Last stop: Rome

Well, my last post.  This is devastating for so many reasons.

But here it goes…Roma, and my last day in Madrid!

Made it to Rome, and it was amazing from the moment the train pulled out of Naples.  Couldn’t stay there anymore, that’s for sure.  Got in and explored right away before I met Maura, my friend from SJU who was studying abroad and let me stay at her apartment (perfect!).  Had 2 hours to kill, and unfortunately most of it was spent following signs to the tourist office that never actually led to a tourist office.  But eventually I found one and had a map and was ready to go!  Had to meet at the pantheon so I stayed around there and saw the beautiful (although smaller than I expected and VERY crowded) Trevi Fountain, and then headed across the way to the Pantheon to check it out and wait for Maura!

Trevi Fountain

Met up and hiked a long but scenic hike back to her apartment.  Went into this massive white building called the Vittorio Emmanuele…I don’t know what it’s used for, but for free you can go inside and walk up to this very scenic 360 degree viewing platform…it was so cool for that to be one of the first things I did in Rome and to get a view of everything!  I don’t know if I’m just on a Rome high, and it’s not my favorite place of my whole trip, but it might be the coolest place I’ve been to.  Just the fact that it’s a modern city built around ancient ruins, and that everywhere you turn there are ruins...it is soooo cool!

View from the Vittoro Emmanuele building

We also went into the Gesu, which is the mother Jesuit church (Yay SJU!).  Apparently St.Ignatius is buried in there but I totally missed that.  But it was so pretty!  And it made me miss school so much…I cannot wait to visit, and then go to back for good in the fall.

Went out to dinner with some of Maura’s roommates while she and a few others went to a cooking class they signed up for (too cool…Italian cooking!).  And it was awesome because I FINALLY had pasta in Italy!  Spaghetti with clams in white wine and garlic sauce.  I died.  Relaxed the rest of the night which was great because  I had busy days coming up in Rome!

Tuesday agenda:  knock out as many landmarks, etc. as possible.  Saw the coliseum and forum, which were soooo cool to see up close and in person!  Decided save my money and not go into either…you can see enough through the arches to get an idea of what the inside looks like and I was running low…totally okay with that decision. 

Colosseum

Saw so many churches…went down underground in one of them.  They’re really interesting because back in the day people would build new churches on top of old underground churches, and if you go into the basement of them it has all of these pagan frescos and then it’ll have Christian art and influence, it’s so interesting.  So I went down into one of the churches I went to and checked that out, as well as two other churches…I don’t remember the names now but I’ll remember for when I upload them to facebook for sure.

After some confusion about times and whatnot, reunited with Gab and Mary for the last time in Europe (devastating).  Hopped on the metro and went to this beautiful church that in the basement has skulls and bones of monks, but they’re like all over the wall, but they’re arranged like artwork which is kind of creepy (see photo, Santa Maria Della Concezione: http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx165/theantitourist/romeskulls.jpg)

Then went to throw my coin in the Trevi Fountain!  Felt like I was in the Lizzie McGuire movie!  Made a wish that I hope to god comes true.  We’ll see soon enough.   Then went to get gelato at Giolitti, a very famous gelato place that several people recommended to me  It lived up to the hype.  I got chocolate and Bailey’s Irish cream/whiskey flavors in a cone…what an amazing combo that was.  Things I will miss about Europe…ice cream in waffle cones.

Gelatoooooo

Went out at night to this really fun Irish pub/karaoke bar to celebrate the end of Eurotrip 2011! (Not to indicate that there will be a Eurotrip 2012…#broke).  But on the way we headed back to Gab and Mary’s hotel to pack real quick, which was an experience since we got stuck in the 100+ year old elevator there and almost died.  At least I would have made it to my last (new) destination.  Death earlier in the trip would have been terrible.  But finally we made it, finally met Maura and roommates after all of the confusion of the afternoon, and had a wonderful time.  It was the first bar I went to in Europe (that wasn’t in a hostel!).  So good, so good, so good!

Gab, Mary, & Me...WE BACKPACKED THROUGH EUROPE!

Next day, after about 3 hours of sleep:  VATICAN.  Papal Audience, Vatican Museums, and St.Peter’s Basilica.  Got there early enough to be in the square for Ben (the pope!) coming out in the pope mobile through the crowd!  See photo:

Oh, hey Ben

Then stayed for a little of the service, but it was SO HOT and you’re just out in the open with no shade and the sun beating down on you.  Really bad.  So I had to seek shelter.  Went to the Vatican Museums before the time that my ticket said and got in…perfect.  I didn’t realize that it was like an actual museum…I just thought it housed a ton of religious relics, artifacts, etc.  But it’s like a REGROL (this is a kinderkool shoutout, although I don't remember how we spell it...) museum with art and whatnot from all over the world!  It was beautiful, the rooms were so intricate and detailed and as beautiful as the art.  The Sistine chapel was soooo wild to see in person!  It was annoying because there are so many people in there, and there aren’t any seats or anything in it, it’s just a big room where people cram in like sardines and where guards yell “NO PICTURES” every five seconds, killing the mood in a CHAPEL.  But I snuck a picture…

Michelangelo's paintings, Sistine Chapel

It was great.  Left after nearly 3 hours and waited on a line that wrapped around the entire square to get into the basilica.  But it was WELL worth the wait, it was so beautiful inside.  Beautiful artwork, sculptures, architecture…you name it.   They also have all of the popes buried in tombs inside the basilica or in the grotto below, which was really cool and interesting to see and read about.  Didn’t climb up to the top, again because of conserving money, but no worries.  Got lost for a loooooong time trying to find my way back to the apartment without using public transportation.  Eventually gave up and found a metro in the boondocks and then got on a bus and then a tram, and made it back.  Packed, ate, was sad, couldn’t deal with the fact that it was basically the last night.  All that was left was the night in Madrid, but I had already been anyway. 

St. Peter's Basilica

Inside St. Peter's Basilica

Got back to Madrid earlier this afternoon and headed right to 100 Montaditos for sandwiches.  You may recall that it’s a chain of very popular restaurants/bars that serves sandwiches (montaditos).  They’re tiny little baguette-like things and they’re a euro each…3 or 4 would make a good meal I’d say.  So I got the salmon, the potato, and the carne con tomate montaditos and a jarra of tinto de verano, which is basically a sangria-like drink.  I had been thinking about returning to Madrid and getting those on my last day here ever since I left Spain and they were out of sight.  They have one in Miami, apparently…..on my way there ASAP.

So this is my last post, updating from Madrid-Barajas airport.  Leave in 12 hours.  Home in 24 hours.  It’s going to be weird.  Home and broke.  But worth every cent.  Hope you’ve enjoyed reading as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing.  Until the next trip…

DEUCES

Naples, Pompeii, & Sorrento

Left Pisa on Saturday morning and headed down for my two days here.  It’s really only serving as a base from which to see Sorrento and Pompeii, since it’s pretty cheap.  Realized why once I left the train station.

I knew ahead of time that Naples was a place that wasn’t the cleanest and friendliest, and where there was garbage and where you have to watch your pockets.  But I definitely didn’t realize to what extent that was true until I got here and tried to take my first breath of fresh air.  And couldn’t.  I decided to just get on a train and go to Sorrento, and for a while thought about not even going back and just spending a night on the beach (but eventually decided to just go to the hostel and deal with it).

Beautiful Naples

SO I got on the local train (think SEPTA/NJ Transit) and went to Sorrento, which was everything that Naples was not…clean, beautiful, amazing.  Got a massive hot dog and an even more massive bottle of beer (for 3.50€, beautiful) and walked around Sorrento all afternoon.  Went through the little markets, went to the cliffs that overlooked the port and the beautiful ocean and mountains, found a beach and just sat there.  It was so beautiful.  And if it didn’t start to get cloudy, I would have spent my night on the beach.

Fruit stands in Sorrento...yummmmy

Sorrento...on a cloudy day :(

But as it got later, the clouds came, and I realized a bed is better than being in the rain.  So I got back on the train and went to Naples, and found my hostel.  The people who run it are really friendly and warn you about locking your passport and credit cards in the locker, which is nice of them………….  And he recommended pizza places to go to while I’m here since Naples is known for being the home of pizza (DELICIOUS).  But otherwise I spent my first night in Naples doing the online portion of my camp training.  Honestly, time well spent.

Headed to Pompeii the next morning.  One of the things I was most excited to see on my trip…and it didn’t rain!  Thank god.  Walked around the city for a little before I went to the station.  Ended up by the port and saw a Disney cruise ship!  It took so much to not try and sneak on it.  Would have been awesome I’m sure.

Ruins

Made it to Pompeii and walked to the ticket booth where I saw MAURA, my friend who I’m staying with in Rome!  She was traveling down south for the weekend and we got in line for Pompeii tickets at the same time.  IT WAS SO WEIRD.  So I got to explore Pompeii with Maura and her friends from her program!

It was SO COOL to see all of the ruins there!  And eerie, sort of, with Mt. Vesuvius just lurking over where we were walking around.  But everything was so old, and you could go down into what were basements (I guess) and into what used to be churches and all of this wild stuff.  Most of the artifacts are at the archaeological museum in Naples but I ended up not having time to see that since it was Sunday, but MAYBE I’ll come back one day just for that.  To actually be at the site was, I think, cooler.  Spent a while exploring, probably close to 3 hours.  Took lots of pictures, had a fantastic time, met new friends who I’ll get to spend another few days with in Rome.  GREAT AFTERNOON.

Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius

Came back to Naples and finished my camp training during the afternoon/early evening, and got PIZZA!  At least Naples had great pizza!

Then took a sleeping pill and passed out so that ROME would get here faster (relatively speaking).  And that was it in Naples.  Wish I got to go to the Archaeological Museum, but time and the fact that I didn't want to go out much prevented that.  OH WELL.  Still had a great time on my little day excursions.

Last stop: Rome </3

Florence & Pisa!

Spent Wednesday 6/8 until this morning in TUSCANY.  Was in Florence for two days and went to Pisa around 2 PM on the third day and spent the night.

It was an amazing three days.  Didn't start off so amazing though.  Left my comfy bed and cooked meals in Udine around 10 AM, expecting to get to Florence around 2.  Made the connection in Venice from the regional train to the fast train, and 20 minutes into our journey the train stops outside the Pauda station...because it hit a guy.  Looked it up the next day and apparently it was a 60 year old college professor from Padua who wanted to kill himself.  Lovely.  Delayed us for 2 hours and we had to switch to another train.  Thank god I had a goodie bag of sandwiches and snacks from Aunt Catherine to nourish me during the delay.  But once we finally made it to Florence around 4...you probably guessed it, there were monsoon force winds and rain.  I can't escape it.  Sat in the cafeteria with my beer and potato chips and waited it out, and then headed to the hostel.  It was a nice little place, glad I switched from my original one...I would have paid double.  Wasn't feeling spending all the money so I switched it and was happy with the decision.  Then I went to explore!

Duomo!

The leather markets ended up being right by my hostel and I had to pass through to get to the center of town, so I did some window shopping.  I knew that I had to buy SOMETHING leather from Florence, since it’s famous for it.  But I didn’t really have room (or the money, for that matter) for a leather jacket or even a bag, so I just browsed.  They have lots of other things there too…shirts/clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, souvenirs, glasses, food…very wonderful.

Came out at the other end and was in front of the DUOMO.  It was funny because at the end of the first street of the leather market there’s another church with a somewhat big dome, and at first I was like oh, that’s it…it’s not very big.  Then I turned the corner and saw THE duomo.  Took way too many pictures of it and walked around it in amazement.  It was so pretty!  It was closed by that point so I’d have to wait to go in, but I got gelato and just sat out there, it was soooo nice.

Continued my walking tour of the city and ended up at Palazzo Vecchio, which is, as it sounds, an old palace.  Outside is a little courtyard and there are a bunch of statues, including a replica of the David (the real one being on display not far away at the Galleria dell’Academia (However, being as there are several museums in Florence, I imagined that the REAL david was inside the Palazzio, which looking back was a dumb mistake, and I went in the next day thinking I'd find the David.  I did not.  But I guess the Palazzio was worth it).  Headed around to the Ponte Vecchio (below) and listened to the people playing music as the sun was beginning to set which was sooooo nice (starting to fall in love with this place!).

Ponte Vecchio

Saw from across the river the overlook where they say you get an amazing view of the city, so I walked across and found my way to the top.  They've got a few churches up there and then the overlook where most people congregate, take pictures, drink beer and wine, and have a good time.  What a beautiful place.  It's stunning.  Here's me awkwardly posing with beautiful Florence in the background!

Loving Firenze!

Woke up early the next morning and went to where I thought the David was--Palazzo Vecchio.  Which made no sense because I knew it was at a gallery.  They tricked me with the statue being in front of the entry to the Palazzo.  But whatevz, walked around in there for like an hour, it was really cool.  Old.  And not terribly expensive so I don't feel as if I wasted my money.  Headed back to the Duomo after to go inside.  Waited online for like 30 minutes amidst a Portuguese tour group that kept trying to get in front of me...stay with your damn group.  Uggggggh!  Went inside and it was of course beautiful.  I was expecting it to be a little more elaborate, just because it's so elaborate looking on the outside and inside (aside from the painting on the dome itself) was very simple.

The dome!

Then climbed to the top.  What a feat that was.  So many steps in a cramped space.  It was an experience.  For about 1/4 of the way the people going up and down overlap, so it was really difficult to coordinate who went when.  But the view from the top was worth the effort getting up!  LOOK:

What a view!

Then went to the ACTUAL museum with the David.  Made a reservation since the line was so long for regular tickets, and had to come back in an hour.  Explored and looked for lunch and found delicious looking pizza: sold.  Pizza and beer, what could be better.

Maybe this.  Was walking back to the museum and sort of got lost along the way.  So I made my way toward the duomo since everything is easy to find from the duomo.  Well, I walked past this guy who I thought looked familiar, and then I saw a cameraman on the other side of me.  When I turned around, it turned out that it was Pauly D and Vinny from Jersey Shore.  What the faaaack?!  Didn’t think I’d ACTUALLY run into any of those idiots while we were both in Florence at the same time, but I did.  I feel like I have to watch this season now, both because I was in Florence and loved it and want to see it again, and because (doubtfully) maybe I’ll be in a background shot, and that would be really hilarious. 

Went into the Galleria dell’Academia and meandered through all of the lovely art, most of which I never take the time to read the plaques about, until I made it to the big hall where David was in all his glory.  Pictures really don’t do this thing justice.  First of all, it’s MASSIVE.  The detail is amazing.  And it’s so old.  And Michelangelo did it!  It’s much more impressive than the Mona Lisa.  One of the coolest things I’ve gotten to see on my trip.  AND I SNUCK A PICTURE!

David, in all his glory.

Sat and read in a park for the rest of the evening and went to bed early.  My ipod completely died (as is my phone…a sign from above to get an iPhone?!) and I had no sense of time, so it was better to be in bed early.  Early being around 10.

Headed back to the leather markets in the morning before I got on a train to Pisa.  Bought a new WALLET which was actually a really great thing to buy.  It looks, feels, and smells amazing.  Also bought a WATCH so that I would now know the time, and because I’ve been wanting one.  Total for both: 20 euros.  I can dig it.  I’ve stopped thinking of anything in dollars, it’s easier to think of 20 euros as a deal for both things because here it would be, not think in terms of it being 32 dollars for both.  Either way, I was happy with the purchases especially considering I hadn’t purchased any souvenirs for myself except the I heart Madrid sweatshirt (which was so dirty and smelly, as well as unnecessary for the remainder of my trip, resulting in me abandoning it at my hostel in Munich).

Leather markets!  Smell so good

Hopped on the train to Pisa…no trouble with this train and made it there in an hour.  Read my book in a park until I could check into my hostel…the leaning tower was too far to walk to and from with my backpack.  Finished the second book in the Millennium Series, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and found The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at a bookstore in Florence.  The books kind of stand alone…same characters but different stories.  So it wasn’t too terrible that I read the second one first, but there were a few things mentioned to in the second book that refer to things form the first book.  Ended up reading 3/5 of it between waiting for my hostel and hanging out by the leaning tower, it’s SO GOOD.  What a good reading day.  I don’t understand people who don’t like to read.

Also got to experience FOOD FROM A VENDING MACHINE.  I've heard about these...they dispense hot food.  Found them and figured why not try since it's so cheap.  I got some sort of pasta.  It was actually really good.  You put the money in and pick what you want, it heats it up, and then slides it right out for you!  Check out this machine:

Perfect for a backpacker's budget.

Checked in and headed to the tower!  It was pretty much exactly how I imagined it would be.  The grass was so green!  It was wonderful.  I got a ticket and had to wait an hour for my time, so I got pizza and sat on the grass and read…far away from all the annoying people who were taking there “Look I’m pushing up against (or being toppled by) the leaning tower!” picture.  Sorry if you’ve ever done that, they look cool, but everyone and their mother was posing and I couldn’t look at them.  Then it was my turn to go up.  If you ever want to feel drunk without actually drinking, the staircase in the leaning tower is where you belong.  It’s weird because you fall to whichever wall the slant is.  So you wobble from holding against the outer wall to holding against the inner wall based on if you’re going up the incline or down the incline.  It was actually really scary!  Made it to the top which was cool, got to see the bells.  Held onto the railing for dear life.  It was expensive, but I figured it was just one of those experiences that was too cool to be cheap about.  Probably won’t ever do it again, but was worth it to do it once!

SCARY!

Bought myself another souvenir…they had liquor in glass leaning tower bottles.  They were really cool!  I really just wanted the glass.  Got a tiny little one that maybe had two shots of blue vodka in it.  Would have just saved it but it’s more than 3 ounces so can’t bring it on the plane.  Oops.

Bed early again, had to catch a train back to Florence for my train to Naples.  Most people say there really isn’t much to do in Pisa, which for the most part is true.  But the book made it wonderful…not having a lot to see there let me relax and read.  Worth the night there instead of doing it as a day trip.

I miss Tuscany already </3

Naples update next, that’ll be an interesting one…….stay tuned!

My own room, home cooked meals, and RAIN

Warning:  LONG ENTRY.  But I had a jam packed few days staying with my family in Italy!

Arrived in Udine (about 90 mins West of Venice) on Saturday to visit family: my Aunt Catherine (dadd’s sister), Uncle Ugow(ho ended up being away for work) and my cousin James.  It was a no-brainer that I’d try and get here while I was in Italy…why pass up the opportunity for a free bed and HOT MEALS?

Got picked up at the train station and arrived “home” to a meal of FISH (like, real fish…she took fish out of the oven and cut it up!), potatoes, green beans, and roasted red peppers.  I could have died from happiness.  And then there was cake!  Daddy could NOT deal.  And THEN I got to talk to my grandparents and my mom on the phone, and they were all so thrilled to speak to me.  It was great.

We were going to go out and explore Udine on bikes but it started to rain.  Went to explore anyway, but with umbrellas.  It’s such a nice little town…I mean, I’D move here.  Got GELATO…my first in Italy!  Got a scoop of cookies gelato (it looked to good) and a scoop of nutella.  I died.

Udine

Went to mass (in Italian!) the next morning which was quite an experience…at least there was a booklet to follow along with almost word for word!  Met some friends, one of whom works for an American company and speaks English so that was nice and friendly!

Explored Udine on bikes during the day/NOT in the rain after mass.  Can’t remember the last time I rode a bike, but I kind of want to get one for school next year.  I’ll think about it…but it was great.  Saw the entire town on the bikes…plazas, churches, schools, etc. and then went up to this castle where they have a panoramic view of the whole city.  Quickly falling in love with Italy.

Headed to Jesolo for the evening/overnight, which is a nice little beach town across from Venice.  Too bad it was cloudy!  But we walked around the beach and the main street of town, went out to dinner and got the calamari that I’ve been craving after seeing it all over Spain, and of course GELATO (best part of Italy).  Spent the night there in a family member’s apartment so that I could take the FERRY into Venice!  TOO COOL.

Beach at Jesolo

Woke up around 6:45 to say goodbye to Aunt Catherine and James (they drove home to get him to school) and they left me the keys so that I could get ready and leave whenever.  Just decided to stay up instead of going back to bed, went to get some bread from the bakery to make my sandwich, and hopped on the bus to the ferry.  WHAT A GREAT FERRY RIDE!  Rushed on to get a window seat so I could see…the ride too about half an hour and it was beautiful to come into Venice through the water instead of on a train. 

Main street in Jesolo (in the A.M.)

Waited in Piazza San Marco for Gab and Mary to chill with them during their last few hours in Venice.  Went into San Marco’s Church (beautiful!) and saw the Doge’s Palace and bridge of sighs right in the piazza…didn’t go into the palace—trying to save money for places like the duomo in Florence and the Vatican!  But it looked just lovely on the outside.

Doge's Palace & St.Mark's Campanille

Basically got lost in the streets of Venice after that, which is great by itself.  So many people say how gross it is and how smelly it is and it really wasn’t either of those things.  I mean, I was only there a day.  But still, it was great.

Venice

Watched Gab and Mary each eat massive pizzas at a nice little restaurant, and then it started to RAIN.  Faaaantastic.  Got wet, it was not cool.  They decided to head to the station early for their train and get out of the rain, but I didn’t want to leave early so I went back and explored.  It stopped raining for a while which was nice but then it picked right back up again after about an hour.  Craaaap.  Saved the day by buying gelato and standing under the buildings in the piazza…cool!

Piazza San Marco...in the rain.  UGH

Definitely did not see everything there is to see in Venice but saw enough for one day…it’ll be one of the easiest places for me to get back to (hopefully I’ll always have a free place to stay up in Northern Italy!) so I’ll be back.  Would have liked to go to one of the islands and watch them blow glass or something like that but the rain kind of turned me off and it was too wet to try and find the right boat to take me.  Still a great day!

Nobody likes to ride gondolas in the rain....

Tuesday morning I woke up bright and early and headed to Padua.  Got there around 11, and the rain held off until 1, and then it started POURING RAIN for the rest of the day.  Came prepared with an umbrella, but that did not help the lost cause that is my shoes…I’ve worn them out so much and they”re getting a pretty large hole on the side.  Debating if I should buy a new pair, wear my flip-flops the rest of the time and dread it walking around the hills of Pompeii and Rome for three days, or suck it up and pray for no more rain for my last 8 days.  I may just suck it up and then toss them once I go to the Vatican…I don’t think flip-flops will slide there.  So I’ll do that hopefully early on in my trip to Rome and then peace out shoes.  That’s a whole other story.

By the time it started raining, I had walked around the city and through a park, sat outside and ate my packed lunch (Get this: my aunt packed me: fresh bread and a container of meatballs and roasted red peppers to make a sandwich, a slice of cake, peanut m&ms, a bag of peanuts, grapes, cookies, and a massive water bottle.  Let’s talk about how much I’m going to miss her and my lunches…lol).

Basilica of Saint Anthony

I had also made it to the Basilica of St. Anthony, which was SUCH a nice place.  The outside was so pretty, and the inside was beautiful with the hand painted murals on the walls and the ceilings and all that stuff.  They have St. Anthony’s tomb in there which was wild and you can leave pictures in a box there to put on a board for prayers…would have brought some if I had known!  Then they have this whole room behind the altar with relics like St. Anthony’s  old robes that were full of holes and slowly deteriorating (from the 1200s!), and they have organs on display behind glass inside these beautiful gold display boxes…like his tongue, vocal cords…don’t remember what else there was.  It was weird.  But really cool. 

While I was in the courtyard, it started raining.  Luckily there was a roof around the perimeter, and benches, so I sat and read my book hoping that the storm would pass.  Well, I finished the last 100 pages and it hadn’t passed…great.  Decided to suck it up and walk around with my umbrella.  Stopped along the way for gelato (when in Italy…) and just went right to the train station…saw enough of the town for a rainy morning and afternoon and like I said, I have a good chance of getting back there. 

It had stopped raining when I got back around 6.  No sun, but no rain.  Got picked up at the station and took a ride to Cividale (a tiny little town 20 mins from Udine) and Castelmonte, which is this monastery and even smaller town on top of a mountain near the border of Slovenia.  Everything was closed when we got there but it was still such a great view, especially being up in the clouds…it was so nice and quiet and peaceful up there.  Good place for a monastery, I’d say.  Then went down to Cividale which is the town at the bottom of the hill, and walked around for a few minutes, got gelato again (I love Italy) and headed home for my last hot home cooked meal.

Monastery at Castelmonte

I had SUCH A GREAT 4 DAYS.  It was so cool to finally see Udine and to know what my aunt and cousin talk about when I see them.  It was amazing getting meals and feeling full (not that I’ve been starving myself…but a lot of times bread alone just doesn’t cut it!).  And having a room to myself and without strangers was also awesome.  Now Florence!  I only have 8 full days left in Europe…I cannot believe I’m going home soon.  I’m ready, but I’m not.  It’s a strange feeling.  Oh well. 

 PEACE.

Milan!

Made it to Italy!  Last country of the trip (aside from my one night in Madrid).  Kind of sad about that…but I’m actually not totally devastated to be going home soon.  I have a lot to look forward to when I get back which helps.  This was the perfect use of my time between the end of the semester and work, and even though my credit card may soon be maxed out (not that it has a high limit to begin with) I’m having a wonderful time and it’s totally worth it.

MILAN.  Beautiful place.  Got in around 9 and met Elisa, my cousin’s cousin on the other side of his family, and her roommate/another cousin Margerita.  I dropped my things off at their apartment and then we went out to explore Milan.  Got to see lots of great things…the Duomo in particular was an amazing site both inside and out.  

Duomo of Milan

Also got to see a castle, which I had no idea existed in Milan but apparently it does.  It’s a collection of museums housed in this really old building (castle) that apparently Victoria Beckham said she wishes she could live in.  I mean, I didn’t think it was Victoria Beckham standards but it sure was wonderful.

Castle/Museums

They treated me to lunch of…pizza!  My first Italian pizza….got a pizza with shrimp and asparagus.  It was DELICIOUS and I wish I took a picture of it to show you since it was bigger than two of my faces combined, but I forgot to.  It looked too good to wait to eat.  Walked off the pizza in a a beautiful park before heading back to the apartment to rest.

Beautiful park!

After about 2 hours (it started to rain and we didn’t leave, so I read for a while) we headed out to this really great bar-type place.  Stopped at their friend Francesca’s apartment on the way, and she has family in the U.S. and speaks great English which was wonderful (Although Elisa and Margerita did speak great English too!  It’s a shame that people in the U.S. don’t take their foreign language requirements seriously).

Went to this bar type place where you pay for your drink but then get unlimimted food from this buffet…breadsticks, pastas, pizzas, fries, rice, ham, the list goes on and on.  It’s apparently something unique to Milan…you pay for the drink which isn’t necessarily cheap (8-10€) but when you think about it you’re getting a dinner with it so it’s not a bad deal at all.  FUN!

My Italian hosts for the night, Elisa and Margerita!

Milan was great.  Had a blast.  Now I'm in Udine with my aunt and cousin having a wonderful time....leaving in the morning though!  Will update about Udine and the places I saw here shortly...peace!

Berlin Berlin

Writing this blog update from Italy…typing it on a train (without internet) and publishing it now that I finally do have internet.  Figured I’d get it to the people (my mom) who care to follow what I’ve been doing ASAP.

I came to Berlin with unenthusiastic optimism, if that makes sense.  Gab and Mary didn’t like Berlin at all, and I was hopeful that I’d like it but afraid that either it really would suck, or that all of the things that said would make me believe that it sucked even if really it didn’t.  So I hesitantly got on a train to Berlin, wishing that I was on the train with them to go to Vienna.

Central Berlin

Made it to Berlin…the main station was nice.  I thought, okay, maybe it’ll be great.  But I got on the S-Bahn to get to my hostel and realized how big Berlin was.  I’ve walked in every city I’ve been to, even the big ones, but Berlin is pretty big.  It took a while to get from the center to my hostel.  What  I also realized was how not-nice looking Berlin was.  It’s very graffiti’d, there are overgrown weeds and shrubs all over the place.  Most capitol cities that I’ve been to have been absolutely beautiful, well maintained, clean.  That, Berlin was not.  At least my hostel was beautiful.

Started my time in Berlin at the East Side Gallery, which is the longest remaining portion of the Berlin wall that has been painted by artists from all over the world.  Definitely cool to see…especially with all the history behind it.  Wrote my name on the part of the wall with everyone’s names…I’m forever on it, or at least until the rain washes away the ink since I didn’t have a marker.  Then tried to make my way to the center, which involved walking through the aforementioned graffiti’d streets with overgrown shrubs and weeds.  Incredibly disappointing especially after coming from Munich which was so wonderful and beautiful.

Murals painted on the Berlin Wall--East Side Gallery

Walked until I made it to the Holocaust memorial, which is over 2000 steel/concrete blocks of different sizes, and walking through them is like a little maze.  They also have an information center underground with really interesting (and of course sad and depressing) information and stories and personal accounts from people of the holocaust.  A cool sight to see...but not really cool when you think about it.  Oyy

Holocaust Memorial

Once you get to the center of Berlin, you see that it really isn’t a bad place.  I’d compare it to Philly…it’s beautiful and quaint where the Liberty Bell and all of those nice historic things are, but not so nice everywhere else.  The area with the Reichstag (house of parliament) and Brandenberg Gate are isn’t bad at all.  Your typical city-like place with Starbucks and outdoor restaurants.   A little better.

Spent the next day just walking around to a lot of places.  Headed to Checkpoint Charlie which is a famous checkpoint from the era of the Berlin Wall.  They have a whole exhibition on the history of the wall and about people who tried to escape, etc.  Really great!  Went to the Jewish Museum which was really interesting and, of course, sad.  Couldn’t wait to get to Italy and see some happy things, but the museum was still great to see.  They have so many objects and artifacts of things that Jewish families gave to neighbors for safe-keeping that then go on to say that the family was never heard from again, which is the sad stuff.  Oyyyy.  Ended the day back in the “nice” area of Berlin and read outside for a while before heading to the airport to sleep!

Checkpoint Charlie

The Berlin airport, by the way…great place to sleep if you’re one of those people who likes to rough it.  I went to look for where the Easyjet counters were figuring that all of the airport sleepers would be there.  But it was just a big room, and I figured I’d go explore the other terminal.  GLAD I DID.  They have this fast-food diner place that’s out in the open…food service was closed when I got there, but the BOOTHS were available.  BOOTHS.  AKA BEDS.  Grabbed an actual chair and put it at the end of a booth for my feet, and slept like a baby until I checked in for my flight.  Berlin Schönfeld  Terminal D…check it out.

Milan update shortly!

Deuces

Castles, Beer, and Meat Sweats...MÜNCHEN

In Berlin after a jam packed three days in Munich.  Barcelona is still my favorite city that I’ve been to, but Munich has by far been the best experience.  Traveling alone to most places has been great, but if there was any place to meet up with people, it was in Munich!  So I’m glad that I was able to chill with Gab and Mary for three days.

Got in on Saturday and basically just explored Munich on foot.  Ended up seeing all of the landmarks on the map in a few hours which was great.  It’s not a huge city so it’s fairly easy to get around to places.  Caught the Glockenspiel right as it was going off which was great…it’s a part of the town hall (I believe) at certain parts of the day it does a “show” and moves and stuff…it tells some sort of story about a king and this Bavarian knight that kills the other night, and then something about this dance that occurs every 7 years in Munich.  It was COOL!

Marienplatz/Glockenspiel

Went to bed early since it was so nice to be in a bed and not a chair at the airport.  Met Gab and Mary at the train station the next day which was WONDERFUL.  Spent the afternoon in a big plaza/biergarten, had some beers, talked about our trips, and explored the city again with then, but again went to bed early because CASTLE DAY was the next day!

Me, Gab, and Mary at the castles!

Headed out to Neuschwanstein Castle on Monday…only what Gab and I have been obnoxiously talking about all semester.  It was one of the most beautiful places on earth, I think.  Even more beautiful than the view from the mountains in Barcelona.  Got a train and then a bus to the foot of the castle and walked up the hill with tons of horse crap to get there…but I guess that’s the experience.  And I wasn’t about to ride the bus to the top.  Got a tour of the castle which was fantastic, even snuck some pictures (sorry I’m not sorry).  The pictures of/inside the castle and the scenery around it really don’t do it justice…go to Germany and go see this place.

New desktop background...BEAUTIFUL

Got back from the castles and went to the HOFBRAUHAUS.  What I was most excited to do in Munich…it’s a big famous beer hall.  We each got our liters of beer (I later got another liter…again, sorry I’m not sorry) and got some pork knuckle  which was so wonderful, and I’m not even a huge fan of pork.  It just looked good…and it was.  GAVE US THE MEAT SWEATS.  My meal:

Dinner: Liter of beer (and another one later on) and pork knuckle.  Delicious.

Tuesday we headed to to the Dachau concentration camp which is right outside of Munich…just something we thought we should see while in Germany.  It was free to go to and they had so much information which made it especially great that it was free, although we did tag along with a private tour for some of the trip.  It was such an unbelievable sight to see and think of all the people who were there not very long ago at all.  But if you’re ever in Munich, it’s a really really enlightening place to go to…check it out.

Barracks at Dachau

We were going to spend the night at another biergarten but it started to rain, and we had to seek shelter at this restaurant which ended up serving MEXICAN food, which we had talked about craving the day before.  GREAT COINCIDENCE.  Got the most amazing quesadilla of my life, delicious sangria, and delicious beer.  Great find, and great shelter from the rain.  Mexican food: the best way to end your time in Munich.

Now I’m in Berlin.  Gab and Mary didn’t like it at all, and I’m afraid that them not liking it is going to give me the attitude that I won’t like it even if it’s not at all bad.  So we’ll see how it goes.  Only 16 more days in Europe!  One more in Berlin, one more in Madrid the night before I go home, and the rest in beautiful Italy!  I’m rearranging my itinerary a little bit so that I can chill with Gab and Mary a ltitle more.  It’s going to be such a great place, cannot wait.

For now, auf wiedersehen!