Because i dont have enough time to sit and write in my blog, I will give brief highlights. I hope you are all doing well. I am having an amazing time. Italy has proven to be diverse and full of life! It has been somewhat hot and I seem to have gotten heat rash on my foot and my arm. However the worst is the swelling. I was able to get some cream from the Farmacia (Pharmacy) which has helped quite a bit. My tour operator said if it didnt get better in the next day or two he would take me to a doctor. But i see improvement already.
Florence, Italy - Florence was a favorite place of mine. The Duomo was the most amazing thing i have ever seen in my life and no pictures could ever do it justice. I took some anyway, but please keep that in mind. We took a brief walking tour through the city and then we had some free time which i spent sitting near the Efici (spelling) watching one of the watercolor artists and people watching. One of the most enjoy able afternoons for me. One of the optional tours was a dinner in the Chianti Hills! It was by far the best night ever! Our bus driver was singing with the piano, we all had TONS of bottomless bottles of red chianti, and then we went out dancing afterwards! It was a rough morning, but well worth it!
San Gimiani ( spelling?) - A quaint, meidevil village atop a hill with wonderful character and breathtaking view of the Tuscan Countryside. Pssstt... you know all those paintings and photographs you see of Tuscany?? YUP! Looks JUST like that!!!! AMAZING!
Pisa - yup, we came, we saw, we took pictures, we left! The leaning tower is cool.... but thats pretty much it!
Santa Margharita Ligure and Portifino - Exclusive resport area-absolutely stunning!!!!!! Famous for its pesto, I of course HAD to try it! Then i sat under some huge trees in the park facing the Mediterrean Sea. Quiet, peaceful, refreshing... What more can i say? It was a brief encounter.
Milan - Here is a one sentence description of Milan. Ancient Gothic style monsterous duomo surrounded by NYC style metropolis. Ugh. The church was amazing, but ok.. thats it... lets go! am done! We stayed in a nearby hotel last night in Milano (Milan in Italian) and now here i sit in an internet cafe to escape the hussle and bussle of the city streets! Not my style!
My favorite things so far-
1. endless cappacino outdoor cafés with the most amazing coffee EVER (except yours Diane.. of course!!!!)
2. breathtaking view of the Tuscan Countryside
3. watching artists in Florence.
4. sitting at St. Pietros Square in Rome on the day of my arrival!
5. Dinner in the Chianti Hills!
6. Pesto in Santa Margharita Ligure
7. Dinner with some of the other girls in Rome in an outdoor cafe!
8. The view from the hotel in Sorrento!
Time for me to go! My hour is almost running out!
CIAO for now!
Andiamos dulce vide (We are going to live the sweet life!)
Friday, September 08, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
Italian Simplicity
August 31, 2006
I have always searched for the exact description, but fail. All i can say is its a way of life that a traveler can only taste the icing on the cake and not completely experience on their own.
Italians have great pride in simplicity with elegance. Its all about presentation, not the price of something. Its more about taking great pride creating, whether its food or art or whatever. They are passionate about life. They keep things simple in matters of food and enjoyment: "eat to live, not live to eat". (something perhaps many of us should take into consideration). Yet their passional for life can complicate things all on their own. Drama & excitement in matters of the heart, for instance. you can hear the passion in every vowel of every word they speak. They project feeling and emotion in their language. Much like the French, but less harsh on the tongue and ear.
I find myself drawn to their language... repeating... and at times making up my own words simply because the sound pretty. Mangare... Italiano.... Andiamos.... grazie.... giving it the same full bodied expression as the Italian natives.
I have almost worked up the nerve to grab a taxi into Rome, but not quite yet! I only wish i had a computer to write in my blog....
I have always searched for the exact description, but fail. All i can say is its a way of life that a traveler can only taste the icing on the cake and not completely experience on their own.
Italians have great pride in simplicity with elegance. Its all about presentation, not the price of something. Its more about taking great pride creating, whether its food or art or whatever. They are passionate about life. They keep things simple in matters of food and enjoyment: "eat to live, not live to eat". (something perhaps many of us should take into consideration). Yet their passional for life can complicate things all on their own. Drama & excitement in matters of the heart, for instance. you can hear the passion in every vowel of every word they speak. They project feeling and emotion in their language. Much like the French, but less harsh on the tongue and ear.
I find myself drawn to their language... repeating... and at times making up my own words simply because the sound pretty. Mangare... Italiano.... Andiamos.... grazie.... giving it the same full bodied expression as the Italian natives.
I have almost worked up the nerve to grab a taxi into Rome, but not quite yet! I only wish i had a computer to write in my blog....
Ergife Palace Hotel, Rome, Italy
August 31, 2006 7pm (Europe time)
Right now, right this very moment, I sit poolside (no bathing suit) at my hotel. Hotel Ergife Palace. A lovely place! I am dining (for 5 Euros) on a foccia sandwich with fresh moz. cheese and prosuitto (forgive my spelling). Simple. Tasty. Perfect for my arrival meal. My group doesnt meet until tomorrow evening. I am the first to arrive.... a day early.
The view is great. We are somewhat outside the main area of Rome, but close enough to take a bus, taxi or metro. The most amazing part is hearing the bells of St. Peters Cathedral playing Ave Marie from a distance. I imagine this occurs daily because the waiter doesnt even hear it as he ssings his own tune while cleaning the table next to me.
Again he sings from behind the bar, casually forgetting whatever Italian word went with the tune he hums. The waitress behind the bar casually chats in Italian with a gentleman. Its hard to tell if he is hitting on her or they are just idly chatting about nothing. I came to this country with certain expectations of Italians sticking their nose up at us Americanos. I have this image of the Italian waitress enjoying dinner with her family and laughing at those silly Americans.
You can tell this hotel caters to its crowd with its large palm trees creating a fake illusion of some tropical oasis, which i know only exists somewhere in the Tahitian Islands, far far away. I find this sort of thing amusing. The waiter continues his own rendition of the Italian song (occasionally spitting out a few Simon and Garfunkel songs in English). It makes me smile, sitting here, cool breeze, setting sun glimmering on the pool.
Right now, right this very moment, I sit poolside (no bathing suit) at my hotel. Hotel Ergife Palace. A lovely place! I am dining (for 5 Euros) on a foccia sandwich with fresh moz. cheese and prosuitto (forgive my spelling). Simple. Tasty. Perfect for my arrival meal. My group doesnt meet until tomorrow evening. I am the first to arrive.... a day early.
The view is great. We are somewhat outside the main area of Rome, but close enough to take a bus, taxi or metro. The most amazing part is hearing the bells of St. Peters Cathedral playing Ave Marie from a distance. I imagine this occurs daily because the waiter doesnt even hear it as he ssings his own tune while cleaning the table next to me.
Again he sings from behind the bar, casually forgetting whatever Italian word went with the tune he hums. The waitress behind the bar casually chats in Italian with a gentleman. Its hard to tell if he is hitting on her or they are just idly chatting about nothing. I came to this country with certain expectations of Italians sticking their nose up at us Americanos. I have this image of the Italian waitress enjoying dinner with her family and laughing at those silly Americans.
You can tell this hotel caters to its crowd with its large palm trees creating a fake illusion of some tropical oasis, which i know only exists somewhere in the Tahitian Islands, far far away. I find this sort of thing amusing. The waiter continues his own rendition of the Italian song (occasionally spitting out a few Simon and Garfunkel songs in English). It makes me smile, sitting here, cool breeze, setting sun glimmering on the pool.
ROME, ITALY
August 31, 2006
My flight from NY to Brussells was amusing and frustrating. It just so happens that the power supply to the whole left side of the plane was not functioning. This meant... no light, when the lights went out.... no sound, when the movies were playing.... and no call button, when i needed the attention of a flight attendant.
Of course, I didnt sleep the whole flight, but a very nice German kid kept me company. We shared teh same sleeping issues apparently. He helped me find my way in the Brussells airport, which was no easy task. It took a half our to get from our arriving gate to our connecting departure gate. Despite the amusing difficulties, my flight from Brussells to Rome proved worthy as we gently soared above the Swiss Alps.
Although I took a picture from the plane, one cannot comprehend its beauty. I felt overwhelmed and humbled by Gods work (sorry, no appostrophes on European keyboards).
At the Rome International airport, I patiently waited 25 minutes for my luggage (my little backpack) and then found my ride. The woman asked my name and before i could answer, a handsome, older gentleman yelled out my name as if he has been expecting my arrival. "Si", I said. He reminded me of my Uncle Nestor... same face, smile, stature and jovial way about him. If i had been more awake, I probably would have thought to take a picture and tell him just that!
My flight from NY to Brussells was amusing and frustrating. It just so happens that the power supply to the whole left side of the plane was not functioning. This meant... no light, when the lights went out.... no sound, when the movies were playing.... and no call button, when i needed the attention of a flight attendant.
Of course, I didnt sleep the whole flight, but a very nice German kid kept me company. We shared teh same sleeping issues apparently. He helped me find my way in the Brussells airport, which was no easy task. It took a half our to get from our arriving gate to our connecting departure gate. Despite the amusing difficulties, my flight from Brussells to Rome proved worthy as we gently soared above the Swiss Alps.
Although I took a picture from the plane, one cannot comprehend its beauty. I felt overwhelmed and humbled by Gods work (sorry, no appostrophes on European keyboards).
At the Rome International airport, I patiently waited 25 minutes for my luggage (my little backpack) and then found my ride. The woman asked my name and before i could answer, a handsome, older gentleman yelled out my name as if he has been expecting my arrival. "Si", I said. He reminded me of my Uncle Nestor... same face, smile, stature and jovial way about him. If i had been more awake, I probably would have thought to take a picture and tell him just that!
Sorry for the delay!!!
Hey everyone... i am just NOW gaining access to the internet through a cafe in Sorrento (near Napoli). I will start from the beginning. I have been writing ALOT in my journal and i hope to get it all entered today. You will have a lot of reading to do.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
It's finally here
I can't believe i leave on Wednesday! Time has flown so fast and now here i am about to begin a journey of a lifetime. Today i am doing laundry, charging all my batteries, checking all my paperwork and packing it all up!
I bought a book at Borders yesterday. I wanted something that was set somewhere in Europe so I could enjoy the experience even more by visiting some of the places in the book. The book is called "Almost French", about a couple (one american, one french) and the lives they build in Paris. Looks light and promising.
Anyway, i am off to finish packing. You probably wont hear from me until the end of the week!
Ciao!
I bought a book at Borders yesterday. I wanted something that was set somewhere in Europe so I could enjoy the experience even more by visiting some of the places in the book. The book is called "Almost French", about a couple (one american, one french) and the lives they build in Paris. Looks light and promising.
Anyway, i am off to finish packing. You probably wont hear from me until the end of the week!
Ciao!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Time is Slipping Away
Two weeks from tomorrow I will be boarding an American Airlines plane to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Two weeks. I have so much to do in two weeks.
Due to the fact that I will be traveling very light, I am watching the weather overseas rather closely so that i pack appropriately. It varies from area to area but the range is from 50s at night to mid-high 80s during the day. I will probably pack one sweater or sweatshirt, probably my zipper hooded sweatshirt. Two pairs of jeans. Three or Four tops (1 tank top, 2 t-shirts and one kinda nice shirt). Two pairs of socks. Five pairs of underwear. One very light pair of PJ pants since i am staying at a youth hostile for atleast the first two nights in Madrid. And if i can fit it i might bring one long-sleeved t-shirt. The rest consists of bathroom necessities, pages from my guidebooks, maps, notes, all my paperwork and of course my camera.
My camera is out for repair right now and so i am eagerly waiting for it to arrive. I am a bit worried about it but all else fails I will take a point and shoot digital. It will be easier on my back anyway.
I have plans to visit the local library this week or weekend to make copies of all my paper work (hotels, itineraries, flight information, phone numbers, passport, credit cards etc) for my parents.
I am totally psyched about this trip.
Bon Voyage!!!
Due to the fact that I will be traveling very light, I am watching the weather overseas rather closely so that i pack appropriately. It varies from area to area but the range is from 50s at night to mid-high 80s during the day. I will probably pack one sweater or sweatshirt, probably my zipper hooded sweatshirt. Two pairs of jeans. Three or Four tops (1 tank top, 2 t-shirts and one kinda nice shirt). Two pairs of socks. Five pairs of underwear. One very light pair of PJ pants since i am staying at a youth hostile for atleast the first two nights in Madrid. And if i can fit it i might bring one long-sleeved t-shirt. The rest consists of bathroom necessities, pages from my guidebooks, maps, notes, all my paperwork and of course my camera.
My camera is out for repair right now and so i am eagerly waiting for it to arrive. I am a bit worried about it but all else fails I will take a point and shoot digital. It will be easier on my back anyway.
I have plans to visit the local library this week or weekend to make copies of all my paper work (hotels, itineraries, flight information, phone numbers, passport, credit cards etc) for my parents.
I am totally psyched about this trip.
Bon Voyage!!!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Bomb Threats and Terrorist Plots
Yes, I do fly home from Heathrow, but not until Sept 24th. That's weeks away....
Don't worry... they caught the bad guys, but here's some things i need to think about:
I did read the article on AOL(http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/us-raises-threat-warning-to-highest/20060810032709990001) and although there is some concern (as there always is and has been for the last 5 years), most people are just complaining about the long waits and delayed flights.
Honestly, I would gladly wait an extra 2 hours if it meant my chances of getting home were greater! Wouldnt you? People can complain and complain some more, but obviously our government and the UK are doing their job keeping us safe from harm. Don't you agree? Citizens of America and the UK should be throwing roses at these people for PREVENTING this 'plot' from becoming a reality; we all know how nightmares are made in a matter of seconds. Sept 11th is a grim, yet constant reminder of that fact.
So I hope we can keep this all in perspective (no matter your political views or personal beliefs)!
Aggrevation vs death? hmmmm... what a tough decision.
Silly Humans!
Don't worry... they caught the bad guys, but here's some things i need to think about:
- Does this mean i can't bring shampoo on the plane?
- and more importantly, where will i put the bottles of wine from each country? Mom says just mail it home. Hmmm... I hope it works out! How can I come home without a bottle of French, Italian, and Spanish wine? Craziness!
I did read the article on AOL(http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/us-raises-threat-warning-to-highest/20060810032709990001) and although there is some concern (as there always is and has been for the last 5 years), most people are just complaining about the long waits and delayed flights.
Honestly, I would gladly wait an extra 2 hours if it meant my chances of getting home were greater! Wouldnt you? People can complain and complain some more, but obviously our government and the UK are doing their job keeping us safe from harm. Don't you agree? Citizens of America and the UK should be throwing roses at these people for PREVENTING this 'plot' from becoming a reality; we all know how nightmares are made in a matter of seconds. Sept 11th is a grim, yet constant reminder of that fact.
So I hope we can keep this all in perspective (no matter your political views or personal beliefs)!
Aggrevation vs death? hmmmm... what a tough decision.
Silly Humans!
Monday, August 07, 2006
packing dilemma
I have been busy planning my trip. I packed my backpack yesterday to test it out and of course i had to unpack and start over with less items. Looks like i am going with three - four days of clothes. That's it. Should be quite a challenge for me but one that I accept openly and willingly.
I have also been thoroughly researching Madrid and a few other spots. To save room in my bag i am ripping out the pages i need from my guide books. It breaks my heart, but it must be done!So far my plan is to see the Prado museum. They have a self-guided audio tour which i am looking forward to. I am also planning to see the Royal Palace. I love stuff like that. I was hoping to do a Bullfight but it looks like they only do them on Sundays and holidays. I have to read up a bit more on it.
I have also been thoroughly researching Madrid and a few other spots. To save room in my bag i am ripping out the pages i need from my guide books. It breaks my heart, but it must be done!So far my plan is to see the Prado museum. They have a self-guided audio tour which i am looking forward to. I am also planning to see the Royal Palace. I love stuff like that. I was hoping to do a Bullfight but it looks like they only do them on Sundays and holidays. I have to read up a bit more on it.
pre-trip post - overview
So, here i am at last, planning this trip i thought i would never get the chance to do. Europe. A life long dream. A growing experience i am sure i will never forget. How exciting is this? huh?
I decided to start a blog, which I will attempt to update as I take my 24 day adventure overseas. So check back often and feel free to leave comments, ask questions and share your thoughts with me as I take this huge leap into the 'old world'.
Most of you know I will be traveling alone. Yes, i said ALONE. This is going to be an internal journey as much as it is outward. I am in search of peace of mind... my "zen" so-to-speak (how Buddhist of me, dont you think?).
Perhaps it's waiting for me somewhere in the hills of Tuscany or on the steps of the Royal Palace in Madrid or on a gondola in Venice. Then again, it could be as simple as resting in the Retiro Park in Madrid or finding a new friend while traveling via train to a new city. Where ever it is, I am determined to find it and keep it close to my heart so that I may travel back to that "zen" place in my heart when i return to New York whenever the need arises.
So here are my tentative plans, since i know many of you have been asking.
I leave August 30th ( a day earlier than my tour of Italy is expected to begin... with a few extra dollars in my pocket to show for it).
I am traveling with a tour group called Trafalgar. www.trafalgar.com on a "breakaway" tour, which, in plain English, means all the travelers are with the ages of 21 -38. I am quite happy about this. Although I love hanging out with the "older" crowd, I wasnt really in the mood to follow a "big yellow duck umbrella" and stop for pee breaks every five minutes. No offense to some of you... you know i love you al, but I wanted a slightly more adventurous route with people MY age (meaning, NOT 21 and not 61). I think this tour will give me that edge I am looking for... no all night binge drinking (yuck) yet, it wont hurt me to do a couple of late nights exploring the cities or hanging out in the lobby are cool too!
My "Viva Italia" tour ends on Sept 11th, where, like the rest of my fellow travel companions, I head off to the airport and board a plane. But its not for a my journey home: about 2 and a half hours later I will be in Madrid, Spain. Espana! Si? Tu sabe Espana? Yo quiero taco bell... JUST KIDDING.
Madrid and the surrounding area will be home to me for about 4 days. To be perfectly honest, I havent really decided yet. I am staying in a very, very cheap hostel. I found it at www.hostelworld.com. There were pictures and reviews from past guests and it didnt look half bad. The cost is approx. $18 a night, doesnt include breakfast and I will have to rent towels for bathing. No biggie. One of the biggest things I looked at was temperature control. This particular hostel has AC AND, it is also centrally located right near Puerto Del Sol. Puerto Del Sol is the center of the city, where i can get to just about anything by foot or bus or metro. Puerto del Sol is also home to the famous marker which claims to be the exact center of all of Spain.
I am considering a couple of other options just outside of Spain. One is the Basque Country (http://www.basquecountry-tourism.com) located on the Atlantic coast, bordering Spain and France. Several towns are spread throughout the area in both Spain and France. The people who live there are very unique. They speak a completely different language in addition to Spanish and French. They have developed their own culture and are famous for ham and sheeps cheese among other things (soon to be discovered by moi - oui!). If i do decide to head to the Basque Country, my main stop, and probably my base camp for at least one night, will be San Sebastian (on the Spanish side). I will probably venture north from there, into France and then up into Bordeaux, famous wine country along the coast. My intensions are/were to visit a vineyard and compare them to Long Island's wine country( a region only 30 years young), but I don't really know if it will be feasible. Although the area is accessible by train, its very difficult to get around once I have arrived. I may skip this because I am not apt to spending more money on additional transportation.
One of the other options I had considered, and probably could still consider, is Segovia. Segovia is north west of Madrid, approximately an hour by train (on the way to Basque Country). It is home to an ancient Roman aqueduct, a rennaissance cathedral and a castle. From what i am reading, it sounds like there is a lot of history there. I would like to try and get there, but I cant seem to find a train that goes into the station. I may have to wait until I arrive and ask the Turismo Informaciones (TI for short) office.
Once I have spent a few days in Spain, I will head north to Paris. I am staying with Olivia, a French exchange student that my family has kept in touch with the last 15 years. She is eagerly awaiting my arrival. We plan to go sightseeing in Paris for a couple of days and then she suggested we visit Versailles to see some castles. We may spend a couple of nights out of town together, which will be great. I speak NO french whatsoever. Je ne parle Frances. Oui? No! hahahha. French fries? French dressing? French toast? Yup, thats about the extent of it.
My final leg of the trip will be London. I will attempt to head into London at least two days before my flight home so that I can do some sightseeing there as well. I havent really gotten into planning that part of my trip yet, but I am sure my mother will be a huge asset with her English background.
24 days.... 4 countries.... and a lifetime of experience all wrapped up into this glorious and adventurous journey i am about to embark on.
Be sure to check back here. I will update as often as I can. Sometimes I will only enter key phrases that describe my experience and later write a bit more about the details. This often helps me linger on my thoughts and feelings and makes for a better blog entry in the long run.
Ciao!
I decided to start a blog, which I will attempt to update as I take my 24 day adventure overseas. So check back often and feel free to leave comments, ask questions and share your thoughts with me as I take this huge leap into the 'old world'.
Most of you know I will be traveling alone. Yes, i said ALONE. This is going to be an internal journey as much as it is outward. I am in search of peace of mind... my "zen" so-to-speak (how Buddhist of me, dont you think?).
Perhaps it's waiting for me somewhere in the hills of Tuscany or on the steps of the Royal Palace in Madrid or on a gondola in Venice. Then again, it could be as simple as resting in the Retiro Park in Madrid or finding a new friend while traveling via train to a new city. Where ever it is, I am determined to find it and keep it close to my heart so that I may travel back to that "zen" place in my heart when i return to New York whenever the need arises.
So here are my tentative plans, since i know many of you have been asking.
I leave August 30th ( a day earlier than my tour of Italy is expected to begin... with a few extra dollars in my pocket to show for it).
I am traveling with a tour group called Trafalgar. www.trafalgar.com on a "breakaway" tour, which, in plain English, means all the travelers are with the ages of 21 -38. I am quite happy about this. Although I love hanging out with the "older" crowd, I wasnt really in the mood to follow a "big yellow duck umbrella" and stop for pee breaks every five minutes. No offense to some of you... you know i love you al, but I wanted a slightly more adventurous route with people MY age (meaning, NOT 21 and not 61). I think this tour will give me that edge I am looking for... no all night binge drinking (yuck) yet, it wont hurt me to do a couple of late nights exploring the cities or hanging out in the lobby are cool too!
My "Viva Italia" tour ends on Sept 11th, where, like the rest of my fellow travel companions, I head off to the airport and board a plane. But its not for a my journey home: about 2 and a half hours later I will be in Madrid, Spain. Espana! Si? Tu sabe Espana? Yo quiero taco bell... JUST KIDDING.
Madrid and the surrounding area will be home to me for about 4 days. To be perfectly honest, I havent really decided yet. I am staying in a very, very cheap hostel. I found it at www.hostelworld.com. There were pictures and reviews from past guests and it didnt look half bad. The cost is approx. $18 a night, doesnt include breakfast and I will have to rent towels for bathing. No biggie. One of the biggest things I looked at was temperature control. This particular hostel has AC AND, it is also centrally located right near Puerto Del Sol. Puerto Del Sol is the center of the city, where i can get to just about anything by foot or bus or metro. Puerto del Sol is also home to the famous marker which claims to be the exact center of all of Spain.
I am considering a couple of other options just outside of Spain. One is the Basque Country (http://www.basquecountry-tourism.com) located on the Atlantic coast, bordering Spain and France. Several towns are spread throughout the area in both Spain and France. The people who live there are very unique. They speak a completely different language in addition to Spanish and French. They have developed their own culture and are famous for ham and sheeps cheese among other things (soon to be discovered by moi - oui!). If i do decide to head to the Basque Country, my main stop, and probably my base camp for at least one night, will be San Sebastian (on the Spanish side). I will probably venture north from there, into France and then up into Bordeaux, famous wine country along the coast. My intensions are/were to visit a vineyard and compare them to Long Island's wine country( a region only 30 years young), but I don't really know if it will be feasible. Although the area is accessible by train, its very difficult to get around once I have arrived. I may skip this because I am not apt to spending more money on additional transportation.
One of the other options I had considered, and probably could still consider, is Segovia. Segovia is north west of Madrid, approximately an hour by train (on the way to Basque Country). It is home to an ancient Roman aqueduct, a rennaissance cathedral and a castle. From what i am reading, it sounds like there is a lot of history there. I would like to try and get there, but I cant seem to find a train that goes into the station. I may have to wait until I arrive and ask the Turismo Informaciones (TI for short) office.
Once I have spent a few days in Spain, I will head north to Paris. I am staying with Olivia, a French exchange student that my family has kept in touch with the last 15 years. She is eagerly awaiting my arrival. We plan to go sightseeing in Paris for a couple of days and then she suggested we visit Versailles to see some castles. We may spend a couple of nights out of town together, which will be great. I speak NO french whatsoever. Je ne parle Frances. Oui? No! hahahha. French fries? French dressing? French toast? Yup, thats about the extent of it.
My final leg of the trip will be London. I will attempt to head into London at least two days before my flight home so that I can do some sightseeing there as well. I havent really gotten into planning that part of my trip yet, but I am sure my mother will be a huge asset with her English background.
24 days.... 4 countries.... and a lifetime of experience all wrapped up into this glorious and adventurous journey i am about to embark on.
Be sure to check back here. I will update as often as I can. Sometimes I will only enter key phrases that describe my experience and later write a bit more about the details. This often helps me linger on my thoughts and feelings and makes for a better blog entry in the long run.
Ciao!
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