to enjoy a delicious anniversary cake - a mini version of our wedding cake!  I still cannot believe our wedding was one year ago.  We are still feeling the love and happiness from that day!

Oh, and I'm (still) obsessed with my wedding sandals!

Venice, Italy [Honeymoon Part Ten]

Venice was our last stop on our honeymoon and I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was in autumn.  The fog was rolling in at all angles, the air was crisp and fresh against our faces, the narrow streets were tourist-free, the sun trying to break through the mist creating a glow, and the colorful leaves on the trees in all their glory.  It sounds cliche to have Venice at the top of my "favorite places" list - especially considering all we saw on our honeymoon - but we really felt nothing but love and excitement for this city.  Maybe it was because we had beeen here before a few years prior on a backpacking trip through Europe.  This time we weren't feeling the pressure to see "everything" and so I enjoyed it ALL, every detail, every sound, every delight!

We had time to meander the streets, window shop, and relax at cafes.  Our only goal:  get lost!  I loved EVERY SECOND.

Ravenna, Italy [Honeymoon Part Nine]

Ravenna was such a gift.  I had no expectations of this city and I was delighted!  It was an especially crisp fall day with newly fallen leaves and a chilly breeze.  We meandered through the streets just enjoying the shops, churches, piazzas, and cafes.  Fun fact:  Dante Alighieri is buried in Ravenna (I had no idea)!  My humanities professor would be proud. 

I truly enjoyed all the great details we discovered on our stroll... wrought iron fencing, door knobs, old wooden doors, stone walls... What a fabulous city!

Dubrovnik, Croatia [Honeymoon Part Eight]

Croatia!  It was amazing to see the place where half of my father's family came from.  I wish my family could have experienced it with me but I'm hopeful we can make a return trip.  The weather was dark and rainy but it only added to the mystique of the walled city of Dubrovnik.  The water was a bright blue against the grey sky and the wind was whipping my scarf, we had to duck into a cafe for coffee and tea during a downpour.  We strolled through the old city, saw a fruit market and walked up the narrow stairways passing many doorways and colorful cats.  I also bought some beautiful handmade earrings from a man who knew a village near Split where members of my family live!  I can't wait to return!

As we were leaving port, the wind was so strong we weren't allowed on deck.  I was able to snap a few photos and feel the winds before going inside.  The waves were gorgeous against the dark green coast.