Unfortunately this took until the middle of April.  Once we had enough miles and called United, it seemed there was absolutely no way to get to Europe - everyone else had already gamed the system.  Apparently bankrupt airlines that loose millions of dollars a day don't like to give away too much free travel.  Unlike 2 years ago when we had no problem finding a flight, we couldn't get 4 seats across the Atlantic.  Not taking no for answer, I kept calling back... over and over and over.  When someone found a way there but not back, I wrote it down, called again, and fed that flight to the next person.  After several days of this we finally got lucky and managed to get tickets for 17 nights in Europe with several crazy connections, a layover in Chicago on the way there, and another layover in Washington on the way back.  No problem, we'll see something in both towns - I extended the stay in Washington to 3 nights to show the kids where our founding fathers are turning over in their graves.

My friends Kent and Rita were already going to Europe with his family this summer.  Kent's advice had been fantastic for our trip to Italy in 2003 - we had him to thank for pointing us to Siena and Sorrento, which were favorites on our incredible 2003 trip.  Now Kent kept talking about how cool Switzerland was, and how he was going to the small ski village of Mürren in the alps.  I finally decided to make a big loop through Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and back through Italy.  Once I planned the dates out, I managed to totally invade Kent & Rita's trip, overlapping their 3 night stay in Mürren completely.  This year the party's in the alps!

Friday June 17, 2005 to Sunday June 19, 2005 - El Granada to Venice
Monday June 20, 2005 - Day 1 - Venice - San Marco
Tuesday June 21, 2005 - Day 2 - Venice - Grand Canal
Wednesday June 22, 2005 - Day 3 - Venice to Salzburg
Thursday June 23, 2005 - Day 4 - Salzburg - Sound of Music Tour
Thursday June 23, 2005 - Day 4 - Salzburg - Panorama from Gasthaus Stadtalm Cafe
Friday June 24, 2005 - Day 5 - Salzburg
Friday June 24, 2005 - Day 5 - Salzburg - Panorama from New Town
Saturday June 25, 2005 - Day 6 - Salzburg to Füssen
Sunday June 26, 2005 - Day 7 - Füssen
Monday June 27, 2005 - Day 8 - Füssen to Mürren
Tuesday June 28, 2005 - Day 9 - Mürren - Jungfraujoch
Tuesday June 28, 2005 - Day 9 - Mürren - Panorama from Eismeer Station
Tuesday June 28, 2005 - Day 9 - Mürren - Panorama from Jungfraujoch
Tuesday June 28, 2005 - Day 9 - Mürren - Panorama from Kleine Sheidegg
Wednesday June 29, 2005 - Day 10 - Mürren - Lauterbrunnen Valley
Thursday June 30, 2005 - Day 11 - Mürren to Sestri Levante
Friday July 1, 2005 - Day 12 - Sestri Levante
Saturday July 2, 2005 - Day 13 - Sestri Levante - Cinque Terre
Saturday July 2, 2005 - Day 13 - Vernazza Panorama
Sunday July 3, 2005 - Day 14 - Sestri Levante to Florence via Pisa
Sunday July 3, 2005 - Day 14 - Pisa Panorama
Monday July 4, 2005 - Day 15 - Florence
Monday July 4, 2005 - Day 15 - Florence Panorama
Tuesday July 5, 2005 - Day 16 - Florence to Venice
Wednesday July 6, 2005 - Venice to Washington
Thursday July 7, 2005 - Washington
Friday July 8, 2005 - Washington
Saturday July 9, 2005 - Washington to El Granada
Epilogue