Malta, Venice and Milan

Hey Gang,

  The Sawyer's have been at it again...  A few weeks ago we went on a great trip!!  However,  as much fun as this trip was Mark had a really fabulous event at work!  He had a few VIP visitors from the USCoast Guard including Admiral Thad Allen in town.  So before I even begin the trip pictures here are a couple of pictures of Mark and his Coastie representation!   

This is a picture of my amazing husband with Admiral Thad Allen(center) and Jeff Lantz (left). Mr Lantz is the US Head of Delegation to the International Maritime Organization.

Here we have from left Jeff Lantz, Mark, Capt. Gautier, Admiral Allen, and Bob Pond (one of Mark's mentors).



Mark's job and the entire relocation here has truly been a challenge, however, God always has our best at hand and Mark has had some truly amazing opportunities here!  The week of this conference was crazy but truly rewarding! Now onto the trip...

We had a nice week long break in February so we took full advantage of it.  We went on a fabulous trip to the country of Malta then we flew to Italy where we visited Venice and Milan. 

Malta has never been on my radar but Mark had a trip for work and so the children and I met him there!  We loved it!  I don't know if it was because it was so different than anything we had seen to date, the fact that we actually saw the sun and didn't have to wear our coats, or the break from Sweden but it was lovely.  take a look!

Malta water front

Brooklyn and Zach enjoying the scenery! 

We were able to meet up with daddy a few times even though he was working!

Taking a break in Valetta, Malta

A cool tunnel in Malta! Look at those cute kids!

Typical narrow Malta street!

From Malta Mark was able to join us and we journeyed to Venice, Italy!  I have always dreamed of going to Venice and it was exactly what I had imagined!  Truly a unique city!  We loved it!  We had a very Venitian hotel and it was Carnival time so we were able to see all the preparations for the festivities!

Zach rocking out in our hotel room!

View from the hotel front door!

Now in Venice you have a couple of options as far as commuting!  You can take a water taxi or the water bus! It was such an experience.  Below we are on the water taxi on our way to tour a glass factory!

Here is Brooklyn on the back of

 a water bus.  It is exactly what you think,  a big people mover on water!

Me with Venice in the background! Unbelievable!

You cannot go to Venice and not visit the pigeons! LOL

parking...

We did not take a gondola ride!  It was  rather cold and I was just fine without it! They go the same places as the taxis and buses and they are outrageously expensive.  I did get a photo for you though from our water taxi.

Mimi & Poppy...where are the Pelicans? 

 

Of course we had to get Brooklyn in the carnival spirit!

One of the funniest things to me was watching a boat pull up with FexEx written on the side! The guy was in a Fed Ex coat and delivered his packages out of his boat!

We then left Venice and headed to Milan for a short overnight visit before our plane left.  We enjoyed Milan but it was not my favorite to date.  We happened to be there during fashion week and we were able to see a Milan fashion show!

The Duomo Cathedral in Milan!

I have never seen such beautiful stain glass windows in all my life!

Outside high end shopping center in Milan.

Inside the shopping center waiting for the fashion show!

Brooklyn asked why the models all looked angry and Mark said "they are just hungry"!

Just a little time out in Milan!

I hope you have njoyed our latest edition to the Sawyer escapades in Europe!  We will be heading to Dublin, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland in a couple weeks so stay tuned!

We love and miss you all so much!  Keep in touch we love hearing from the states!!

XOXO

Mollie