Ciao, Venice

We are leaving tomorrow!

Stayed all day at the coast of Venice, and I think I will miss it! It is so beautiful, but I am also excited to go home and see everyone that I have missed.

KK - I am SO down for Austrailia! Maggie wants to go too! Haha. It's a very long flight though!

Going to pack and go to bed. Hopefully I can sleep on the plane so I can be awake when I get home! Because I am used to being 7 hours ahead of you all!

SEE YOU SOON! Ciao!

All good things come to an end...

So my fabulous vacation is almost over. :(

Last night we had a great time at the pub on the campgrounds. We started a game of flip cup outside on the ping-pong tables, and several people joined! Mostly Americans, 2 Austrailians, but it was a good game. Obviously we dominated, since we're such seasoned players! Haha.

Today we're going back to town and hang out by the water, maybe go into some shops or just snack on some strawberries by the grand canal. It's really hard to shower because hot water only comes every 3 minutes, and only works for about 5 seconds. That's not an exaggeration. So we've been taking cold cold showers.

We just ate at the restaurant here, and when we walked past the pool we noticed several women sunbathing topless! I'm about to go join them. Just kidding!

I can't wait to show you all pictures, but I don't even think they'll do this place justice. Venice is by far the prettiest place we've been. Very very beautiful.

Suggestions for places to go: MUNICH! By far the most friendly people and funniest place to visit. Lots of history, lots of good food and fun. Great tours.

Venice: Beautiful scenery and great food! Cheap wine.

Paris: Tons of things to see, a little expensive, but wine is cheap again and the people are friendly.

London: TONS of history, obviously easiest because they speak English, but the exchange rate for the British pound is bad, so things are most expensive here. Definitely worth experiencing. Easy to get around and lots and lots of things to do.

Thank you all for reading and keeping up with my journeys. I can't wait to see you all. I can say that I might be addicted to travelling...

Any suggestions for my next trip?!

Venice, day 2!

No pick-pockets today. And Venice is really beautiful. There is water through the city instead of streets! It's lovely! We took a boat ride today and saw the city, and then we walked through the shopping district, so I got some presents...

I can't post pictures, because Emily's computer won't work here. We ate dinner right by the grand canal, at this little restaurant on the water. It was so pretty! And the food was great too. So far, so good.

We're going to check out the pub on the campground here in a few minutes, so I'll let everyone know how that is tomorrow. Can't wait to show you all pics. Miss you all and see you soon.

I can't believe my dream vacation is almost over. Thanks to all of you that helped make this a reality. I can't believe how lucky I really am. I love you all.

Venice, day one, sort of....

We made it safely to Venice, and we're staying at a place very close to the airport we fly out of. We got off the train to Venice and the weather was lovely. Then once we got on the bus to our hostel, it started pouring. It's been pouring ever since. So we ate dinner at the restaurant here on the hostel's grounds, had a few glasses of wine, and now we're using the internet! Last night we watched Robin Hood (the one w/ Kevin Costner, hah) on Emily's computer, and we may be doing the same again! We're staying in a sort of camp ground here in Venice, but it's really cheap and if it wasn't raining so hard it seems to be really fun. Never drink Beck's, it's disgusting. Lauren suggested it, but Emily and I contend that it tastes like skunk. Tomorrow we're going to try and get a gondola ride, if it's nice, so pray for good weather for us!

Pappy, thanks for the comments and I'm glad you're checking up on us! I did get you a pigeon feather from London, so don't worry! Haha. Mom, our flight will be a US Airways flight coming from Philly, but I don't know the number. It's supposed to land at 6:39, if that helps any.

Miss you all, and can't wait to show you all my pics! We've got some great ones!

Love, and until tomorrow...

Oh, Milan...

So we're cutting Milan short. There isn't much to do, our hotel is a little ghetto (not too bad, don't worry mom), and Loli got pick-pocketed this morning. They only took money and someone brought her wallet back (probably the same person that took the money), but it could have been worse. It's not anything to worry about, but we're leaving a day early for Venice. The hostel we booked there seems really communal, and it caters towards backpackers and younger tourists. We're already tired of Milan. So we'll be catching a train tomorrow around 11 for Venice, and it's about a 3 hour ride. So wish us luck, and we love you all!

Aaron and Pappy - thanks for the comments! Pappy, don't worry, you can leave me messages, they don't cost anything. And Aaron - Emily and I will coordinate a trip as long as you're the financial supporter! ;)

Ciao!

It's Italy, must be Saturday.

We only know the days apart when we go to a different country. Today we will ride through Switzerland and into Italy. We are staying in Milan until Tuesday morning and then moving on to Venice. We hope to see DaVinci's Last Supper on the wall of a church in Milan, but we hear you have to make appointments. But wish us luck, because I'd really like to see the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper all in one trip! Anyways, we reserved a cabin on the train and hopefully we will have it to ourselves, so there aren't any screaming babies we have to deal with! I sure will be happy to have some United States air conditioning! Haha, me and Emily are getting quite warm, and it's only going to get hotter in Italy (or that's what we hear).

Miss you all, and thanks to those that are still reading and checking up on our little adventure. There will be a prize for the person that comments the most! Just kidding, but Sissy would definitely be in the lead if there were! Love you guys, and thanks Sissy!

Until Italy....

We love Munich!

Munich is really fun. We went to Dachau, one of the first concentration camps in Germany, and toured there today. It was really informative and moving. Hard to believe that was only fifty years or so ago.

On a lighter note, since I'm pressed for time, people are really nice here, and the weather has been beautiful! We did a walking tour of the city yesterday and a pub crawl last night. Then Dachau today and then some beer and hotdogs in the beer gardens. Old people, young people, everyone sits together and drinks and enjoys the weather. Very laid back city. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone! I can't wait to show you guys all my pictures, because these are just from Emily's. She has some good ones, but I have tons and tons!

We leave for Milan in the morning. We won't get there til 9:30 pm, so that sucks! 8 hour train ride, but I'll catch up on my journal writing. It's pretty hot here in Munich, and our hostel doesn't have air conditioning. But our next places do, and we've already booked them, so the trip from now on should be smooth sailing!

Italy, here we come!

Pics from Metz

Germany...

We have not been in Munich that long, but everyone seems to know English, so I dont think we will have any problems getting around. The hostel is VERY nice and it was as cheap as the one in London. Plus there is an all you can eat breakfast and a free walking tour in the morning, which we are doing. I will let you know how it is. Beer is cheap, and there is even a bar at the bottom of our hostel. Plus our room is private and really nice! For now I am going to bed. A baby was crying on the train right in front of me and Emily so I didnt get ANY rest. Oh well, you can sleep when you're dead, right!? Just kidding. But for now I am going to sleep. More tomorrow, and definitely pictures, so check back! Love you all!

Au Revoir Metz!

Metz is a very beautiful city. It was also nice to see how French people really live. Today we're headed to Strausbourg, which may be spelled wrong but I'm in a hurry. From there we're taking a train to Munich where we have a three bed hostel booked. So it will be private, which we are excited about. Train ride is about 4 to 5 hours. Wish us luck in Germany!

After Sleeping In...

We all feel very rested. We slept in at Loic's apartment after going out to a cafe last night with some of his friends. Loic is cooking us pasta now, and we're going to see more of Metz. Then we are going out with his friends again tonight, and it's really fun to speak with other kids our age and see what they think about Americans! They can definitely speak enough English to communicate with us, which I find very impressive, because we can barely speak anything else. They were very funny and all very nice.

It's a beautiful day here. I'm going to go take a shower and then get ready for the day. We slept til noon here. Poor Loic slept on the floor of the bathroom!

More later. A bientot!

Metz - Day One!

We just went to the supermarket with Loic, who is now cooking for us (yummy). He has to work tonight so his friend is going to show us around the city. He is taking into Strausberg either tomorrow or Wednesday, and then we are on to Munich. Unless it is too far, then we will just go to Stuttgard. It feels really good to see grass! London and Paris were great, but not a lot of grass! Now we're going to eat, but look for pictures in a few days! Love to all! (He's making something with tomatoes, so let's hope I can eat it!)

Au revoir, Paris!

We're heading to Metz today, for now we're eating (again) at The Beer Station. Chels, here's a pic Emily took at the Catacombs! They were really cool. Our train leaves at 4:51pm, and I don't think it's a very long ride. Maybe 2 hours. Then we'll be in a small town close to where France borders Germany. Loic (the friend we're staying with) speaks German, so he's going to teach us some phrases to help us out.

For now, we're pigging out on Loli's ice cream, going to find a post office to mail postcards, hop on the Metro, grab our bags from the hotel, and head to the train station. Wish us luck! More soon! Love to all.

a few more...au revoir, Paris!

Le Tour Eiffel!!!

We're leaving Paris tomorrow and headed to Metz. Didn't go to mass a Notre Dame, but looked around and it's amazing. Really beautiful and I got great pictures. I miss you all, and will see you soon! May not be able to update in Metz, but definitely will in Munich. That's after Metz. Leave me comments; I love them! And I love you all! Au Revoir, Paris!

More...

Popping some bubbly under the Eiffel Tower, and then later after the lights came on!

The lower post is L'Arc de Triumphe and me and Loli at La River Siene (the Siene River, right beside Notre Dame).

Pictures of Paris!

Last full day in Paris!

First of all - Mom, sorry about the drunken message last night. Haha.

I'm back in the internet cafe, about to go to see the inside of Notre Dame. We decided not to go to the mass tonight, because we don't really have anything to wear and we're completely exhausted.

This morning (well, about 1pm our time) we went to the Catacombs. I didn't know about them before, but it's a huge mass burial site from the 1700s. Maggie: You'd love it! It's very creepy, and tales-from-the-crypt like. Chelsea would love it too. But surprisingly I did well, no screams, even though human bones were surrounding me AND I was under the streets of Paris. Emily's pretty sure she saw the ghost of a little boy. Hah. And it's the cheapest, coolest thing we've done here! Lol.

We're going to do laundry (there's a laundry mat on our street) and then try and find the Moulin Rouge tonight. McDonalds for dinner, because they have free internet, so we'll take Em's computer and try and put up some pictures, so everyone check this again before the day is through!

Tomorrow, on the Metz, then Germany, here we come!

P.S. - Not even public restrooms in Paris are free. And no free refills.

Bonjour, Paris!

We've been in Paris about a day and a half. The internet is not free in our hotel, so we just now found an internet cafe that was open and reasonably priced. I have great pics, but may not be able to post them for a few days. Here's what we've been doing in France:

Our hotel is pretty cool. There are tons of street vendors, and it's exactly as I imagined Paris to be. The buildings are wonderful, so French!! Hah. They sell baguettes (bread), and fruit, cheap postcards, cheap jewelry. Can't wait to show you all the pics and the cheap souveniers I got!!

Yesterday evening we went to the Eiffel Tower. We bought bread, cheese, strawberries, and champagne and settled on a bench to drink and eat. But not too long after the champagne was gone, it started raining. We were drenched, and we wanted to wait the rain out, but finally we took the Metro (their bus system) back to our hotel. We drank red wine and went to sleep. Emily is feeling a lot better.

Today we woke up at 6:45am, showered and got breakfast (free a la hotel!) and headed to the Louvre. We saw the Monna Lisa AND the Venus de Milo (which has survived since its creation in 130 BC!!!). Great day!!! Then we ate at the McDonald's on the Champs-Elysees (because it was cheap!) and went to the L'Arc de Triomphe. I think that's how you spell it. Great pics. Saw the tomb of the unknown soldier. Awesome stuff.

We are right by Notre Dame, and we're going to check on mass times for tomorrow morning. Lauren is Catholic, and she says tomorrow's the Ascension (some Catholic holiday) which happens once a year, so we're going to church!! Hah, we're either going to the Latin or the French service! Should be amazing.

We're going to try our picnic at the Eiffel Tower again tonight! Wish us luck! Love you all.

Hostel #1 Pic, not too shabby.

Goodbye, London!

These days went by way too fast. London's already over. I'm off to pack and hit the sheets. Early train to Paris and a full day of sightseeing in front of us. Em's still feeling bad. Wish her the best. And pray we wake up in time to catch our train! Night Night, and Cheerio London!

Picture Explanations:

The bottom pic is at St. Paul's Cathedral before I got caught. It's really beautiful - that's the ceiling. The next up is of me and Loli at dinner last night. We split a bottle of red Italtian wine. Obviously, there's me at the Abbey Road crossing!!!!!!!! - And the next is me and Loli inside the Tower of London before our amazing and informative tour! (Tim, you'd love the tour, very historical, lol!)

Day 2, Part 2

Well, we didn't make it to Bath. It was too expensive, and Loli and I don't want to run out of money before Italy. Anyways, we toured the Tower of London, and it was definitely worth it. Our tour guide was really animated, and we got to see where Anne Boleyn was beheaded, and where Sir Thomas Moore ("A Man For All Seasons") was imprisoned and executed. We saw the Chapel where Queen Anne Boleyn was buried, and she didn't plan for her burial, so she was buried in a common wooden box, with her head under the crook of her arm. Neat historical stuff! The oldest building, the White Tower, was built after the Battle of Hastings (which was in 1066) and was finished in 1081! WOW!

Then we took the Tube back to Victoria, stopped at a pub close to our hostel and had a beer. I got carded for the second time, the second time I've ordered a drink in London. Did I mention the drinking age is EIGHTEEN?! Haha, oh well. Now we're back making sure Emily's okay and trying to decide what to do for dinner. It's around 5 or 6pm here, and we're leaving for Paris VERY early. Like the train leaves at 6:34am early, because it was half-price! Haha.

Day 3 - Trip to Bath

We're going to Bath today, but only Lauren and I are going. Emily's in the bed, snuggling up to her medication hoping she'll be better by Paris. Loli and I are hoping we don't get strep! We've been careful, so I don't think we will. We are also buying our EuroStar tickets, one way to Paris, so we're leaving this hostel in the morning and headed to France! - It's about 9 am here, so I'm going to shower and pack a little day-bag for our train ride. Look for pics (many hours from now) from our trip to Bath! I hear it's beautiful!

Hopefully I've posted two pics. One at Big Ben and another of the city. Going to bed now. Saw Abbey Road today; got chills! More later. I'm beat. Emily has strep, got meds. Give her prayers. Love to all.

Day 2 - and already feels like forever!

Today our alarm clock didn't work, so we missed the free breakfast at the hostel. The hostel isn't bad; just like the dorms. Our roommates were already in bed when we got home last night, so they're peaceful.

We got food at a convenience store, hopped on the Tube (the amazing and cheap underground train system) and went to Buckingham Palace. It large and gorgeous. We then took the Tube to Notting Hill, and we checked out all the street vendors. I've been good so far though, I've only bought what I need.

Emily is sick; she thinks it may be strep. Her glands are swollen and she's back at the hostel napping. Lauren and I just saw St. Paul's Cathedral and it's been my favorite site so far. It was build (I think) around 1690 and it's breathtaking. It literally took my breath away when we stepped into the main cathedral. The ceilings are so tall and there's gold everywhere. I snapped a few pics (with the flash off, of course) before a guard caught me and told me to stop. I'll post pics soon, I promise, just as soon as we find an adapter that actually works!

Now me and Lauren are catching up with emails and stuff at an Internet cafe facing St. Paul's Cathedral. Then we're going to the National Gallery which holds lots of famous paintings. If we have time today (which I really hope we do!) we're going to Abbey Road to take a Beatles pic. I know you'll love that Mags!! =)

Then we're going to the Tower of London (which holds the Crown Jewels) and the London Bridge (London Bridge is falling down!), then we're meeting Emily at 7pm our time to ride the London Eye! It looks like a large bicycle wheel, and you ride in pods of about 20 people and you can see the entire city! Then we're going to have fish and chips and a pub and head back home for the night.

Pray for Emily to get well. And pray for our safe journal. Love to all; more later.

To Mom: My phone card does not work. I'm going to purchase another. The one you bought is only international from within the U.S. Hah, I love you!

Day 1 - Halfway Over

Well, we got off the plane at around 10am London time, so around 4am I think our time. We were/are very tired. Lugged our backpacks around, went through customs, took the Gatwick Express from the airport into London at Victoria Station, wandered around til we found our hostel. It's run by an American, and we were lost and called for directions and he laughed at us. We finally found it, dropped our bags off, hit a little Italian place for lunch, hopped on a train to Westminster Abbey, saw it, as well as Big Ben and the House of Parliament. Going back to the London Eye tonight and Picadilly Circle. For now, I'm cozying in to this rock-hard bunk-bed (that's right, eight to a room!) for a cat nap.

More later!

Departure Day!

I'm all packed up, but I just read a travel trip that said "lay out all the clothes you think you'll need, them cut them by HALF!" So I'm about to open up my giant back pack and reduce my clothing some. I think that will help while I'm scurrying about on trains and planes and automobiles.

I've brought Capote's "In Cold Blood" for the plane ride, as well as crossword puzzles, sudoku (sp?), my journal, and my beloved iPod. And sleeping pills.

Flight leaves at 3:25. HERE GOES NOTHING!

-1 Day

I leave for Europe tomorrow. Lauren, Emily, and I fly to Philly, then to London. Our flight leaves at 3:25 p.m. from Nashville. I'm getting nervous, but I'm very excited. Look for updates (hopefully I can update daily; Emily is still undecided as to whether or not she's bringing her computer). I will try and post a picture or two from each place.

First stop: London.

We will arrive around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning (London time). Thanks for checking out my blog!