16 Days of Travel

This is probably going to be a really long update... you have been warned.

Going to Beauvais Airport in Paris was like the movie "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles". We took the train to Paris, then the metro to the bus stop to catch the bus to the airport to get the plane to Rome. It was a long trip but worth it. We arrived at our hostel with and were able to just go to bed right away.

The next morning we discovered that is was Rome Communist day, or something like that. There were a bunch of parades and everyone was wearing red. It took us a little while to realize what they were marching for. It was all peaceful but quite interesting. But we went to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and Palatine hill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My life is now complete. I fell in love with them and they just helped to enforce that I love Classics. The Colosseum was a lot smaller than I though it was be, but super cool to see. They had the labyrinth open (well permanently) so you coul see where the gladiators and animals were kept. Its really cool actually. We then went to the Palatine hill that holds the Roman Forum and the other buildings. It was weird to see things I have learned about in history class and dreamed of seeing. But it may have been my favorite part of the trip, as the nerd in me speaks. Over all Rome was fanastic. For a big city it was very walkable and everything was neat to see. I didn't feel the earthquake and I'm kinda glad. Once I found out what had happened it was kinda scary to realize that I was that close to something so devestating. One of my favorite memories of Rome was when we found this little shop of knick-knacks that this old man sold. I bought several old keys which have become my new interests.

Florence was the second town we went to. The architecture was so different from Rome and everything there was nice to see. It was a lot more laid back and we could relax a little bit. Several afternoon siestas occured in various squares around town. The Pont Vecchio was breathtaking and I was glad to walk over it everyday and see the daytime, evening, sunset, and night; all of them so different. We had some pretty good food while we were there such as this little whole in the wall where this woman made lasagne homemade. It may have been one of my favorite things to eat.

For a daytrip we travelled to Siena which is in the Tuscany region. The countryside was beautiful! so green and like nothing else I have ever seen before. I loved everyminute of wandering through that town. We saw the Duomo which was rediculously extravegant like all other Italian churches. The center square of the town was pretty cool. One of the buildings was actually curved which was neat to see.

Verona was the next of the Italian towns and may have been one of the best. The people were so friendly. Upon arriving and leaving our stuff in the hostel, we went to lunch at this little bar. The bartender asked if we liked pasta because his mama made it. So of course we had to eat there. After talking to him for a few minutes he asked if we liked wine and proceed to bring out a bottle from his region and pour it for us. The pasta was fantastic and was followed by lemon cello (which we had not asked for, but was brought to us). The whole meal cost about 24 euro which was much cheaper than it should have been. The town of Verona was small but perfect. Walking the streets was nice and relaxing, and the weather was beautiful.

Venice was our last town in Italy, and probably my least favorite. Its nice to see the island for a few minutes but then it gets too touristy and expensive. I did by myself a little mask which i love. The day we spent in venice was the perfect amount of time and I couldn't image spending more time there. I had no particular reason to not like it, but the feeling of the place and the fact that some of the other places we went to were prettier.

Italy was really a beautiful place and we picked a perfect time to go. The weather was amazing and we were lucky. I hated not knowing the language though. That was probably the hardest part of the whole week. In France I can communicate, but in Italy it was so much harder and I felt guilty that I didn't know the language. The other downside was that there was a lot of graffeti (sp?) everywhere. I personally hate it so having to turn a corner adn see it in practically every city was a turn off. One of the upsides was gelato. We ate it practically everyday. My favorite flavors were lemon and dark chocolate, and they went really well together.

After Venice we flew into London. We were heading to Stratford-Upon-Avon so we went to what we thought was the general information desk to ask how to get there. The woman said it was a 90 minute bus ride and we could buy tickets there. We did that and got on the bus. We arrived and realized it didn't look right. The stupid woman sent us to Stratford London!!!! one of the suburbs. We spoke with the bus driver and he took us back to the airport. The bus company initially couldn't do much for us because we didn't buy the ticket from them, but said that we could catch a bus and we there at 10:15....after our play. So I started crying which is what I naturally do. The instant that happened 6 people started working to figure out how to get us there to make our play. Cate and I went up to the "information" desk to get our money back. AFter me bitching at them for 20 minutes and telling them that they ruined our trip,we got the money returned to us. Mean while the bus company found a train for us that would get us to Stratford-Upon-Avon at 7:15 in time for our play. They even gave us free bus to the station. They were just fantastic. So after changing into dress clothes on a train we made the play. Winter's Tale was really nice to see and a lot like greek tragedies.

S-U-A was a nice town and good to spend Easter day in. We got to see Shakespeare's birthplace and just wander and explore a bit. The food was quite similar to the food I eat in the states and I was overjoyed to have Cadbury eggs and lots of them!

Next we went to Oxford. It was good town and I love all the universities there. Christ Church was fantastic and I was super happy to see where parts of Harry Potter were filmed. I'm such a nerd. I think I could live there. And all the tourguides had stories and history that they loved to share with us. I loved it. We went to a pub for lunch and had a pint and Piper and I shared fish and chips. mmmmmmmmmmm :) I can see why the British love it. In the afternoon we did some more wandering in the historic district and had some Indian food for dinner with some new French friends from our hostel. It was a nice way to end our stay in Oxford.

Our last place in England was Liverpool. I think it would have been better if we had known what we wanted to see when we first got there, but the problem was that we had no idea what was in Liverpool except our flight to Dublin the next day. So after wandering around random downtown parts of Liverpool we decided to just go see a movie. We hadn't really had a rest day adn we were pretty tired. So we saw The Fast and the Furious. It was interesting to see. But a nice break. The theater was cool because you had assaigned seats, very smart how they do that. But the next day we went to Albert Dock with all our luggage and found the Tate Gallery of Modern Art, A slavery museum and a maritime musuem; all free of charge. That was really nice. So after we found the good part of Liverpool it was enjoy able.

Ireland, however, was amazing. We stayed the first night in Dublin but headed to Galway on the opposite coast early the next morning. It was beautiful. The town is small but the perfect size. We walked to the bay of Galway, and upon starting to head to the other side of the Bay and explore more of the coast, Piper took a stumpled and bruised/scratched/caused to swell both her knees. The cherry on top was when I went to get bandaides, a seagull pooped on her. It was lovely. So we spent some time cleaning her up and her coat. But that evening we went to a pub and enjoyed a pint of Guinness and some live music. I kinda wish we could've stayed longer because the town was so nice to visit. I will return.

Dublin too was amazing and charming. Guinness. The Guinness tour was fantastic. I learned how beer was made and the history of Guinness, which is like no other. For example Arthur Guinness has a 9000 year lease on his land, dating back to the 19th century. yeah. After doing the tour we went up to the bar that was 360 degree view of Dublin for our pints. It was mmmmm yummy! And we took our glasses, which you are techinically not supposed to do... but we paid for it. kinda. oh well. its my pride and joy of the trip. The rest of Dublin was pretty great to see. We went to Trinity College but didn't see the book of Kells or the long room because it was too expensive. But we walked around and saw Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, and the very much out of place yet fitting Spire. Overall I really enjoyed Dublin.

We returned to France the same way we left: plane to bus to metro to train to walking. So it was a full circle but I loved every minute of it. I was happy to go with two people that I'm happy to call my friends. And I think we really got to get to know each other on this trip. I learned that even though I am the crazy planner, its ok to wing it a few times and that you won't die. And that I'm really good, kinda, with city maps.

I loved this trip and it was a change in a lifetime trip.
photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025744&id=1195471084&l=bea0b5123d
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025746&id=1195471084&l=48874a4828
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025747&id=1195471084&l=b4fd0e0df2

Three Countries -> 16 days

Spring Break starts tomorrow evening and I have never been more excited!!! Piper, Cate, and I are going to spend these long two plus weeks exploring Italy, England, and Ireland. The weather already looks like its going to be beautiful in Italy, but a little chilly in the UK, nonetheless this is the perfect time to go! We'll play the role of the tourist, but hope to also see some countryside and make some new friends.

Places to be visited:
Rome, It
Florence, It
Siena, It
Verona, It
Venice, It
Stratford-upon-Avon, Eng
Oxford, Eng
Liverpool, Eng
Dublin, Ire
Galway, Ire

Upon my return April 19th, I will update (or more likely the 20th) and share pictures and stories. Until then mes chers amis!
bisous