2013: A Year of Great Moments & Boring Months

Over the course of this last year I've often reflected that 2012 was the strangest year of my life.  Time has had it's effect and dulled the strangeness but it remains a year of unpredictable moments.  2013 has proven to be quite the opposite.

Most people reading this blog know that about 45 minutes into 2013 I asked Amanda to marry me.  

When that happened I knew I'd be heading to Saudi Arabia, so after the initial major life change things started to fold out quite predictably.  

We decided on places we wanted to visit during R&Rs and have mostly stuck to the plan, seeing New York, London, Scotland, & Italy.  We've yet to see Ireland, and we left off some key places in Italy in favor of having more time in the places we did stay.  We definitely intend to go back and spend a few more weeks there... eh... we might spend a few months in Italy at one point.

Ireland got cut out of 'Ryan & Amanda's Crazy Celtic Adventure' because it was just getting too crazy. (I think the first draft of our itinerary had 38 hours driving plus 6 hours on a ferry.

Amanda and I started in a routine of 2 skype days a week, which quickly turned into 2 skype days and 2 scheduled phone calls a week, which has now turned into 2 skype days, minimum 3 phone calls a week.

Life here is very predictable.  I work about 80 hours a week and the rest is filled up with Amanda, working out, eating, & sleeping.  Maybe some reading or video games here and there.  It's not fun and the project can be frustrating but it is getting Amanda and I off to a great start in our marital finances.

So, with the year now behind us I'll offer:

My top 10 moments of 2013...

10.  Drew & Nick giggling like girls when Amanda and I walked up to them in New York.  They were just so happy for me.

9. Beautiful Scotland

8. Tea at Edinburgh Castle

7.  Craft Beer Festival & Avett Brothers on R&R

6. Wicked in London!!!

5. This cheesecake.

4.  Staying in a castle.

3.  Getting to know Saluda's Sweet Tea Pork Chop - really the only reason for Columbia to be.

2. Something I've been looking forward to my whole life, going to the top of the Empire State Building

1. She said yes.

Life Update... or Lack of a Life... Update

Haven't blogged since Italy.... it's been a function of work being busy, life outside of work being dull, and not a whole lot changing.

I was on R&R in late November and early December, and the R&R was busy.  Wedding planning, dance lessons, catching up on 6 months of mail, Thanksgiving and early Christmas all rolled up together.

We met with Amanda's childhood pastor and he didn't refuse to wed us! 

My room-mate was in the process of moving out and is now gone, so Amanda has started "softening" my condo.

I ate some incredible food while home.  Melting Pot, Saluda's, Saskatoon, and Schianos all stood out.  Plus we got to try the rehearsal dinner cakes and bring some home.  Member's of the wedding are in for a treat... hint hint... Patrick Goodman.

This next go around for me is much shorter at only 6 weeks between R&Rs.  We are headed to Jamaica in mid January to get some all inclusive resort practice prior to the honeymoon.  81 degrees, swim up bars, 15 restaurants... we can't wait.

Amanda continued exposing me to Downton Abbey and I introduced her to Sherlock.  The British TV theme fit well with my Christmas present to her... a tea set!

In other news... wedding invitations ought to go out soon... and since we have no wedding website... or shame... we are registered at Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon, & Macys.

I'm coming up on a year at site and believe I'm well past the half way point... still thousands of reasons to be here though... 5 honeymoon payments, 9 car payments... I expect by late Summer 2014 I'll be wrapping up things here, hopefully on my way to Greenville for a rotation through the office and a chance to you know... live with my wife.

Best Meal Yet - Antica Osteria 1 Rosso

After getting back to Florence we did a load of laundry and headed out into our neighborhood to find a trattoria, Italian small informal local restaurant.  We happened upon a gem just a few blocks away and are planning to head back that way tonight!  If you are ever in Florence go to Antica Osteria 1 Rosso.  After a string of places that resembled the food you could get at any Italian restaurant in the US, this place really impressed.  I ordered the spaghetti bolognese as I was on a mission to find world rocking spaghetti, and Amanda got a bit more adventurous with a shrimp Tagliatelle with zucchini and mushroom. I think tonight I will try their wild boar tortellini.  We decided to share desert and after some debate decided on the cheesecake with chocolate.  It was incredible, the creamiest cheesecake I'd ever had but it maintained richness.  The combination of chocolate shavings and glaze was excellent.  Enjoy the picutres below... we certainly enjoyed the meal.  If you are ever in Florence look them up, 1 block away from the Westin.

Amanda's meal.  The two un-prepared shrimp on top are just a garnish.

Absolutely delicious.  Good spaghetti is easy, great spaghetti is an art, and it was great.

Remember the name. Go there.

Was simply wonderful.

Luckiest man alive, for two reasons.

Cinque Terre & Pisa Days

...but before all that, we last left off in Florence, right before Amanda and I departed for a river cruise on a gondola.

The beautiful Florence waterfront. 

Lighting was harsh, and we were the only couple on the boat that didn't get to sit next to each other, hence the disinterested Indian woman on the right, but our guide surprised us with Champagne after we passed under Ponte Vecchio, the bridge in the background with built in small houses and store fronts.

We left Florence at 6 am the next morning for the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre, 5 coastal villages connected by beautiful hiking trails, all set in a national park.  This is the Lardarina, 33 flights of stairs leading from the train station to our village, Corniglia.  All in all it is 100 meters or 382 steps.

After checking in I got changed and we started our hike.  Notice the sexy hat... and our village, Corniglia, in the background.

This is us, nearing the next village on the trail, Vernazza.  

Vernazza, is obviously set at a lower elevation, right on the sea.  It had a lot of nice shops and some beautiful architecture as the town is built up on a small peninsula.  We stopped here for a refreshing drink before moving on to the next village.

Monterosso, is the final village along the path and is very beachy and resorty.  It has a beautiful coast line though and is unique in that you can see all five of the Cinque Terre villages from it.  We stopped here for a few hours, renting an umbrella, chairs, and grabbing some gelato. 

Guess who isn't thinking about work?... This guy!

Manarola, the second village along the Cinque Terre, from the terrace of our hotel.

Tan lines!

We enjoyed sunset at a local restaurant overlooking the water.  Tragically, I left behind my sexy hat. :(

The view from our hotel room window.  Notice Manarola in the center right.

We departed for Pisa and trip back to Florence the next morning.  It was much easier walking down the stairs.

We arrived in Pisa and found a new hat.  With my sexy hat power restored I felt I'd help out the cathedral for a little while and hold up the leaning tower.

I celebrated with a Birra Moretti.

We climbed the leaning tower after lunch.  Here is Amanda on the shady side of the tower looking cute.

A view of the surrounding city and mountains from the top.

And a view of the cathedral below.

After my performance earlier in the day Amanda decided to show me up, holding up the tower with just one finger.  We have no idea what the tiny Asian woman on the left is doing. 

We took a break from holding the tower up to take this photo.

We're a little worried about the tower's future, without us, but had to go.  We're now back in Florence for one more day.  Look for a final blog post and round of pictures sometime early next week.

Arrivederci Roma, Ciao Toscana

We wandered around our neighborhood and found a nice little restaurant our last night in rome.  

A cute woman with cute luggage.

And a new water bottle.

Florence

After wandering around a bit we picked up some panini, pizza, wine, and cheesecake. 

As we were out wandering Amanda kept reminding me about finding the cheesecake.

HIS ARMS GREW BACK!!!

Our first full day in Florence revolved around a bike tour of the Tuscan countryside.

Some Merlot grapes that we hopped an electric fence to try.

I asked Amanda to write something clever on my tombstone if these pictures led to an unfortunate incident.

We stopped at a local winery for lunch, a wine tasting, and tour.

Here is the winery from the outside.

Amanda's bike was named 'Tinkerbell', mine was appropriately named 'Action Man'. 

And one final stop for some watermelon.