Spring Break in Italy!

ROME:
Our first stop on break was Rome or "Roma" as the Italians say. It was so neat to see all the historical sights, but the city itself was less than desirable; it was very dirty. We saw the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Palatino, and the Roman Forum on day one. It was incredible to be at the Colosseum; it's something I never thought I'd get to do! It was large and old and that pretty much sums it up, but it was interesting nonetheless. Day two in Rome we saw Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Museum of the Vatican which housed the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo. The Sistine was amazing! They kept it pretty dark in there because the light damages the paint, but you could still see it. It was also pretty cool to see the Basilica and the Vatican as well.

FLORENCE:
In my opinion, "Firenze" was much better than Rome. It had less historical meaning, but it was cleaner and more shopper-friendly (sorry mom and dad...but don't worry, I got you both something!). On the first day, Jake and I went up in the Duomo which is the church there. To climb to the top and walk outside around the dome took 463 steps up! The stairs were narrow and all concrete, but once we were to the top, the view of Florence was well worth it!
We took a day trip by bus to Greve in Chianti, which is a small town in the hills of Italy. We did some wine tasting at a wine museum, but you had to pay for it. The average taste was roughly .80 to 1.20 per taste, but it was a neat experience. We also went to another wine place, Enoteca, with FREE tastes! We only tried like 5 kinds, but we all bought a bottle. The town was so adorable, it was like something from an old movie.
Florence had another perk: our HOTEL! That's right, no hostel for us this time, we got to stay in a hotel! It was situated close to the river and every time we walked downtown, we walked along the river. It was so nice to have clean towels every day (considering I use mine in London for weeks before washing it...haha! It's too expensive to do laundry!) and free breakfast! We actually took advantage of the free breakfast, to say the least. We stuffed ourselves while we were there and made sandwiches and stole bread for later in the day so we didn't have to buy lunch. I never want to see a croissant, ham, cheese, or yogurt ever again!

PISA:
On our way from Florence to Venice we stopped at Pisa and saw the leaning tower. That was another place I never thought I'd get to see in my life. It was stunning being there, but I expected it to be a little bit taller. We took a ton of pictures, partly because it was cool but also because that's the only thing to see in Pisa, so we tried to get our money's worth.

VENICE:
Venice was actually my favorite place. Most of the buildings were very old, but it had a certain charm about it. Everything was pretty slow-paced and it seemed to be the most romantic of the cities, which was good for Jake and I! We rode down the canals on the "water bus," it was the cheapest way to get around. There are no cars in Venice, so we did a lot of walking as well. There were a lot of shops selling glass works because one of the Venetian islands, Murano, makes and exports world-famous glass. Jake and I actually went to Murano one day and saw some glass blowing. The two places we went had men making horses out of glass, which was amazing. They made them so fast, probably because the glass cools fast.
One afternoon, we bought some pigeon food and fed them; it was more like us getting bombarded by them! They were flying around everywhere and they'd even land on your head! If you had food in your hands, you could count on at least 8 of them being on you, on your shoulders, on your head, on your arms and flying around you! There must have been 300 of them in the square. We had a lady take some pictures of us, it was hilarious!
Jake and I took a gondola ride too! That was my favorite part of the whole trip! It was extremely expensive though! (60 euros for 30 minutes, but you have to do it...it's VENICE!) The gondoliers are so talented, it's hard to navigate through the narrow canals on such a long skinny boat. Ours didn't sing to us, that costs extra. Maybe one day I'll have enough for the gondoliers to sing! It's actually an inherited profession, you can't operate a gondola unless you have a license handed down from a family member. We got to see Mozart's home and the place where Shakespeare's "Othello" was set. It was a great experience!

Overall, I really liked Italy and had enough Pizza to last a lifetime! Plus, it was great to see Jake after 2 months! Now I can't wait to see the family in Paris...only 2 weeks!

GREECE!!!

Before I begin, I must say that no words can accurately describe how wonderful my trip was!

We stayed in Athens, which had just recovered from a snow storm, but was warm and beautiful when we were there! It was sunny and high 60s. The landscaping reminded me of Hawaii but with very different architechure standing on it. Everything was plush and green, flowers were everywhere, and every kind of palm tree you could imagine was there. Lining our hostel's road were picturesque orange trees (with very bitter oranges!) and I had the top floor with a balcony and a great view!

The first day we just walked around and familiarized ourselves with the area (we had a long night of traveling to recover from). The second morning we did a 3 hour walking tour and saw the Gateway to Olympeion and the Temple of Zues, the National Forest, the Ex-Guest House, Parliament and the changing of the guards, Syntagma Square (all the shops and markets), and of course the Acropolis (where the Parthenon is). Our hostel was within walking distance of all of this! That afternoon we did the Acropolis; it was a long hike up, but worth every bit! The views from the top were truly breathtaking! (The only bad thing was that there was scaffolding up on the parthenon for reconstruction/maintenance purposes.)

The third day we took a trip to the closest island to the mainland, Aegina. It was technically a ferry ride, but more like a cruise! We sat on the top deck (outside) on the way there in short sleeves, but it was a little chilly. The ride was so beautiful! The island itself was amazing too, it must have gotten up in the 70s that day! We had a nice relaxing day. We hung out on the beach, walked through the town, and ate lunch at a cute cafe on the water; I got a Greek Salad which was large chunk tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and feta cheese on top. We also got some Greek Cookies....yum!

Our last day we shopped in the market for souvenirs then headed home. It was a blast!!! I've decided that my honeymoon will be to the Greek Islands...indisputable! I absolutely fell in love with Greece. I'm not exactly sure what it was that pulled me in so much, but all three of us LOVED it! I already miss it and I haven't even been home 24 hours yet! We got home and in bed by 3am, despite an hour and a half delay at the airport, and ready for class by 9:30! It was a wonderful weekend, but I'm ready for my Spring Break in Italy...and I get to see Jake! yay!

Scotland

We just arrived home from the land of kilts! It was a lot of hours on a bus, but worth it! We spent Friday in Edinburgh, which is the castle. It's also known as the birthplace of the famous book/movie series "Harry Potter." The author, J.K. Rowling, wrote the books in a cafe named the Elephant House; we stopped in and had some drinks. We then visited Grayfriar's Cemetery which inspired a couple names of characters in "Harry Potter", including (Professor) McGonagall and Tom Riddell. We also did a 3 hour walking tour of the city and saw the ugly and run down Edinburg Castle, St. Giles' Cathedral, the site of witch burnings (not presently!), and the original 'Hogwarts,' which was the school for wizars in "Harry Potter." We also saw a place called Meerkat Cross, which is where kings were coronated, but it was more commonly used as a place for punishment. If a merchant ripped off a customer or committed any other offense, his ear was nailed to the wooden door for all to see! It was a form of public humiliation punishment. Next to that, there's a heart shaped cobblestone design on the ground. This is where all the locals spit when they walk by because it represents the "Hearts," their rival football (soccer) team.

After our tour, we stopped in a place called The Last Drop. Years ago, those about to get hanged in public were given a last meal, which usually came from this restaurant, hence the name "The Last Drop." In addition, we tried a very popular Scottish dish called Haggis. It's their claim to fame. Before you get too excited, let me tell you what's in it...you'll be proud of me for just trying it! It consists of a sheep's pluck which is the heart, lungs, and liver cooked in the stomach!!! Surprisingly enough, it was much like taco meat and unusually tasty! We finished it all! We then went souvenir shopping and shopping for the cheapest dinner. We found a place offering a burger, chips (french fries), and a beer for 3 pound 50 (3.50)!!! That's extremely cheap!

On Saturday we went on a 12 hour bus tour of the Scottish countryside, which was also very beautiful! It gave Wales a run for its money! We ended up at a castle and at Loch Ness, home of "Nessie" the Loch Ness monster. F.Y.I. a loch is a deep inlet from the sea, much like a bay, but longer and narrower. The particular loch that the monster was spotted in is named Ness. It was a long day, but good to see the great countryside. When we got back, we saw a man in a kilt playing the bagpipe for money. I took a picture with him and threw him some spare change.

Speaking of kilts, apparently they are highly regarded there and quite formal. We saw a marriage ceremony ending and the groom and his men were all in kilts. On Sunday, we saw an old man dressed up for church in a kilt. They were always so humorous to me, but the Scots take them seriously! There are advertisements everywhere for posh kilts! All-in-all, it was a great trip and fun to see the different culture!

The Lion King, Toga Party, Chinese New Year, Absolut Ice Bar

So, I haven't been very good lately about updating my blog. We've been having too much fun! Here's a quick recap of the last 2 weeks!

We went to Stratford Upon Avon, which is Shakespeare's hometown. We walked through his house and tried to go to his grave, but the church closed on us. We also went to Anne Hathaway's cottage. She was Shakespeare's lover. After that, we went to a Shakespeare play put on by the Royal Shakespeare Company. We saw "King Henry VI," which wasn't exactly exciting, but it was a good experience. They used the ceilings to suspend people and bring props down/up. The acting was superb...and...I only dozed off like 2 or 3 times! That's pretty good for a 3 hour play!

Later in the week we went to The Lion King, the musical. I saw it at the Fox in St. Louis, but it was much better here! We had a blast! The costumes were great! My words will never do it justice! I almost got tears in my eyes at certain points. I absolutely loved it!

We also had a Toga Party. Since everything is so expensive over here, we just used our fitted bedsheets! Some girls used blankets! We looked hilarious! All the different colors and patterns made for an interesting evening!

This past Sunday, we visited Trafalgar Square for the Chinese New Year! We saw intricate outfits, neat performances, and of course, FOOD!!! I had some chicken noodle combo...yum!

Last night we went to a bar that was 0 degrees celcius!!! Everything was made out of ice: the floor, the tables, walls, bar, even our glasses were ice! It was incredible! They used blue lighting, which made it seem like we were in an ice cube! They gave us cloaks to wear and gloves so we could hold our ice glasses! You were only allowed to stay for 40 minutes at a time, which was plenty! We had a blast!

Weekend in Wales!

This past weekend was a blast! We went to West Wales, right on the Atlantic Coast. It was so beautiful and breathtaking! It was good to get out of the city and into the country for awhile, it reminded me more of home. The food was excellent! All the meals were included, which was really nice for a change.

On Saturday morning, we got up early and went coasteering. I didn't know what it was either. But I soon found out...Pretty much, you slip (or struggle) into a wetsuit, shoes, gloves, and a helmet. Then they take you out to a beach of rocks so you could get used to the power of the waves. When I heard this I was like: "Shoot, I've been raised in Florida practically, I can handle it." But, the first wave came crashing in and knocked me to my feet! The waves were incredibly powerful. Keep in mind this is the North Atlantic Ocean in January! We then went to the rocks! We climbed about and swam in the ocean. There was one slick rock that we climbed up to and then slid down into the water, it was pretty sweet! Then came the best part...we swam across to the other side of the bay and climbed up to the cliffs. This is where we jumped into the water from cliffs as high as 35 feet! That was by far the best part of the weekend!

Saturday afternoon we took a hike, a long hike, a 3 hour long hike!! It was very beautiful though! We went all along the coast of Wales and through sheep fields (and sheep poop). It was some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen in my life! Then we got really really muddy and tired and finally made it back to the cabins.

On Sunday we went Sea Kayaking. That was actually pretty relaxing. After we learned how to keep from flipping it, we went along the coast. We saw a creepy cave too! This was tricky because you had to back the kayak in. But of course, I had no problem. It was dark and really loud in there from the wind and waves echoing.

Overall, that will be a hard trip to beat, it was right up my ally! Dad and Jake, you would've loved it! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who might ever take a trip to Europe!

Bath

Bath is a nice and luxurious town built with concrete. All the buildings were concrete and stuck together. The sidewalks were about 2 feet by 2 feet squares or cobblestone. There was a ton of shops and places to eat. One of the places we visited dates back to 1482, called Sally Lunn's famous buns. They are huge hamburger buns basically.

Then we went to the Roman Bath House, which is Bath's main attraction. This is where a natural hot spring rises to the surface. The Romans built a "house" (for lack of a better term) around this hot spring in honor of the goddess Minerva. It too is hundreds of years old. The water is so warm that you could see the steam rising. It was a green color and apparently very dirty/unpurified. The guide told us not to touch the water. It was a beautiful place!

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a place that is a mystery to all historians. It's 1000s of years old and built with giant stones. The stones were apparently from Wales, which is hundreds of miles away. One puzzling aspect is how the stones got to where they are. It would've taken several men to move them. On top of that, the stones were in an upright position with other stones laid across them. Supposedly it had one of two purposes. The first theory is that certain stones were positioned and used for astronomical studies and studies of the sky. The other is that it was a place to worship certain gods. It was like a monument to these gods. Either way, it's out in the middle of nowhere and one time visiting is enough for a lifetime. Hope you like the pictures!

St. Paul's Cathedral

We went to church at St. Paul's Cathedral tonight at 6pm. It was as pretty or prettier than Westminster Abbey. The ceilings were domes instead of arched points like Westminster. There were so many scenes painted with glittery gold and silver. It was almost like a mosaic in some spots. Again, I wish I could've taken a picture. The service was more like the traditional Methodist service than at Westminster. But...when we recited the Lord's Prayer outloud, apparently they leave off the end. Well guess who kept going! It was very noticeable in such a quiet and large Cathedral!

Windsor Castle

This castle is what you picture when you hear "castle." It was made of stone with a huge wall around it and a moat. There were several buildings within the castle walls, including a Cathedral. This castle is sill used for weddings, ceremonies, and meetings today. Inside was the queen's doll collection and doll house. The clothes were so cute! They had a replica of one of the palaces (I forgot which one) with mini replicas inside it. There was a china room full of the queen's china. It was all very ornate and beautiful! Next was the guard's room. Inside there were many guns and swords on the wall, it was used to protect ousiders from getting to the king or queen. I could go on and on about this, but I'll just leave the rest to your imagination! My words don't do it justice anyway!

Hampton Court Palace

Yesterday we left early (9am) to go on a tour of 2 castles. The first was Hampton Court Palace where King Henry VIII lived in the 1600s. It was so old, yet so beautiful! The ceilings were all so high in each room and they were highly decorated with murals, many of angels. All the rooms had beautiful crown molding and the beds were surrounded by drapery-type things that reached about 15 feet upward. There were also tapestrys, which reminded me of intricate rugs, that were on the wall. They were approxamately 20ft by 30 ft. Huge! These works of art showed pictures, many during Jesus' time, kind of like a mural. They were hand made and had real gold and silver thread woven into them! Really pretty! The entire palace was surrounded by massive gardens. There was a maze on one side, a garden in the back, and another garden on the side (called Privy Garden, it was my favorite). The trees were like giant lumps, very different! The pictures and my words don't do it justice, you just had to see it all!

Jack the Ripper!

I just got back from a tour around London of where "Jack the Ripper" killed his prostitute victims. It's a well documented set of serial killings that took place in the 1800's. The murders are still unsolved, but there are 4 main suspects that historians are still investigating to try and solve this ancient murder streak. We took the tour at night, which set the scene for the killings in my mind! Our guide did a great job of telling the story and showing us where each victim lived and about their lives prior to their gruesome murders. These five prostitutes were slit from ear to ear and had their intestines (and much more) removed and strung out. It's actually much more gruesome, but I'll leave the details to your imagination. All in all, it was a great tour and I really enjoyed it!

Classes...

Well, my first day of classes were yesterday. There will be more reading and writing papers than I had hoped, oh well! My favorite class will be my musical theatre class. We are required to see at least 6 musicals, darn! lol! I can't wait, it will be so much fun! My other "good" class is our British Life and Culture class. We have lectures every Tuesday night then go on field trips every Wednesday. 1/2 of our grade is attendance and the other half is pass/fail short papers we write every week. Not too bad! My schedule is good too, we only go to class M,T, and Th. Each day I'm done by 10:30 and on Mon and Tues I have a night class. Pretty good! Today we booked our trip to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day! That will be a blast, can't wait! I'll let you know how it goes. Miss you all and love from London!

Living in London

Hey everyone!

I've been here in London for a few days now, and it's great! We've done so much already. Of course we've hit the big spots: Westminster Abbey (we actually went to church there on Sunday), Big Ben, Hyde Park, Portabello Market, Camden Town Market, the Russian Winter Festival in Trafalgar Square, Harrod's, Platform 9 3/4 for all those Harry Potter fans, and much more that I'm probably forgetting!

We are trying to schedule our trips first. Some of the hot spots we hope to hit are France (Paris), Italy (Venice, Rome, Florence), Ireland for St. Patrick's Day, Wales, Scotland, and Spain...depending on how much money we have. We have to talk to the travel agency first.

I want everyone to post comments and questions and stay in touch with me! I have a good amount of spare time during the week, so I'll be checking and posting quite a bit.