MY BROTHER VISITS BALTIMORE! So, timing wasn't good, right during my first two big tests, but family is always more important:) and i ended up doing just fine on them. He came in on Sunday and left on Wednesday. Short but sweet.

Some of my favorite girls joined us for dinner at the inner harbor...

Meghan and Andrea- aw, i just love you both- always ready to put down the books for a good meal and some laughter

thanks for coming Alex!!!!!

They don't have these burgers in Germany.....i just don't know how he finished this!

And I am now 27......a bunch of my nursing friends went out to sushi to celebrate......


The happy little foursome:)

Jenny ready to dive in

Thanks for coming friends!!!!

The Naval Academy Stadium at 5 am....Ashley came as my strong supporter and photographer:) She kept my motivation level strong as she cheered me on at transitions...
after setting up transition spot at the academy we jumped on a bus down to the chesapeake bay for the swim prep and transition setup.....i got branded on my arms and legs...

the sunrise for the mens start was incredible....

Thanks for coming Ashley!!!!

Before the swim with a girl named Julia, her first olympic tri as well.....right before our wave took off....

and off we go....kicking in the face seems to be a usual occurence....

the swim was touch, not going to lie- i hadn't been in a pool in 5 weeks.....here i am in the middle, coming out, excited to get on my bike....

out of the wetsuit and onto my bike.....which was my favorite part of the race....and no flat tire!

the bike to run transition spot........

the start of my 6.2 mile run out of the stadium,

and the sweet finish.....

i think i am hooked....off to the start of a busy week now....

ITALY PART 2: Florence.....my favorite city. We arrived late afternoon from Rome and walked along the river Arno to our hotel, located right on the river. Rome was hectic, and we were thankful to be in a more relaxed city....

We walked to dinner along the river and we had to take some wannabe model shots:)

is this sunset not amazing??!!!

I found my favorite restaurant from back in the highschool days....dinner was a trip- that is Suz's new boyfriend.....just kidding, he is our italian waiter:)

The view of Florence once you climb about 1,000 steps....so worth it

Our first night there we saw the Duomo at night......

I am all about reflection shots...our cheap "italy only" glasses were good for them.

Random art......such gifted people on the streets.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner....this techno icecream place is where its at.....

Suz getting crazy with the ice cream our last night

listened to music perched on some steps right here after dinner

and that was florence in a few days....

ITALY: PART 3 Cinque Terre for 3 days......We arrived in the little village of Vernazza and tracked down our hotel. A hippie making mojitos at a bar turned out to be the owner of the "hotel" and showed us up a maze of stairs to our place....it was quite comical to say the least.


That night I ordered everything out of the sea for Suz to try and we ate on a cliffside beneath a castle....it was amazing

Probably the most beautiful view to a meal I have ever experienced.....and suzanne was the hottest date:)ha

We walked up to the castle right before dinner and had a nice little view of the village

after dinner we strolled down to the water to enjoy the rest of the evening

a bottle of red and a bar of chocolate..............

the next day we got up early and did a 6 hour hike all along the ocean through the 5 villages....

the views were incredible

the last day in Italy we decided to take a train to Santa Margherita.....

Our last morning coffee in Monterosso before getting on the train to meet my parents and brother in Lugano, Switzerland

In Lugano, we all went out to dinner above the lake(Suz is here, just taking the picture!)

Suz on Lake Como

My brother Alex!!!!!

Oh yes, we did take Suz to the Swiss Chocolate factory and this is the chocolate model cow:)

We drove over this beautiful pass in Switzerland.......

And then we spent 3 days in Germany with Suzanne.....the trip was perfect in every way. I flew to LA to meet my sister and belen...and we all had a great time.....

My little sister.....too cute

Oh yes, we got to pet a Eurasian horned owl at lunch in Santa Barbara.....

The three girls went to lunch to celebrate my birthday early, it is Sept. 12th
And I met her boyfriend and love him........now, i am back at my place in Baltimore and start classes on Tuesday....oh joy