Of the many places that I have NOT been, Italy is at the top of the list of destinations that I would love to visit some day.  When I was studying Graphic Design at UGA, I took a course in Italian Renaissance Art and studied the Old Masters.  I have longed to go there ever since.  Liz and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary in September 2007, and I began planning a 10-day tour of Italy well over a year in advance.  I dreamed of taking a gondola ride on the canals of Venice, seeing Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in Rome, climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, seeing Leonardo’s “Last Supper” in Milan, driving through the Italian countryside, watching the sunset on the Amalfi Coast, and visiting beautiful Florence with Ghiberti’s “Gates of Paradise” and Michelangelo’s statue of “David.”   Doesn’t that sound wonderful!... But sometimes things do not go as planned and 2007 was a very tough year.  Liz’s third back surgery was followed by a very serious infection that was much worse than the surgery.  And then her Mom was in and out of the hospital, had a severe stroke and died just a few days after our anniversary.  So the plans for our 25th Anniversary dream trip evaporated.  And the night of our anniversary, we barely found time to go out to dinner at Maggione’s Little Italy Restaurant here in Atlanta.  Very nice, but not exactly the romantic gondola ride I had envisioned.  But I still believe we’ll make that trip one day.  I haven’t given up on the dream.  And I’m wondering if any of you out there have ever been to Italy and could share some of your own experiences and memories.          

By all means - do visit Italy!!!  Since COMSIXTH Fleet was based out of Naples, I got to spend a lot of time in and around Italy - especially Naples.  Italy is very diverse and it sounds like you have all the picturesques spots picked out.  You MUST include Rome and a visit to the Vatican.  I could go on and on about all the little towns we pulled into that were not on a tourist map.  Great county to visit.  Again, HIGHLY recommended!

I was very blessed having the opportunity to visit many countries while in the Navy, but feel far more blessed having been born in this greatest of all countries.   I haven't visited all of the countries of the world, but of the ones I have visited (listed below) none can compare with the Good Ole USA!!!  Don't get me wrong, they each have something special and are well worth the trip to see, but if you never leave home, you have seen the best and the blessed!!!

1. Azores
2. Bahrain
3. Bermuda
4. Brazil
5. Djibouti
6. Dubai
7. Egypt
8. England
9. France
10. Germany
11. Greece
12. Guinea-Bissau
13. Iran
14. Israel
15. Italy
16. Ivory Coast
17. Kuwait
18. Monaco
19. Morocco
20. Netherlands
21. Pakistan
22. Portugal
23. Seychelles
24. Sicily
25. Senegal
26. Spain
27. Togo
28. Tunisia
29. United Arab Emirates
30. United Kingdom
31. Vatican City
32. Virgin Islands
33. Yugoslavia

Gary… that’s quite an impressive list!  When they say, “Join the Navy and see the World” they aren’t kidding!  But I will salute you and anyone else who serves this country in the armed forces and say that you deserve to see the world and enjoy any other fringe benefits that have, or will come your way.  And even though I have been blessed to visit only four countries outside the United States (Canada, Denmark, Israel and Russia), I will echo your sentiments about the good old U.S.A.  Even with the troubles we have, and creeping socialism, we are still the most blessed country on earth.  I came back from our Mission Trip to Russia with a new appreciation for all the blessings we have here at home.  Even the “poor” in America, with digital color TVs, cell phones, computers and cars, live like kings compared to most of the people of the world.  As the 4th of July approaches, we should be very grateful for the blessings and freedoms we have, and do all that we can to keep them!