Venice

After our cruise we stayed two more nights in the beautiful city of Venice.  We delighted in the local gelato, macaroons, wine and ***the best*** baked gnocchi ever!  Venice is such a great place to wander into the eclectic shops through the winding streets, so we did just that!   We toured the palace and we even splurged and recreated our engagement by taking a gondola ride at sunset.  So dreamy, so romantic.  I loved this city the first time I visited, but loved it a million times more sharing it with the love of my life by my side!

Arriving by water taxi

Are we in a 007 movie?

I'm still dreaming about it...

The best macaroons ever!

St. Mark's

Inside the palace

Bridge of Sighs

Cherishing 7 years of marriage!

Rialto Bridge

Ridiculously exaggerated, but clearly the best gnocchi known to mankind...

Mediterranean Cruise!

To celebrate the culmination of 7 years of graduate school, Ross' 30th birthday, and our 7 year anniversary I surprised Ross with a 7 night Mediterranean Cruise leaving from Venice and stopping in Split (Croatia), Ephesus (Turkey), Mykonos (Greece) and Argostoli (Greece).  We had an absolutely unbelievable trip!  We didn't know what to expect with it being our first time on a cruise ship, but we would do it again in a heart beat.

Our beautiful ship: Royal Caribbean's- Splendour of the Seas

Our room

Not too shabby of a view to awake to!

Relaxing by the pool and ready to say boy voyage to Venice

The prettiest view of Venice

In love with the architecture

Dreamy

Charming

Arriving in Split, Croatia

Hiking in Krka National Park, Croatia

Waterfall after waterfall

Stunning beauty

Tranquility

Saying our goodbyes to Croatia

Meeting the staff and captain

A night of entertainment with a Mingo look-alike

Dang, I'm one lucky girl

Our first night of entertainment with a men's quartet 

All dressed up and ready to go

Enjoying dinner after a day at sea

Dinner entertainment by our servers

We were known as the dessert couple :)  What, 5 is too many?!

Arriving in Ephesus, Turkey

Memorial site over the late home of the Virgin Mary

Drinking holy water

We're both feeling blessed

The fertile valley of olive groves directly beside the old city of Ephesus

I didn't realize this was possible!

Approaching Ancient Ephesus

A small amphitheater

Roman arches

Intricate column details

Intricate details

Walkway down to the library

Our fabulous tour guide

Library

Stunning details on the library

Sophia- Wisdom

Perfectly framed

The amphitheater where the riots in Acts 19 took place 

View of the amphitheater and Arcadian Way

The location of the third ecumenical council

Our cruise ship in the distance as we said goodbye to Ephesus

Another great dinner together

Such a beautiful dinner view

Creatures of all shapes and sizes kept making their way onto our bed :)

Another evening of great shows

The Newlywed Game

Welcome to Mykonos, Greece!

Our rainbows have walked on some beautiful land

Our pastey toes loved us!

Enjoying the beach!

We could get used to this!

Adorable white washed buildings

Cute courtyards

Iconic windmills

View from the windmills

Now that's the way to travel!

Adorable coastal cafe

We don't want to leave

Winding streets

White church

One of my favorite pictures!

White and blue beauty

Of course our gelato craving was met

That water!

Partying on deck

Feeling really great with his new time piece

This Mingo look-alike kept us entertained all week long!

Arrived at Argostoli, Greece

This water was the clearest yet!

The color water you dream about

Goodbye Argostoli

Delighting in our dinner options

Michael Bolton look alike

Our dinner friends

Saying goodbye to our wonderful servers

Our last night enjoying our cruise