Kristen has dreamed of visiting Italy since she was a little girl. In all of her many travels, she has purposefully left out this romantic destination, hoping that some day she would be able to share this experience with her new husband. (Some of her college roommates were even asked to let Brandon in on this dream of hers.) Brandon’s limited exposure to international travel meant there was little disagreement when picking where we would go for our honeymoon.

We will be heading back to San Francisco following the wedding for a Sunday evening flight to London saving about 30% versus flying direct into Rome. (Brandon’s college degree is finally paying off, so what if Kristen actually figured it out!) From there we’ll be flying to Rome and will spend a couple of days visiting the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum and the Tombs beneath The Vatican.

Next, we will test our international driving mettle by renting a car and traveling to Tuscany. Eschewing the major hotels, Kristen has made reservations for us at an agriturismo, a villa with a vineyard and olive grove, in a small town outside of Siena. From Siena, we will be making several day trips to other villages within the region taking in the sights and sampling the local foods and wines.

Our last stop in Italy will be the amazing, sinking city of Venice. From the gondola rides to dining al fresco on the edge of the grand canal, there is so much for us to see, do and eat in this awe-inspiring city. Obviously, the romantic surroundings will not be wasted on us!

Finally, before we return to our everyday lives here in America, we will be spending a couple of days in London. Our time there will be filled with visits to museums, a night at the theatre, and quite possibly having a few pints with hooligans at a professional soccer match.