(April 10, 2010) Back from Italy. What a horrible, horrible trip it was. 17 Days of pure hell! I am sure some will beg to differ but I did not enjoy the food at all. Pasta, bread, pizza EVERY DAY!!!! It's all so bland and so blah! Every shop is stuff we all should really avoid. I pretty much given up all that stuff and then I get there and it's all there was to offer. Every other shop is a restaurant, but they all have the same menu with the same stuff. UGH!!! There were a couple of nights we found other types of places and believe me...I was never so happy to see Mexican and Irish Pubs!!!! If I see another piece of bread or pasta I am going to scream. My husband felt the same way so I know I am not over reacting! Also they charge for water and you better let them know if you just want plain water because sparkling water is HUGE!!!!! Even over there they trip when you tell them you do not wish to have a drink with your meal.

Then we were robbed in France!!!! They took everything! Watched us close then in just 20 short little minutes, broke into the car, yanked the whole set of luggage, computers, ipods, dirty clothes and all!!!! So a full afternoon was spent at the French police station! Try making a police report in different languages! We were reduced to drawing photos! Thank GOD they did not get our passports or money, but I was left with the clothes on my back. For some reason my husband had put his dirty clothes in a different bag and put it behind the driver’s seat. Mine were in a different compartment in my luggage. So he had three outfits and me....NOTHING BUT WHAT I HAD ON!!!!

So, you would think since I have lost 125lbs and now a size 10, I would not have trouble finding clothes! WRONG AGAIN my American friends! We are considered big!!!! So after about 40 stores I gave up. I had to wash my underwear in the sink every night and blow dry them with a dryer! After a few more days I was able to at least get more underwear. Every other day my husband had to leave me in the hotel room wrapped in a towel while he went to wash my clothes! I am going to burn them now; I never want to see that outfit again!

What's so bad is....all the clothes they took were NEW!!!!! Most less than a month old. I had two outfits that still had tags on them.

At this stage in my life...I have come to understand I AM AN AMERICAN GIRL and I can take or leave Europe. It's going to be a while before I want to ever go back over and explore.

Italy and France do not have 24 hour stores, no fast food, no variety, and no Wal-Mart!!!!!!!!!! (ha) I never thought I would miss any of those things until they were taken away. You do not appreciate what we have here in America until you start visiting the world. You would not believe how unimportant the Internet is to them....AGGGHHHHH!

Enough of that horrible story....onto the next thing.

So now we are back but within a day I caught the worse flu I have ever had. Fever, aches, nausea, you name it...I had it. And because of the nausea, I had to get totally unfilled. I have nothing in my band right now. I have lost more weight! I am down to 150. Today is the first day I have been well enough to even get out of bed.

The last month has been....well....is there really a good word other than HELLIASHOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, we were blessed to not be harmed. For that I am grateful, and if anything it made hubby and me grow so much stronger. We really only had each other! Hey...ain't nothing like keeping a 6 year old from picking your husbands pocket on the metro! (Yes, that happened and I caught him!)

So now the journey begins to replace our stuff. We did have travel insurance and my advice to you if you travel is to do the same! It's worth it.

I know, I know...some will say...look forward to shopping...but you know what...it's something about having someone take all your stuff. It was yours, it was not theirs and the hassle of replacing it takes a lot of energy and time. Yes...I am still a bit bitter and it is going to take a while to get over it!

So...I guess I better end now or else I will just keep on and on and on.

Hope my next post will be a better one.

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?:thumbup:

Surgery Date: May 21, 2009

Starting Weight: 280lbs

Dr. Michael Metz - St. Luke's Hospital Denver, CO:thumbup:

Follow my progress thru photos:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/5...lbums3475

Hugs! I am an American Girl too!!! I've always felt international travel is overrated. I prefer being in my own element. :->

OMG What an Experience you had! So glad you cared enough to share and to warn us all that travel. OMG we searched and searched for a Wal-Mart in Hawaii (Oahu) when we were there, it is located off the beaten path in a residential section. Hate that you got sick and had to have an unfill, I have been very fortunate that I have not had that happen and I have been around sick people all winter, Thanking God! Home Sweet Home huh? Glad you are back enjoy keeping up with you.

Wow that was a TRIP!!! I never much like France either. Funny I am just now getting around to reading "My Life in France" by Julia Child. She does make it sound like a different place back in the day! Not Today that is for sure.

I stay in the good ol US of A.

Tomorrow is another day and I know you will be feeling much better. I am under the weather a little today now that I think about it. I am just going to take the day off. Welcome home and there really is no place like HOME. Best wishes and Thanks for sharing. Love imaluckydog

holy Sh*t!!!

I have been trying to convince my husband to go to South America to visit the country i was born in. Just my luck something like that would happen to us.

As Americans we are pampered with all the convinient 24 hour daily living and even though i was born and raised in Colombia i am sure i would have a hard time surviving there...specially with clothing since Xl is the biggest they go and their XL is more like a American M.

It sure sucks that you lost all your new outfits, someone in France is looking good.

How does it feel to be totally unfilled? are you hungry?

I am still waitng to feel restriction and i still have not lost much weight...only 3 lbs in the last 3 weeks.