across the world in 10 photos {still + life}

The Parthenon

The Parthenon

Ionian Sea

Ionian Sea

Museum at Olympia

Museum at Olympia

Colosseum

Colosseum

Umbrella Pines at the Palentine Hill

Umbrella Pines at the Palentine Hill

Vatican Courtyard

Vatican Courtyard

Sorrento

Sorrento

Pompeii with Vesuvius

Pompeii with Vesuvius

Bay of Naples and Naples

Bay of Naples and Naples

Positano

Positano

I think I'm still processing this trip. I told you I was in a photography funk, and when I finally looked at the 1,000+ photos on my memory card, I was, "meh." Seems a shame, doesn't it? Honestly, this vacation was so... weird. All little things, but if something could go wrong for me, it did. I lost my favorite sweater (more on that later). I slammed my knee into a stainless steel bench at Termini Station in Rome. I slammed my toe into the back of a bus seat on the ride from Sorrento to Positano (causing much icky blood and the loss of my big toe nail...TMI, I know). I had two migraines (one on the flight back home, so triple UGH). See? Little things, but they add up.

And then there's the mom factor. My friend Kim and I were talking about this at lunch. The mom factor says that the mom never gets to do the things she really wants to do. I know I sound incredibly bitchy right there, and I promise I don't mean it that way. We had an absolutely amazing time, and I'm so grateful for all we did. But when we went to get fried artichokes in the Jewish ghetto in Rome it was simply too hot to make the trek. And when I finally made it to Positano, it stormed and we had to grab the last boat out at the early (rainy) hour of 5PM.

Neel will read this and (likely) think I'm being whiny, and my dad will read this and worry that I didn't have fun. Not true! (Well, maybe a little whiny.) No one can fault the fact that it was the hottest week in Rome, ever, and no one can fault the storms that moved through Positano. Everything we did do was spectacular and amazing, and I'm so grateful for every moment we had. I'll share them in the coming days (with all the lousy photos -wink-), but there's no mistaking the fact that Violet's death threw me off my game (And I promise, I'll stop bringing up the dead dog. After one last post, which I'm not yet ready to write.)

How's this for horrible? I did not buy a single souvenir. See? Clearly not thinking straight. (And I'm starting to think Neel and I need to go to Positano for our 20th anniversary... Next October, Neel!) But you know what? It was amazing, and there were spectacularly wonderful moments each and every day. I just figured I'd better get the negative stuff before sharing the good stories. Except the one about my dad, the pigeon and the steps of the Vatican. That's kind of a negative story, but I'll be sharing it later anyway.

Bet you can't wait.

take a break {still + life}

As you read this, we're finishing our last-minute flurry of packing and gearing up to head to the airport. The house sitter is waiting in the wings, and even though our girls love him, well. They're anxious. Violet wants to see the Parthenon, and she hasn't yet forgiven us for not taking her along. She's huffy.

I've talked often here of my love of Greece and of our time there. I've talked about it on other people's blogs too (I'm looking at you, Miss ilikewantneed.), so the fact that we get to return, and are able to with any regularity is a great joy to me. Coming home. What's more lovely than returning to places that are beloved and familiar, and made more special because we see them rarely. That's how I feel.

Any time we travel to Europe for a conference of Neel's we tack on some time just for us. Traveling to Crete and Santorini on our last trip to Greece (gah, was it really seven years ago!), adding extra days in Budapest when we were in Hungary, and last year meeting Neel in London to spend time with lovely Annie. This year is no different, but it's special too.

This year, after Neel's conference, we're headed to Rome where we'll meet my dad and spend a few days there and then a few days on the Amalfi coast. And this is likely why Violet is angry with us. She wanted to see Pompeii. It's a dream-come-true for Neel, and for my budding Latin scholar as well. Let's face it, none of us can wait.

This trip is coming at a good time for me, I think. I've thought a lot about travel and how it changes us. How our routines change and how to incorporate those changes at home. There a sweeping huge benefits to travel, and I'm so glad we're able to raise our son with a love of travel and an appreciation of other cultures. But it's the smaller benefits that sometimes have the most impact. Learning you like olives at breakfast. Sharing the ritual of tea time, mugs spread across the table. Watching the late light play across the ceiling of your apartment as the clink and rustle of dinner preparation calls out below. I'm always wondering how I can get those routines to better translate at home. If I have any insight, I'll let you know.

I think it's a good time to take a media break as well. My online life has felt, in some places, prickly and uncomfortable of late. Not this space; this space means the world to me, and having you come here and connect with me at spl enriches my life more than I have words for. But I've been quietly watching things get prickly in other areas of my life, and I'm not liking it so much. So I think the break will be good. Recharge some of the things that need to be charged. And enjoy my family. That's the best. And the olives. And the feta. And the wine.

I'm sure I'll still be hanging out on Instagram, as wifi allows, so keep an eye out for me there. I know I won't be able to wait to see you all when I get back. XO