Ever heard of the Royal Palace of Caserta?

This is the Royal Palace of Caserta.  We were here for meetings and took the opportunity to see the palace.    In 1997, the palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  In terms of volume, the Royal Palace of Caserta is the largest royal residence in the world.  What is crazy is that I had never even heard of it!  The political and social model for Vanvitelli's (the architect) palace was Versailles.

This is the Grand Staircase of Honor.  Another interesting fact about this palace is that it was the film set for several movies:  Star Wars episodes 1 and 2 (Queen Jamilla's palace), Mission Impossible 3, and this staircase was in Angels & Demons as the Vatican staircase.

The chapel.  One interesting tidbit about Charles VII of Naples who commissioned the palace:  He never got to sleep even one night in the palace!  He abdicated to become King of Spain so it was carried only to partial completion for his 3rd son, Ferdinand IV.  Goes to show you, don't make grand plans for Heber (I wonder if Tom will catch this jab, or anybody for that matter)

The frescoes were astounding.

The royal palace has more than 40 monumental rooms completely decorated with frescoes when, in comparison, Versailles counts only 22 monumental rooms.

When you tour the rooms, you are almost always looking up.   This is the throne room.

The grounds/park were also amazing.  The fountains and gardens were immense.  We rented bikes and that helped to cover the grounds, but we still didn't see it all.  Mind you it was blazing hot so we stopped a lot to cool off in the shade. (that's me in the center with the red bike)

The park as well as the palace were inspired by the park and  palace of Versailles

Smart to rent bikes!  We had a great afternoon.

This was our hotel in Pozzuoli, just outside of Naples.  It was called Villa Gervasio.  The main function was as an event location.  Indeed, they host a wedding EVERY day!  Complete with fireworks and live music.  The hotel only has 7 rooms and most times they are filled with wedding guests, but for some reason we were able to book our room.  It was fun to be on the terrace and discreetly observe the wedding going on.  If you didn't like all the fuss and celebration then your room was perfectly soundproofed and quiet.  The view from the terrace was magnificent.

Next morning.  All is quiet.  Staff prepare for another wedding.  One a day.  Amazing.  I didn't even know that many people were still getting married these days.  Guess it's not completely a 'tradition' of the past, at least not here in Italy.  Oh, and that is a castle off in the distance near the sea on the hillside.  They are everywhere in this area.  

Pday on the Road

I'm sure Utah has something similar, but if they don't they should do it!  We took a chair lift up to do some hiking.  Turns out this area is big for bikers.  Just hook on your bike to the chairlift and up to the top you go.  You ride down and you shouldn't brake or pedal, just pump.

On the drive through the mountain range there were tons of bikers.  Caught this one at the top of a very steep and long climb.  Reminded me of my biker boys.

Nice view while you discuss your 5 year plan.  And just what is that plan?  Finish the mission and then be flexible!

Yes, the bottom line is that being on the road on your P-day is a real bonus, especially when you are in the Northern part of Italy.  Seth has always maintained that this area is the best in all of Europe.  I think I am starting to lean that direction myself.  I really want to try hang-gliding.  Next birthday/Christmas present.  Hiking in the Dolomites is a real pleasure, especially on a blue sky day.

All the Pretty Places

Stopped for a drink on a barge on the Tiber one Saturday evening.

Perugia.  Stopped at this B&B on our way to a meeting in Florence.

Perugia city center.

Parking IN the roundabout by the church.  

Sant Angelo Romano.  Had dinner in this quaint town for a farewell for the Michilini couple.

Nice view back to Rome in this quaint village of Sant Angelo Romano.  The dinner at this was a 7 course Italian meal.  Way too much food.  Never, ever again!

Vieste.  Mother's Day week-end get away.

Peschici.  Our B&B was on the hilltop.

Ahhh.  The sea.  So soothing.

On our drive home as we looked back at Peschici.  Great little get-away.

The B&B in Peschici.  The owner had been in business for many years but had to close down for the past two years because her 19 year old daughter got brain cancer.  They moved to Milan for treatment.  She is all done with her treatments now and they are back to re-open their B&B.  The breakfast spread was the most amazing I have ever had.  The food covered our little table:  yogurt, bread & jelly, croissants, quiche, cake, fresh fruit, all of it homemade.

I just added this one b/c it's cool.  And the color of the sea!  May 2017 Mother's Day get away.

Aqueduct Park in Rome.  Nice pizzaria nearby as well.  Great find!

Reunions

Kelly and Spencer Kimball hosted a Brussels Reunion for us.  Fun times to reminisce, and chat and reconnect.  Valenzuelas (neighbors downtown) Zoolakis (there in MD and BRU!) Sponbecks, Kimballs, Simmons, Moons, Tomlinson, Jessie Taggert were all represented by either one or more family member.

The Bluths had us over for dinner.  Talented couple.  Always fun to brag about joint grandchildren! They came to our farewell.  We really like them!

One more lovely week-end to spend with Dan's family.  Love them all to pieces!  Thanks for all the love Herways!

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Coming home from a Heber trip we had a stunning light show to enjoy

Mom came up for our missionary farewell!  What a phenomenal woman!  Four generations:   two Stouts, Herway, Packer...

Another four generation:  This time three Herways and a Packer!  Steve and Felicia drove down from IF to join us for our missionary farewell and drop off at the MTC

Jessie had me over for lunch at her apartment.  Her mission is to convince me that I will love living in SLC...we shall see.  She is a good friend and I love hanging with her.

This foursome that really enjoy each other.  It doesn't happen often, but we all enjoy each other very much and love to be together.

Richard and Pam Norby and Jayne and Glen Steinblick.  Missionaries in Brussels.  Richard was caught in the airport for the Brussels bombings.  Next month it will be a year.  He is a walking miracle and one of the reasons we are serving our mission now and not later.  Richard and Pam say, "We want to be where God wants us to be!"  And even if they had the bombing to relive again, they would do it, if that is where God wanted them to be.

Suzanne's family.  We had lots of family there and can't include all photos:  Brent and Shalamar Packer, Austin and Emma Packer, Jaydra Jolley and husband, Shauna and Carolyn Packer and husband, cousins Spence Lloyd and Sandy, Gary and Sue Carpenter,  Steve and Renee,  Karen and Gary Burke, Jenny Tomlinson, Zoolakis,  Eliza Valenzuela.  And of course the Stouts and Steve Herway family, and Mom and Suzanne.
It was fabulous.  Our talks in church went well.  The spirit was really strong.  Suzanne gave a superb review of her 34 years in that ward.  So hard to move on and say good-bye when there are so many memories!  A beautiful musical number with violins and Suzanne playing the piano.  I talked about using our strengths to move the work of God along and that we all have a part.  Also that the whisperings of the spirit are so soft, so gentle, and we can miss them if we aren't listening carefully.  Tom spoke about happiness based on belonging and meaningfulness in our lives and the gospel gives us that opportunity.  Fruits of the Gospel and the power of example, and we go on missions to share the fruit of the Tree of Life.

Below are the pictures taken at our setting apart.  We are now officially full time missionaries!  It's been fun to be nomads and hang out with family and friends but now we have a mission to complete!  Love to all, and thank you for your love and support.  We will try to make you proud of us!  XOXO

Jake Tours

The fountains are in place of where the Twin Towers were NYC.  2,963 people died here on 9/11.  It's a beautiful remembrance.

The sky and the clouds reflected off of the buildings.  Truly inspiring.

Freedom Tower, NYC

Time Square.  Afterwards we went to lunch with Joe Jensen.  Visited with him and Claudia in their apartment on the 20th floor.  They have a 180 degree view from their apartment.  We went to lunch at a Vietnamese Restaurant, but forgot to take any pictures.  Good friend, that Joe is.

Washingtons' Crossing, just minutes from Jake/Mel's house

Washington's Crossing.  Christmas 1776.

This revolutionary soldier gave us our own demonstration of his guns and the kids enjoyed hefting the gun.

Philadelphia Temple.  Erected 2016.  It's beautiful!

Lunch at Market Street.  Cajun and spicy!  

The room where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Independence Hall.  Jake and Mel and kids, thanks for an awesome long week-end together!  So much to see in this area and we saw it all b/c of our awesome tour guide!  Such a treat.  And darn, I don't even have a picture of their new house, but it's fabulous!