Day 17

IT IS SO HOT AND HUMID. I believe the kids said it is 90 out, plus the humidity. There is no reason to take a shower, before you can even dry off, we are sweating. The day began after an evil night out. We were robbed by the taxi drivers. |Grossly depressing us all. So this morning, it was hard to get out of bed for the bike ride. It was toooooo hot to do the 4 hour tour, so in 2 in a half hours we were able to see Parliament, views of the castle from the river and other nonmemorable monuments. There was a natural water fountain that was so gross, but we all tried it and it tasted and smelled like rotten eggs.

Barely able to walk in the heat home, and up the thousand steps to the room, most took a nap, and others ran to the 3 story air conditioned mall 3 long hot sunny blocks away.

A group dinner at Umicon allowed everyone to share their last supper together.

Then, after a game of chess, a game of samurai, a game of signing Jack's t-shirt, and sitting out on the balcony, the group left to the neighborhood hangout, Instant, to try to play some pool. Unlike all other nights out where everyone dressed to impress, these Cali Kids wore swim shorts, tshirts, and cool summer dresses.

It is almost 11 pm, and I suspect that the heat will drive them in sooner than their averaged 4 am curfew...
Our wake up time is set for 8 am, taxi shuttle vans to the airport arrive at 9, and our flight leaves at 11:55.

We will be leaving Shane and Evan behind, as they venture to Florence on a 5 pm train. Emma and Justine are headed to Rome, and Justin Caesar and Nathan will be ditching us in New York.

I can't even put into words the family that has been formed on this trip. The boys have named it the Butler Krew, and have given eachother names like Harold and Chester...I don't know if they realize the memories that they have created, and I am thinking of offering a college graduation reunion trip, just so I, selfishly, can see how much they have all grown into more amazing individuals.

There hasn't been one catastrophe that has ruined the trip for us, even when the boys missed the train to Amsterdam, they were still there before hotel check in...And, although the taxi drivers played us for a few hundred, the kids learned a HUGE lesson about traveling, and trust...The girls ultimately are best friends tonight, so any real tension throughout room sharing and whatnot has dissolved maturely.. The guys have inside jokes about eachother that will last on facebook for decades to come...And, as they find themselves bored in their college courses, I am sure, they will be remembering bits and pieces of this amazing trip.

WE have found a date where EVERYONE has approved, for our reunion party...August 9th...and that's IF Evan and Ashli are NOT in Catalina that day...so I am in hopes that one of you parents will offer your home to us, as we have an awards ceremony planned, a picture passing. and video made by Alex and Harry, and really, a time to remember, laugh, and see eachother once more before college life calls them all on their own journeys...