Our New Friend....

While on Cádiz, we met a new friend, but can you find him?

While meandering on the island, we stumbled upon our new friend's home, as seen below.  It is very ancient.  We did not get to look at it much, apparently, there is an entrance, which we did not go find. People will gather here...any clues...and I will say it was likely not for church...

Not everything is bigger in TX...

On more than one occasion, we have encountered small parking spots.  Our lunch spot was even smaller than these...

Day 7: Island hopping

After a few days of calling various people, Khun Top (The McGuire's driver and the man with ALL the connections) helped to get us set up with a private boat to go visit a turtle sanctuary, snorkeling, and all around island hopping.  We get there...and see this little dingy.  Oh boy!!!  We are all about to freak out.  Then a few minutes later...a much bigger boat comes.  We were all a little relieved.

For a total of $13000 baht ... give or take ... we have a nice boat at our disposal.  We went to three islands...got to spend as much time as we want at each island...and got to pick exactly where we went.  The boat driver had us all a massive lunch, water and soda, and fresh fruit.  We could not have asked for a better time or more for our money...

Island #1:

Island #2:  

Island #3:

 Simply...beautiful!

Day 6: ATV trek, Thai cooking class, and Tiffany's

We started the day off with a 2 hour ATV ride.

We drove through pineapple and tapioca fields, ponds, and beautiful scenery.  

After a mad dash back to the house, we all showered and went to Happy Home Thai Cooking School.

Our kitchen station precooking

Waiting on Jason and Ken

Ingredients for Pad Thai

Plating my Pad Thai

For our evening entertainment, we went to the Tiffany show. 

And of course...Wezul had to get in on the act...by participating briefly in the show, you will have to ask him for the details.  Haha!  Too bad they prohibited pictures and video.  Then afterwards....

Day 5: Elephant trek, movies, and Mam's

Jason and Ken went on an elephant trek, ox cart ride, and a riverboat tour.  Maria and I watched two movies and went to the floating market.  This post to be edited at a later date once I gather all the pictures and videos back in the States...

Day 4: Animals galore...

Our first stop was the Sriracha tiger zoo...

Need I say anymore.  We also got to feed the tiger cubs...

We went on to watch a Crocodile show...but once you hold a tiger cub...it kinda pales in comparison.  Then we went to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo.  Here we were able to feed giraffes, rhinos, hippos, deer, and other critters....

This is one of the sweetest zoos.  Besides being able to get up close with the animals, you can either drive around in a golf cart or your car...get out at the attractions and walk up to the exhibits.  Then some of the animals cages are open.  All hey have to do is literally run and jump.  We still do not know how they keep them in.  Then they have the biggest aviary I have ever seen.

And this is just a waterfall they built in it.  

Day 3: Nong Nooch Gardens

First...and simply...all I have to say is ELEPHANTS...

And elephants...

And more elephants...

There is a lot more to the Nongnooch gardens than elephants...like...

Day 2: Sanctuary of Truth

Our first official stop was the Sanctuary of Truth.

This is a wooden structure that was started in 1981.  The entire structure is put together by the use of various woodworking joints...like tongue and grove...dovetails...etc.

The structure is not complete.  They are still busy building, hand carving, and repairing the wood that has been eaten by the termites.  

The string you see above was placed by a monk during a special ceremony.  Unfortunately, I could not catch what the ceremony was or when it took place.  

Just amazing this is all hand carved.

Day 1: the flight

Our first flight little did we realize at RDU...we will be sharing the flight with the world champion super snorer champion of 2014.  While waiting at the gate, it was on...then after we board the plane he picked up where he left off after being rueful awaken by the boarding call....he snored the entire way to Houston.  

Flight from Houston to Tokyo...was long...REAL long.

We had a nice layover while there and chilled out at the United Club.  Where we met a couple from Raleigh headed to Thailand for their honeymoon.  Then we boarded the plane for Thailand, and Jason fell in love with the carrier...ANA.  They offered up free booze...warm towels...and lots of food.  United fed us three times, but no FREE booze.  ANA:1 United: 0.  

The six hour flight to Thailand from Japan seemed way longer than the 12-13 hour flight from Houston to Japan.  We thought it would never end.  

Pompeii: Day 8

More driving.  More crazy nuts.  It is all with it...

At last, this is our last day...but that is ok...we are ready to be home.  

Pisa: Day 7

On our way back to Rome, we decided to go see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It is amazing, depending on your point of view, it is either really leaning, or just slightly leaning.  We didn't have time to go into any of the structures or the tower.  But Wezul got his first taste of gelato on this trip here.  Afterwards, we decided to drive down the coast.

It was very pretty, though, finding a restroom is difficult...thank goodness for Mc Donald's.  You still need to be prepared to carry your own "supplies"...TP...is kinda lacking in some spots...but luckily...I am always prepared.  Haha!!

Rome: Day 5

Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini was close to our hotel.  Unfortunately, we were unable to take photos of the artwork, but it was quite beautiful.  We then decided to go to the planetarium...oh boy...we will avoid that discussion...for it was well discussed in our Facebook post...haha!!!!!!

Florence: Day 6

A new day...a new adventure and frayed nerves.  After spending all our time in Rome, it was time to get our rental car!  The process makes you appreciate the process in America.  You pay...get keys...get car...and off you go.  In Italy, you go on a treasure hunt for the rental desk.  Wait in line for 20 minutes or more...get your keys.  Then you have to walk several blocks to find the parking garage.  Then you have to figure out which cars are for your rental company and try and locate your vehicle in the tightly packed garage.  Oh yeah...using the key fob to blink the lights or honk the horn...does not work.  Then when you find your car, it takes patience, prayers, and a few cuss words to get out of the parking deck.  Then you say constant prayers until you get on the autostrade (highway)...because when they save the drivers are daredevils...that is putting it nicely.

However, once you get to the highway, it is somewhat less stressful.  All the frustration was worth it.  We got to see David...and the view from the hotel...

Rome: Day 4

I am sooooo creative with these blog titles!  Either way, y'all have to love me.  Today, we spent the day walking, walking, walking, and you guessed it, more walking.  Thank goodness for cabs!

This morning we went to Fontana di Trevi so we could toss our coins in to guarantee our return trip to Rome.  It is a must since we need to take a class at That's Amore!  You take Fabio's class, and he will then allow you to access all of his recipes.  

Sidenote:  the owner, Fabio is having a commercial or documentary made of his place last night.  We were there while filming.  Let's just say the cameraman hit my chair as he passed thru a couple of times.  

After ensuring our return to Rome, we went to the Pantheon.

It is a little big....

Afterwards, we just wondered around like crazy people and saw some cool random items.

Lunch consisted of us hopping in a cab back to our hotel.  I wanted to try a place we saw while on one of our many jaunts...Carlo's Pizza.  It was great food, but the staff were even better.  They know how to cut up with the patrons and have a great time!

With time to kill, we decided to go to the National Museum of Rome.  It was huge and it had a lot of OLD stuff.

We also got to see the Baths of Diocletians.

It was well worth the 14 Euros!  Finally, it was time to find dinner.  Instead of going on the recommendation of our American lunch mates, we found a hole in the wall...boy did we make the right choice......

Need I say more....

Rome: Day 3

We finally made Wezul feel young...

We went to the Colosseum.  Since it opened around 70 AD, it is safe to say Wezul wasn't the oldest thing around.  Haha!  I sooooo funny!!!!  Our adventures continued with a walk around town that lead us to some more ruins...

And again, gramps was feeling like a spring chicken.  I think he had a little added pep in his step.  

The biggest miss out of the trip, Italy and Argentina played a friendly tonight.  I was unable to convince Wezul we needed to take a 15 minute cab ride to the stadium to see if we could get tickets.  Maybe the soccer fairies will allow us to cross paths with Roberto Baggio on our Italian adventure...one of my favorite soccer players of all time!

Rome: Days 1 & 2

After arriving on Monday, we napped.  After we woke up, we ventured out to the Spanish Steps.

On Tuesday, we went to Vatican City.

At the bottom of the steps, you can see the Swiss Guard protecting one of the entrances to the Pope's residence .  

St. Peter's Square from the steps of St. Peter's Basilica.  

Look below into the catacombs from with St. Peter's Basilica.

Simply beautiful!  No matter where you look in St. Peter's Basilica, it is simply gorgeous.  If we hadn't been on a guided tour, I would have loved to just take the time to stay in here for hours.  One really needs time to take it all in.  Not just the beauty of the architecture, but also to take in the significance of the church.