We’re back. . .

Just a quick blog to update you (if we haven’t already darkened your doorstep) on our current location and status.  We arrived back in the US on November 19 via an American Airlines flight from Rome to Philadelphia.  After clearing customs (loving the Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check programs!), we traveled by a reserved shared car (though we were the only passengers) to Wilmington, DE.  Along with our international excursions, we are still trying to get to all 50 states.  Delaware was a new state for us, bringing our total to 43 states visited.  We had 2 nights but only 1 full day there.  However, we braved the chill and very brisk wind to get a good walkabout in Wilmington, including a visit to the Hagley museum and a walk along the lovely (that’s 1 for you Cheryl!) Wilmington waterfront.

Since our day in Delaware, we have been visiting family on both coasts as well as the Midwest.  We spent a few days in Alexandria, Virginia with Bob’s brother Eric and his children before heading to Iowa, Wisconsin, and Nebraska to visit Beth’s mom, sister, aunt and uncle and Bob’s sisters and their families.  Some of the highlights of this portion of the trip (outside of catching up with family) include — exploring new monuments and memorials in the DC area (Beth and Bob), attending the Iowa vs. Nebraska football game (Bob) and watching Iowa win, hiking and seeing the fun holiday lighting festival in Rockford, IL complete with fireworks, ice sculptures, s’mores, and music (Beth). We have the best relatives ever, and are incredibly indebted to them for their continued hospitality during our wanderings.

Modes of travel for this portion of our travels — planes (American, Delta, Southwest), reserved car, buses (Greyhound, Vangalder, Megabus), metro, cars (both mooching rides from family as well as a rental car).