Hey Dear Friends and Readers.
We are half-way through February and I cannot believe how fast this winter is flying by. We have been in Pagosa for over a month already and in so many ways it feels like we just got here and yet it seems longer. For me, Leah, it seems that the time drags on. While I love it here and am in awe every time I look at these stunner mountains, I am also feeling a little cabin fever. I am in a waiting game, I technically have 2 jobs but neither of them are giving me hours yet. For the one I am waiting on my massage therapy license and will be working at a spa as soon as it arrives; just in time for busy spring break! The other is working as a caregiver to older people who need a little help, or I will be when I get the hours.
The thing is as soon as I start working I know things will be busy and I will yearn for all the free time I have now, but right now I yearn to be busy! Have you ever felt this way? The past two and a half years I’ve felt this way and I have struggled to find my worth not in my busy-ness but in who I am, who I really am, not what I do. Waxing philosophically on this never works for me, who is a little too much in the physical to deny my flesh and feast my soul. I know that complaining about too much time makes me an unpopular person with many of you and I get that. But really, it is a heart issue that many of us struggle with but mask with all the to-dos of today and tomorrow. We define ourselves by the work we do, but let me ask you, when the work goes away, what is left?
This is something that has been staring me in the face for my entire married life. Before I was married I was a confident, busy, working woman, most times with 2 jobs. Independent in so many ways, financially, physically, and emotionally. Until, this amazing man entered my life and I was smitten and ready to be dependent like I never thought I would before. I looked forward to the months after we married to be still and be a wife. We thought we would only be in PA for a couple months, so I didn’t bother looking for a job and then we decided to stay a little longer so I went to school for massage therapy. We continued to talk about moving so I put off seriously looking for anything and before we knew it it had been 2 years. Before this season I had looked forward to those days that stretched ahead of me to do anything I liked sans schedule. Until I resented not having a schedule. My confidence blown.
My husband is the best, he has never insisted I have a job, in fact he always expected to be the one to provide. My pride didn’t like this one bit. I felt that in order to have power I needed to make money, and in order not to feel like a fool, a nobody, a slacker in society I needed a job. I needed a title. More than ever I discovered that to not have a title made me and others around me nervous and awkward. The number one question when meeting someone for the first time, or meeting a familiar face on the street? Is about your job. I found out I have nothing to talk about, I felt left out. I felt like a nobody.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so Disturbed within me?… Cabin fever. I have seen the instagrams of people dreaming of being snowed in a mountain cabin for days with a warm cuppa and a good book. I live that life everyday and yet it gets old. There are great things in my life and yet I cannot find joy in them. I continually try to pull myself up by my bootstraps, finding things to occupy my time and attention, because this is what it looks like to be productive in society. Clean, cook, see a friend, help a neighbor. And yet at the end of the day I feel defeated, unproductive. Why? Because I look to the things of this world to fill me, I chase after that which will wither, rust and decay. I put my hope in things, people’s opinions, lists checked off.
When I take time to sit at His feet I somehow let the things of this world creep in and steal that intimacy, without fail guilt buzzes in my ear that I can’t languish, but should be “doing” something productive. I should be…and then I leave the Throne room disappointed, empty and lacking. It’s no wonder, I’m feasting on that which does not fill for fear that I am not enough. What a vicious cycle I’ve been in. I know and yet have not instilled that I need that languishing time at His feet to know that I am enough, to feast and know who I am, who I really am truly and not what I do. For in the throne room you are not known by what you do, but who you are, and how you are known by the Father’s Heart. In turn I don’t really know who I am without knowing who my Heavenly Father is and what He has done for me, the things he has gone through to get me there to the throne room. To let Him wash me in the water of His word.
Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen that which is better (to sit at the feet of Jesus), and it will not be taken from her. Do not store up for yourself treasures on this earth where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal. But store up your treasures in Heaven, for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
Why are you downcast o my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
I am Martha, but I am moving towards Mary, even if in the natural you and I can’t see it yet. I want to say it is finished, I have figured it out and I no longer strive, but the truth is I am Martha, my nature is Martha but my spirit was made to be Mary. That is why I yearn so and why my soul yearns. Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for they will be filled. Today I rest in that. I put my Hope in Jesus and believe that my hunger before Him, for Him, will be satisfied by Him. Same goes for you dear friend.
Those who sow in tears, will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with him.
Put your HOPE in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and God.
He is worthy.
Be still, and know that HE IS GOD.
As Red Green says, “We’re all in this together,” we all struggle, that’s why we have each other. That’s why we have the Word, and His Spirit. Thanks for letting me lean on you today, even though I’ve been doing all the talking, allowing me to verbalize the storm inside of me has encouraged my inner man. For that I am grateful dear reader.
Many Blessings,
Leah
Love. Love. Love. Happy Feet LOVE!
If you are a committed hiker, as in a hiker that does more than just a couple of miles a pop these are the boots for you. Let me share a little about my hiking shoe woes and then I’ll tell you why I LOVE these boots. Last year my husband and I did a lot of hiking, we were gearing up for our Half Dome hike and did multi-day hikes and long day hikes in preparation.
I had a pair of Merrell Siren Sport Hiking shoes and at about 2 to 3 miles down the trail my feet began to hurt, and go numb. This problem never happened to me before, the pain was a new pain unlike anything I had before. It was a stabbing pain on the bottom of my meta tarsals, in the padding and even in between the meta tarsals. I noticed that I even had the pain when I went running in my nice new Brooks running shoes. I was at a loss of why and where this pain came from. This was a problem because we were hiking 11-13 miles a day and sometimes more, not to mention Half Dome would be 15-16 miles round trip. I was miserable and instead of enjoying the trail around me I was focused on convincing myself to take the next step even though it was excruciating. To say the least I wasn’t looking forward to climbing Half Dome with my feet the way they were.
After trying on some pairs of hiking boots at REI I cautiously decided on the KEEN Targhee II. They were expensive, and I like a good bargain, but I think thats what got me into this problem in the first place. Listen people, my mom has been telling me for years, “Cheap isn’t always better. Your feet are not the place to skimp.” So, I bought the expensive boots and I’m happy I did. I think that the larger toe box is just what my weary feet needed, and the ankle support was a nice feature on the granite slab. They kept me happy all the way up Half Dome and back down again (seriously, the down most times is the worst part). I hope this review helps. Keep hiking friends, and you don’t have to keep living with foot pain, there is a better way!
Happy Trails,
Leah
Hey Readers,
It’s the Smuckers once again, and oh how lovely to be in 2016! A new year full of new things. The last time we posted we were in spectacular Santorini, and since then we have been on the move to Athens, then to Bangkok/Chiang Rai/Chiang Mai, back home for goodbyes and farewells in PA and Christmas in Minnesota and then….drum roll please….we moved to Colorado!
Yep, we have signed up for the mountain life and are loving it so far. The lovely mountain air, the radiant Colorado sunshine and the plentiful powdery snow have been oh. so. nice! Plus the views, did I mention the views? I can’t get over watching the mountains from my living room window, from the car, as I walk down the street, as I get groceries, on my way to this lovely cozy coffee shop. They are everywhere. It’s awesome.
The best part of our sleepy, cozy mountain town are the people. We were ready and willing to fight for community here but it hasn’t been a fight. Instead its been a breeze, these people are friendly, relationship oriented and ready to enfold you into their community. I can’t tell you how many people have said “welcome, we are so glad you are here!”, it’s a dream.
Many people have asked us why we decided on this place when there isn’t family or jobs pulling us here and all we can say is, “God, mountains, and adventure”. The longer we are here (two and a half weeks) the more we are realizing this move isn’t random. There is so much richness here to be found and we are excited to be a part of what God is doing and share in the bounty of his blessing upon this place.
On a light note let me describe our newfound surroundings to give you a glimpse into what it’s like here. It is small town america, unpretentious and friendly. A place where people leave their doors unlocked, keys sticking in the ignition, wallet on the seat. No fear of what may come. They trust in their neighbor’s kindness. I haven’t let go of my city securities yet but I look forward to the day I can leave it all unlocked accessible to all who pass by without fear of what may come.
The community center is a place where the community actually gathers, the seniors have their dining room, the gym is open for whatever activities strike your fancy, free exercise classes to all who enter, veterans office for those who have served our country, line dancing this morning, etc. In two nights my love and I will be going to free square dancing classes because, well, why not we only live once. The churches have invested in the community and have joined together to open a prayer room to invest more in the town, also there is no lack of small groups and bible studies. The ski slope is 30 mins outside of town, and gets all the snow you could desire. The hot springs run through town and are waiting for your cold, sore snowboarding body to soothe away the aches and pains. Endless cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing trails. That’s only a glimpse, there is so much more to this place that I have yet to discover. Are you jealous yet?
All that to say we are here, safe, joyful and are excited to see what the Lord has in store for us. Keep checking in on our adventures in Colorful Colorado by clicking on the “Home on the Range” tab. Hope to see you here again!
Happy Trails,
The Smuckers
The view from the pool at our hotel, Villa Ilias and our first views of Santorini. Our response? “Wow.”
Looking through our options and planning our time in Santorini. For us this was to be a more relaxing destination than the rest. We had been go, go, go at the other stops and wanted to slow down and enjoy the views and gorgeous weather. Santorini is for slowing down and long romantic walks in sunlit alleys punctuated by white buildings and blue domes.
The morning light uncovering the caldera.
Meandering through those sunlit cliff paths.
One day we decided to take a hike from Villa Illas (our hotel) to Oia the “sunset city” at the far end of the island (~10kilometers)
In the background there you can see Oia, and you can see we have a ways to go!
Almost there we’ve got Oia in our sights! We spent the afternoon here, but decided that we actually enjoyed Thira better and decided to spend the majority of our time there.
Here we are on our way to Thira for some delicious gyros! We loved the winding streets of Thira, and the cheap, delicious gyros to be found there (we’re talking 2.5 Euros people! We may or may not have had gyros 2x a day every day! Be very jealous).
Pool side at Villas Illas at sunset. Complete bliss!
The view from the pool at Villa Illas at sunset, looking towards Thira.
Same view, night time.
When in Santorini buy a white dress and pose with your sweetheart!
The ferry that took us from Santorini to Athens.
On our way out, the last views of Santorini~
Happy Trails,
The Smuckers
Rome in Pictures.
In Rome we explored the Roman Forum. This was the main square of Rome…where it all went down!
And then of course we wondered around the Coliseum…and tried to act hard and cold like the Romans of old!
So much history here! Above you see the underground passage ways used by gladiators and wild animals.
And then we entered the Vatican City…
and joined the crowds of people wondering through Saint Peter’s Basilica with mouths gaping in wonder.
This cathedral lays claim to the largest Cathedral in the world at over three football fields long!
So much ornate detail taking over a century to complete!
The square where Peter is believed to have been crucified upside down.
Of course we had to see the Pantheon, once a temple dedicated to all the gods, later becoming a temple to the one true God. The dome of the temple in the above photo inspired many later domes including our capital in D.C..
This marble floor is over 1800 years old!
And of course we ate plenty of gelato! When in Rome!
Happy Trails,
The Smuckers
October 14-16
On Wednesday we took a train to Orvieto, a hill town in Umbria (the lesser known sister to Tuscany). Orvieto is built upon volcanic rock and sits high up on a rock out-cropping, so the only way up is in a vehicle on the winding road, walk (quite a while) or take the Funicular, a train that goes strait up the hill. But once you get to the old town of Orvieto the views are breathtaking and the air is so clear and the crowds seem to disperse and fade away, and well worth the journey. This was the Italy of our dreams, we often had streets to ourselves and we could see miles and miles of rolling sometimes dramatic, steep hills.
The streets of Orvieto.
We found a room in a convent called Isitutos Salvatore for very cheap, although, with the discounted rate we also got a 10:30 curfew and I’m pretty sure the nuns we keeping tabs on us. At any rate it was a good clean room with a private bath and a wonderful view so I’d say it was a good trade off. We put down our things and promptly began exploring our new town. It was a breath of fresh air as we walked around open streets with locals shopping and greeting each other all around us. We had heard that the place to eat was at Chirro’s restaurant called Tratorria Del Orso so we headed there a half an hour before it was supposed to open because our stomachs couldn’t handle the suspense any longer. We cautiously opened the door to the restaurant and stepped inside where we were eagerly welcomed by 2 grandfatherly men who told us to come on in and sit down, no bother that they weren’t quite open yet! Chirro sat us down and asked us what we wanted to eat. Sans menus, you had the feeling you were at your grandfather’s house and he was going to fix you a plate of your favorite dish. Whatever you want. We had been told to order the “Trust your Chef” tasting menu so we did and when we ordered that a twinkle came into Chirro’s eyes and off he went to tell the chef. We dinned like royalty that night on 2 different fresh pastas, 1 chicken dish, salad (with his homemade, home grown olive oil), bread, homemade tiramisu, the house wine (which was excellent), and water! My tummy is rumbling just thinking about it! That night we fell asleep with full bellies, happy hearts and a smile on our lips.
Leah in front of the convent where we stayed. Our favorite place to eat in Orvieto
Thursday morning, we hit the ground running, after breakfast we went to Duomo di Orvieto, the uniquely striped church. Duomo di Orvieto is best known for its Capella Nova frescos by Beato Angelico and Luca Signorelli (Michelangelo was on of his protégés) of the Last Days, and judgment day. To see this chapel is to be moved and to be warned of things yet to come for us all and it was a spiritual moment for me. If you go, I think its best in the morning when it’s not so busy so you can take your time especially in this little chapel. The main part of the Cathedral is impressive in its minimalism, most Catholic Cathedrals are dripping with items and frescos and statutes to the point of gaudy sometimes, but not this one there aren’t even permanent pews in the main sanctuary, it’s floors are empty up to the alter which makes for a grand feeling.
The Duomo di Orvieto
After that we went on an underground tour. Orvieto was literally build from the ground it sits on, meaning they tunneled under the town to get volcanic rock to mix with limestone to make cement with which to build the houses, shops and churches. It’s a delicate dance because you don’t want to take too much so that the town implodes on itself and yet its easy and convenient building material that’s free. There are estimated 1200 tunnels under Orvieto, most are private and there are some restaurants that use them as a unique dining experience. We only toured the few that are public, and it was interesting to learn that they used them for a variety of reasons, such as olive oil presses, pigeon farms, churches, wells and in world war II they took refuge there from the bombs.
The etruscan tunnels
An old Etruscan olive press.
An Etruscan tunnel used for pigeon farming.
Next up was Civita di Bagnoregio, another hill town not too far from Orvieto. This is one of the more unique hill towns and not so easy to get to as you either need to catch a bus or drive to the nearest town and then walk across a dramatic bridge and up into the town itself. Its well worth the effort if you are nearby because the effect is dramatic, however this slight inconvenience comes at a price of population, to date there are only 9 permanent residents in Civita. The rest are there to take a break from the outside world, relax, and slow down and become Rapunzel’s. The beauty of that place is hard to describe you really have to see it to appreciate it. Breathtaking indeed.
The town of Civita.
A beautiful princess and a fairyland hilltown!
We stopped in for some real Bruschetta made over the coals!
Yum, yum right there!
The streets of Orvieto at night.
That night, our last night there, we decided to enjoy Chirro’s place one last time. I know we should have tried a new place, because really there are other wonderful, magical looking restaurants there, but we just wanted to end our experience with the warmth we felt at his restaurant. We are glad we did, no regrets! So if you find yourself wandering around Umbria and don’t know where to go, Orvieto and Civita will treat you well and play out your Italian hillside dreams just nicely. Enjoy!
Happy Trails,
The Smuckers
October 12-14
We took the train(s) from Venice to the Cinque Terre on Monday, and because we had quite a few transfers (4) and missed our last train (because we were in the station late) we didn’t get into Manarola until 5pm. The area surrounding the 5 towns that hug the Mediterranean cost between Genoa and La Spezia is called Cinque Terre. They are just a quick train ride or a beautiful, challenging, rewarding hike down the coast from each other. They are unique in their construction, as they are literally built into the rock that juts into the sea. Originally this was for protection from pirate sieges and pillages, but now makes for a picturesque setting for a relaxing seaside Mediterranean vacation. The five towns from north to south are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. We decided to stay in Manarola over the other towns because we heard that it is a little smaller and quieter than the rest of the Cinque Terre towns. We didn’t make reservations, but instead asked around once we got there and were able to find a great room with a kitchenette, table and private bath for 75 euros a night which is a steal really considering the going rate in this area is more like 95+.
Manarola at night.
Leah pouring herself a glass straight out of the tap!
Once we settled in and got cleaned up we decided to get our first glimpses of our new little town. So we stopped for a spritz-to-go and wandered down the path to admire the famous cliff hugging shops and houses. We had dinner reservations at 8pm so we had plenty of time to stroll around and see the few shops and restaurants along the way. We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary at a well-reviewed restaurant called Trattoria dal Billy. It’s way up on the cliff and has part of the restaurant dug into the cliff that is pretty sweet. We ate pesto and Swordfish dishes and they were delicious the Swordfish dish was the best! The atmosphere was festive and we got to know our neighbors, 4 French ladies on holiday, which is really what traveling the world is all about anyway right?
Celebrating our 2nd anniversary at Trattoria Dal Billy.
The next day, Tuesday, October 13, we got up early and headed into Riomagiore for breakfast and laundry. We ended up buying a day pass that includes the trains, shuttle buses and walking paths and we are glad we did because we definitely got our moneys worth since we were only there 2 nights and wanted to see all 5 towns. After breakfast we stopped into Manarola to drop our laundry and pick up the shuttle to Volterra, which is where we picked up the hiking trail to Corneglia. Usually, you can easily walk from Manarola to Corniglia via the Via dell’Amore but it was closed when we were there so we took the “scenic” route it really was very scenic but quite a bit longer than Via dell’amore. The hiking trail winds its way through impossibly terraced vineyards and olive tree groves. Since the shuttle does most of the climb up we enjoyed going down, down, down. It’s a decent hike and the trail is pretty rustic. I had running shoes and wished for my sturdier hiking boots.
Hiking through the vineyards to Corniglia.
Once we got into Corniglia we enjoyed threading our way through the winding streets with a basil gelato in our hands (for me anyway, tiramisu for Jamie). We stopped in for a panini and a glass of wine for lunch and then headed for the train station. I’ll say here that Corniglia was our favorite of the 5 towns although most people skip it because it’s more on a hill than the others. We thought it was lovely and less crowded and more authentic than the others, and it’s probably for that reason that we loved it so.
The view from Corniglia.
From Corniglia we went on to Vernazza, probably the most popular of the 5 and promptly spent only a couple moments snapping pictures before the crowds of tourists got the better of us and we retreated to the hiking trail to Monterosso. This trail was also beautiful and rugged and a good exercise. I chose jeans this day and regretted that decision after hiking this trail. We were good and sweaty and satisfied with the views the hike afforded us by the time we reached Monterosso. We wandered around Monterosso for a while and walked the beach and dipped our hands in the Mediterranean. Of the 5 Monterosso is more spread out and easier to walk, it was a nice contrast to the others. From there we headed back to Manarola tired and ready for showers and a good pesto dinner.
Vernazza’s Harbor
When we left the next day we had mixed feelings about Cinque Terre, we loved the area and the hiking trails (there were many trails that we were unable to explore due to time) however, it felt a little over-run by tourists and we couldn’t wait to get some space, and streets to ourselves. So we will probably be back but will stick to the less explored trails and small towns.
The town of Vernazza.
Happy Trails,
The Smuckers
So for our (almost) free lodging in Venice, we stayed at the luxurious Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel.
The Hilton Molino Stucky
For this stay, we used our two free weekend nights (any category level Hilton hotel) squired by signing up for the Citi Hilton Hhonors Reserve credit card. By signing up for this card and meeting the minimum spend of $2500 in 3 months, you get two free weekend nights at any Hilton Hotel along with Hhonors Gold status which includes free wifi and a decadent breakfast buffet. Also included at this hotel was 2 complimentary hours at the spa, and free access to the executive lounge. The executive lounge was always stocked with snacks and drinks along with ordurves and wine in the early evening. This helped us keep our dining costs down in Venice since the only meal we needed to spend for was dinner.
The credit card fee of $90 dollars was not waived for the first year so essentially we spent $90 for two nights along with a delicious breakfast spread and relaxing spa experience. There was also a $5 per person per night city tax tacked on at the end.
In the end, $110 for two nights at a luxury Hilton Hotel isn’t so bad!
The views from our hotel were amazing!
We took an overnight train from Paris to Venice on Friday night. It was a new experience for me, while I have been on an overnight train before (Malaysia), it was a completely different experience for me. The train in Malaysia had berths stacked on each other 3 high, I was at the bottom, and you remain in your berth the entire ride. This train had a compartment that was allotted to 6 people and at the beginning of the evening had 2 rows of seats facing each other, and at night we transformed them into two stacks of 3 bunks. In our compartment we had 2 Americans (us), 2 Argentinians, and 2 French. We ended up spending a lot of our awake time getting to know the 2 women from Argentina and it was good for me to dust off my Spanish and give it a good exercise since they spoke less English than I did Spanish. Anyway, we were able to get a good sleep as the train rocked us the whole night through as the Alps passed us covertly by.
We arrived in Venice at 10:30am and immediately got a vaperetto (public water taxi/bus) towards St Marks Square. By the time we arrived at our hotel, Molino Stucky Hotel, it was around noon, and by the time we checked in, settled in, explored the hotel, and caught the hotel water shuttle (how fun is it that they have water shuttles) to Zaterre it was afternoon. We choose to go to Zaterre instead of going straight to St Mark’s Square (the main tourist area) to get our first glimpses of Venice without the crowds. We wound our way through the picturesque alleyways, canals and piazzas to see the “must see” sights of San Marco (St Mark’s). We stayed in St Mark’s Square all of 15 minutes just to decide that the line to see the Cathedral was too long and the crowds too chaotic before retreating back into the winding streets of Venice.
We never did see St Mark’s Cathedral, but did peer in through the gates. It was enough for us, for some it is important to go into the church that holds the Apostle Mark’s bones but we didn’t feel it was important enough to spend time waiting in line to see it. Instead we felt like 2 kids in a candy shop as we explored this strange city of narrow ways and endless canals. We roamed until we just couldn’t resist the gelato stands anymore and gave into their enticements. Then we walked on until our feet needed a break and the piazza seemed to cry out for us to stop and enjoy a café or spritz. And when our tummies couldn’t take the smells coming from the restaurants we stopped for dinner and repose to watch and hear the beauty of Venice as we tasted the long waited Italian cuisine.
The first day we were there we stayed on the main island of Venice until just after dinner and then decided to head back to our hotel a little early, for an early bedtime, because the second day we planned to see the city in the morning and later evening and needed our rest to do so
Our hotel was awesome. We felt pampered and cared for and we feel wholly spoiled. Because we are Hilton Gold members we had free breakfast buffet, free access to the executive lounge (more free food and drinks!) and each day we were there we had access to the spa for 2 free hours (hot tub, Turkish bath and sauna). Pampered we were indeed. So because we wanted to enjoy some of our hotel perks we decided to spend some time at our hotel instead of being away all day, and in the end we felt like we got the most of both the city and the hotel.
St. Mark’s Cathedral
The second day we woke up early to get into the city before it was flooded with tourists (there are a lot of cruise ships that come in just for the day). We are so glad that we did this because you get to see the city wake up and the locals do their errands and daily tasks. In some places you have the streets to your self and if you aren’t there on a Sunday like we were you can beat the lines for St Mark’s (it doesn’t open until 2pm on Sundays). So we wandered and explored and had our devotions with Espresso at a local favorite piazza. It was so fun to slow down and enjoy without the crowds. At about 12pm, when the crowds grew thicker, we headed back to the hotel to enjoy the amenities as described above and take a nap to refresh ourselves for the evening. That evening we headed back in to the main island for dinner and some nighttime strolling, and got to see another side of Venice without the crowds. In the evening we stayed to watch the town tuck in for the night and to stroll the romantic and intimate night alleyways and canals. I’m not sure if it was just because it was Sunday but we were surprised that the town closed up so early, I had always heard that Italians eat late and are to bed late that I was surprised when after dinner (we ate about 8:30) things were already closed or closing. We made sure to grab a gelato at the first stand we saw so that we wouldn’t miss out on a little sweet while we strolled along. By the time we returned to our hotel and packed up our things we were ready for a good night sleep. Tomorrow Cinque Terre! Ciao Venice!
Happy Trails,
The Smuckers
We enjoyed the view of Venice from the top of our hotel
The Hotel Du Louvre
We are really getting addicted to staying at nice hotels for free! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the stunning Hotel Du Louvre in Paris. The Hotel Du Louvre is a Hyatt hotel located directly across from the Louvre Museum.
For this stay we used our 2 free Hyatt nights which I acquired by signing up for the Chase Hyatt credit card. By meeting the required minimum spend of $2000 dollars in 3 months, you get two free nights at any category level Hyatt hotel. This is quite a deal considering we would have spent over $700 for those two nights if we would have paid in dollars
The staff there were very helpful and friendly with checkin/checkout, and the location is hard to beat being next two the Louvre and a metro stop.
Our hotel room with a view of the Louvre Museum
Budget friendly dining options we found:
Bistrot Victoires 
For budget friendly (believe me when I say they are far and few in between) dining options near the Louvre, try Bistrot Victoires. The Duck confit was delicious and their chocolate filled cake with vanilla ice cream was to die for! Two people can easily eat here for under $20. We ended up having dinner here twice!
This was also mentioned in the previous post but we did enjoy a budget friendly, yet hearty breakfast at Coquelicot Bakery and Cafe. For only $15 we both enjoyed a bowl of cappuccino, quiche, and a butter croissant.
And now it’s on to Venice and a stay in the Hilton Molino Stucky!
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