The itinerary

Here's the plan for the trip:

Monday, June 4 - Venice
11:45 a.m. Arrive in Venice - transfer to Ca’Sagredo Hotel
3 - 6:30 p.m. Rest and relax
7 p.m. Welcome Dinner

Tuesday, June 5 - Venice
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
9:30 a.m. Venice Walking tour (includes: St. Mark’s Square and Basilica. Doge’s Palace and prison).
Afternoon free for lunch and shopping around square on own
7 p.m. Gondola ride through Venice

Wednesday, June 6 - Venice/Florence
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
9:30 a.m. Departure via motorcoach to Florence
Lunch along the way
4 p.m. Arrival in Florence, transfer to Hotel Executive
8 p.m. Welcome dinner at Buca Mario Ristorante

Thursday, June 7 - Florence
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
9:30 a.m. Tour of Palazzo die Cerci - UCA’s study abroad facility
Interaction with Art and Linguistic classes
12 p.m. Lunch on own
2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Tour of Florence (includes: Florence, Santa Croce, Signoria, Uffizi)
7 p.m. Centennial Reception

Friday, June 8 - Florence
8 - 9:30 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
10 a.m. Tour of Dante’s House with Dr. Charles Baine and English Literature students.
Lunch on own
3 p.m. Choir performance

Saturday, June 9 - Florence
8 - 9:30 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
Ponte Vecchio Bridge - gold and jewelry shops
San Lorenzo Market
**optional Designer outlet excursion - 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 10 - Florence
8 - 9:30 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
Visit one of Florence’s many cathedrals, chapels or churches
Optional excursion to designer outlet shopping center outside of Florence or free to shop/explore Florence.
List of cultural options will be provided

Monday, June 11 - Pisa/Florence
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
1:45 p.m. Day trip to Pisa (includes: Leaning Tower of Pisa and Cathedral)
7:30 p.m. Return to Florence

Tuesday, June 12 Florence/Rome
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
10:30 a.m. Depart for Rome
Check into River Palace Hotel
Evening walking tour of Spanish steps and Trevi Fountain

Wednesday, June 13 - Rome
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
10 a.m. Tour of Ancient Rome (includes Coliseum, Capitoline Hill and Roman Forum)
7 p.m. Walking tour to Piazza Navona, dinner on own

Thursday, June 14 - Rome
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
9:30 a.m. Vatican City Museums tour (includes: Sistine Chapel)
Optional afternoon visit to St. Peter’s Basilica at Vatican City
8 p.m. UCA Farewell Dinner

Now, this doesn't include the five-hour layover in Atlanta on our way there, which should prove fun for everyone involved.

Crystal packed her suitcase last night and seems to be more ready than me to go. But, hey, I'm a guy; I can live on the same pair of underwear for 10 days, right?

The countdown begins . . .

Less than a week to go. And it's beginning to sink in.

I watched the Gran Prix of Monaco this weekend, noticing the beautiful, twisting streets around centuries-old architecture, and it finally started becoming real.

In less than a week, our feet will be stepping on Mediterranean soil.

Our passports are in order, we have accomodations for the children and the dog, we have a new international calling plan for Crystal's cell phone, and all the deliveries have been stopped.

Now, we just have to find a way to keep ourselves amused during the five-hour layover in Atlanta before the 12-hour flight to Italy . . .

The reason we're here . . .

The vice president of my wing calls me into his office last week, informing me that I will be accompanying a group of alumni, faculty and staff to Italy for a two-week trip. I want to use this blog to post some of my photos and impressions from the trip.

I'll be leaving June 3, with my wife in tow. I'm excited to visit this historic, beautiful (so I hear) country and hopefully create some art to remember the trip.