Getting there...

After much anticipation the day has finally arrived. Katie and I woke up early to the nerves and excitement of our journey and the anticipation of, no not the flight as you may have guessed, pancakes- not just any pancakes, Daddy pancakes! With Katie ready to go and Liz- well- not, we were scurrying around trying to fit all the last minute things into our very over-weight suitcases. However, as a side note Liz still managed to be at Target at about 8:15 am to get the first season of Jersey Shore.... I digress, with a beautiful prayer and a leisurely meal we all were feeling at ease and were quite certain that the trip would run as smoothly as possible. Little did we know what was about to unfold...

With all the bags and ourselves crammed into the car we were making our way to DIA (the Denver airport), when something triggered Liz to remember something very important. The conversation went something like this:
Liz- "Mom.... Did you give me back my passport?"
Mom- "Of course, its packed into your carry on"
Liz- "ummm... no its not..."
Katie- "you've got to be kidding me"....

To say the least the ride and send off at the airport was easily the most stressful hour long period of our lives to date. Between getting to the airport a whopping 41 min before our flight took off, thus, not thinking that we would make the plane, to then being positive that our bags would miss the flight it was a headache of an experience.

However, we are happy to report that the trip from Denver to Rome was one of the most enjoyable flights of our life. Upon boarding the aircraft in Chicago, we were greeted with champagne which we happily took to toast the beginning of this fabulous chapter of our life's. Then we made our dinner selections, which was fabulous by the way, and settled into our double pod space to watch our very own marathon of Entourage followed by Letters to Juliet (which was fitting as it takes place in Italy). From there we reclined our seats into a bed and had the most restful four and a half hours of sleep.

Upon arrival in Rome we met our roommate and fellow DU student Lindsey at the gate and went through passport control. Here Liz was asked what she studying to which she gave a very puzzled look before realizing the question was asked in English.... (Lets blame that on sleep deprivation, shall we?) Once through, we struggled and wrestled with our bags all the way through customs where we went on a hunt for Arcadia staff to lead the way.

With only a few minor hold ups we made it to our beautiful two bedroom apartment that more than exceeded our meager expectations of a Roman student apartment.

Much more of our adventures of the first day in Rome to come...

Ciao, for now.