Sunday, January 21, 2007

I left with a boyfriend and came home with a fiance...

I'm ba-ack and yes you read that title correctly... we got engaged!!!!!!

It was Friday the 12th of January, we were halfway up the Austrian Alps, alone in a gondola/cable car, and my beloved boyfriend got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him!!!

Of course I said YES!!!! I was completely taken by surprise, it was the most romantic setting ever! This is the view we had from the cable car - not a bad view to get engaged to, eh?

So we are going to buy the ring in a few weeks (now that we're home) but he did make me a temporary ring... he had taken a table napkin from the hotel restaraunt, written the most beautiful message inside, and folded it up lengthways, so he could tie it around my finger - I will treasure that forever... sigh... so romantic...

So - the remainder of our holiday was great! Before we left England we travelled down to London, met my uncle, did a fabulous day tour to Stonehenge, Salisbury and Bath. Then off to Innsbruck for the skiing (and engagement!). My fiance (hee hee sounds funny) tried snowboarding, and I skiied (i had skiied twice before) and he was covered in bruises after the first hour, but we had a ball. I managed to stay on my feet for about an our before the first stack.

After Innsbruck we went to Naples, Pompeii and the Isle of Capri. Pompeii was mindblowing - I kept walking around saying "I cant believe I'm finally at Pompeii" over and over. Spectacular, and the Pompeii ruins themselves were really big - far too big to walk around in 3 hours, which is all the time we had.


This is me at Pompeii, with the volcano Mt Vesuvius in the background.This is the bay of Naples - the day was quite hazy, but fairly warm too (16 or 17 degrees C) considering it was the middle of winter.

Finally we headed back to Rome, where we had two days to see the sights. I didnt like Rome itself, dirty, crowded, noisy, and crazy drivers! But Ancient Rome was fantastic. My favourite place was the Roman Forum - ahhh it was amazing. I cant believe I got to walk around and touch ruins that were over 2000 years old.

We went to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, St Peters Basilica, St Pauls, Capitol, and finally the Coliseum, where we spent our final afternoon. We both loved it - the history of the place is incredible.

I have many more photos, so I will post more in the days to come. Right now I am exhausted, as we seemed to be coming home forever. I think I have slept about 5 hours in the last 48. Lucky I have one more week off work - I think we need it!

Thats about it for now, I will catch up with everyones blogs in the next day or two!

29 comments:

SeLiNa said...

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!! I am SOO excited and happy for you!!!! That is soooo romantic!! :)))
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Your trip sounded awesome!! Ancient Rome is spectacular isnt it! And I hope you threw your money in the Trevi Fountain!!!
xoxo

Kelly said...

Congratulations Hilary. I'm so happy for you. How lovely!!!!

I love all your photos, and it makes me so want to go to Europe!!

Congrats again,
Kelly

Bec said...

Oh CONGRATS!!!! That is fabulous news!!! Congratulations on getting engaged, it sounded so romnatic :)

I love all the pics of Europe. It looks like the most amazing trip. I can't wait to hear more about it.

All the best
Rebecca

Mel said...

Welcome back :)

OMG, that is awesome - congratulations sweet!! And how romantic *sigh* How exciting!!!

AND your whole holiday sounds totally amazing and the pics are beautiful...

Mel
xxx

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! Hils that is just beautiful. I am so happy for you and Scott. Awww and so romantic too. *Sigh*

Rest up though I reckon you would be still on a high!

Talk soon
Jodie
xx

Hilds said...

Congratulations thats awesome news!!!!!! I know exactly where you were as we went up the same cable car in Innsbruk, you couldn't have asked for a better setting. I bet you had the biggest smile on your face for the rest of the trip, its such a fantastic feeling getting engaged! Enjoy the week at home and continuous celebrations!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is wonderful news how romantic!!! Your holiday looks amazing! Sounds (and looks like) you have had the absolute best time!

K

little rene said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

That is just wonderful news Hilary! Being married is a beautiful journey and I hope you both love it as much as my husband and I!

What a perfect overseas experience you have had. You are such a wonderful person, you really deserve all the happiness in the world.

love renexxx

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Hilary! What wonderful news and what a romantic location!

Now for the ring shopping!!!
All the best,
Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Hilary that is just AWESOME. oww and how romantic, I am very happy for you and Scott. Great to hear about your wonderful holiday and see the pics, also happy to have you back ;)

Alixxxxx

Shar said...

Hi Hils
Fantastic news ! I bet you are both just sooooo happy!!

What a way to do it, good on ya OH!!

Your trip sounded great - but exhausting, rest up with your week of! :)

Shar x

Jodi said...

Congratulations on your engagement Hilary!!!! That did sound really romantic!

Glad to see you had a wonderful trip. All the photos look wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Wow congrats Hilary. That is such wonderful news.

Raw Food Girl said...

Awesome! Congratulations! All the best for your happy future together!
Sandra xx

Janew said...

Congratulations to you both :) WOW how exciting!!!

Great that you also have a fab holiday!!!

jane :)

Anonymous said...

WOW WOW WOW!!!! I got so excited when I read your post! And what a romantic setting! Ooh makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!!!!

Woo-hoo!!!!! Huge congratulations to you both!!!

Thanks for your comment on my blog! Made me feel lots better knowing I wasn't the only one who hadn't done lots of exercise over the Christmas/New Year! I am just starting to get back into it again. Have got my cardio back up and running (excuse the pun), and have got my weights program ready to get back into.

But about my rekindled love for chocolate.... *embarrassed*... that is going to take some effort! Not to mention the extra Christmas kilos! Why are they SO hard to take off, but SO easy to put on!!!

Anonymous said...

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is just so fantastic, i am so so very happy for you, i had tears in my eyes reading your post there. How romantic for you, and you are right the view to get engaged to is just breathtaking!!!!

Cant wait to see more pics.

Bec
xx

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS.

So glad you arrived home safely and with such good news.

Kerry

Di Broeren said...

CONGRATULATIONS! So romantic and beautiful....very happy for you!

I had to giggle at your comment about getting used to calling him "fiance"! Enjoy your love : )

Bug's Mumma said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

Splice said...

Congrats Hilary, I am so very happy for you.
Have lots of fun picking out your ring.
Hugs,
Deb

Pip said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your photos are FANTASTIC!

Such a nice WOW post to read!

I'm SOOO happy for you!

Pip

Sue Heintze said...

And here I am late to the party as always!!!!

You must be so excited!! What a wonderful memory of your trip that you will always have. Congratulations Hilary, it was only a matter of time! Now, a wedding to organise! I look forward to catching up soon...
x

RaeC said...

WHAT THE??? Lordy... go away for the weekend and look what I get back to... another one biting the dust... LOL!!

Only kidding honey, congratulations and best wishes for a bright and happy future together. You've got a smart man there... he would have been crazy not to snap someone like you up!!

I am so excited for you!! xxx

Anonymous said...

YAY!!!
Lots of hugs, and a big congratulations how exciting a blog wedding YAY
So glad to have you back, and coming back with such wonderfull and happy news :)
Alittle advice, don't let your mother take over the planning of your wedding!!!
Have a fantastic week hun:)
Em:)

Anonymous said...

Holey Moley! Yay for you. didn't I tell you something like that would happen. That sounds like it was a really sweet way to propose.
Have fun ring shopping as well - I hope that you find something that you like straight away. I know a really excellent jeweller in Adelaide st if you decide to get something made. You should go into canturi and tiffany's just because you can!!
Andrea

LizN said...

Hilary,

Congratulations! What wonderful news!

Hugs
Liz ;)

Michelle said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

And welcome home!!!!!

XXX - Michelle

CJ said...

Congratulations to both of yo on your engagement. Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. We will be heading off to Italy in June - I can't wait!

Welcome back!