Venice

The last city we would visit during our trip to Italy was Venice. We got to Venice after it was already dark outside, but immediately after exiting the train station we felt like we were in Neverland or Disney World. Straight across from the train station was the Grand Canal and a large bridge. We walked along the cobble stone streets passing open markets and stores with lots of Venetian Glass. We checked into the cutest hotel we had stayed in all week and left our luggage to treat ourselves to dinner.

The hotel worker suggested a Trattoria around the corner so we went there for dinner. I ordered lasagna and mom got a calzone. We ate and talked with the people next to us and compared travel stories. For dessert mom bought a apple pastry from a bakery and we split it while we watched a movie on her laptop. This was our routine for the week to walk all day and watch a movie at night.

We were so excited about being in Venice that we woke up at 7 to be downstairs for the continental breakfast at 8. Everything seemed to be going to plan with only a light rain outside. The owner of the hotel served us cappuccinos wearing waders and I knew something was up. Mom thought I said the word "waiter" and didn't understand what I was puzzled about. Then, we heard the sound water makes when someone is trying to walk through it. Yes, Venice was flooded all over with several inches deep of water. We had no rain boots so we were stuck in the hotel until the water receded from the tide.

To make the most of our morning, we drank another cappuccino and played travel scrabble. The game last about an hour which bought us enough time to tip-toe over a puddle and make it to the main street outside of our hotel. The rain continued so we would walk a in between shops making our way down the street.

Finally, we made it to the water taxis and bought day passes for the water boats. Luckily, the boats were covered and slightly heated so we rode around the island and up the Grand Canal. We stopped in Piazza San Marco which is the main square in Venice. We walked through Duomo number 4 of the week. We followed a small street off of San Marco to an Italian restaurant for lunch and ate mushroom pizza and salad one last time. Mom bought temporary ran boots, which were plastic bags that went over your shoes, but I opted out since the rain had stopped.

I had researched Venice and new that a small island made most of the Venetian Glass that Venice was famous for. However, since it was Saturday most of the factories in Murano were closed so we mostly just looked in the shops.

To finish our stay in Venice we walked up and down bridges, shopped, and watched one more movie. On Sunday morning we said our good-byes at breakfast. Mom had a small melt down because she was leaving me. I cried too of course. No one cries alone. Our plan was for her to fly from Venice to JFK and I would train from Venice to Regensburg. I only have 3 short days left in Europe!

I am so glad I got to experience Italy with my mom. There is no one I would have rather traveled with and I am so thankful we were together. I missed her so much over my semester and am ready to be home in the states.

Verona & Juliet's House

We stepped off the train in Verona and got on a bus that would take us to the city center of Verona. In the main square, Verona has an Arena similar to the Coliseum in Rome. We just took pictures of the outside since we had already heard about the activities that went on the arenas in Rome.

When we were near the homes of Romeo and Juliet, we found an open market similar to the Christmas markets in Germany. The architecture and 'feeling' of Verona is enchanted. There are colorful buildings with paintings on the sides and towers. On the map there was a "Well of Love" so we found it before Juliet's house.

I was most excited to see Juliet's house and balcony. We took our picture with the statue of Juliet in front of her wall and balcony. We paid to tour Juliet's house which was several floors. I got to stand and take my picture on Juliet's balcony! I read Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, several times over my years in school so this was a neat experience for me.

Evidently the historical society is not concerned with Romeo's house because we could only view it from the outside. After our fill of Verona, we loaded back on the train to Venice, our last stop in Italy!

Bologna

When we got to Bologna after Pisa, we tried to check into the hotel but the B&B had selective check in times. To make the most of our evening, we brought our luggage around the old town of Bologna. We went to Piazza Maggiore, which is the all pedestrian square in Bologna. The square has several large brick buildings that were similar to Siena's. We saw the Fountain of Neptune and walked the narrow streets with shops just past the square.

We bought cheese from a shop and had cheese and crackers for dinner. The most interesting part of Bologna were all of the arches that covered sidewalks on both sides of the streets. It was one arch after another for the entire city on all streets. We didn't have much time for Bologna, but we still saw the town by foot. We walked around that evening and finished our list of sights the next morning before we left on a train to Verona!

Castello Il Palagio

When a person goes to Italy, they must take a vineyard tour while in Tuscany. My mom and I took a public coach bus 50 minutes away from Florence and got off at the Mercantile stop...which was about 3 stops too soon. In the countryside of Tuscany, few english speakers can be found.

We asked two men in the city center how to get to Castello il Palagio and they said it was a 4 km walk. We had only one choice so we started in the direction they pointed. Within minutes we came to a fork in the road and asked an old Italian woman where to go from there. She spoke only Italian and kept saying "Quatro Strado." She made us go down the right street of the fork. We kept walking up hills and back down. For the entire 45 minute walk, all we could do was admire the countryside in Tuscany with rolling hills of vineyards and villas while saying "thank goodness it's not raining" repeatedly.

All of the sudden, we came around a corner and saw the vineyard we were looking for, Castello Il Palagio! I had booked us a tour of the vineyard and a tasting of wine, cheese, bread, and salad. Since we arrived a little later than planned, we got a private tour of the castle which was built in 1252. The castle sits between Florence and Siena and served as a military structure until 300 years ago it became a vineyard. We learned that one olive tree produces only 4 bottles of olive oil. Our guide, who was a small, young Italian woman, showed us the wine cellar which previously served as the castle's underground prison. After the tour it was time to eat!

We walked upstairs and found a table waiting with toasted garlic bread and olive oil, wines, and salad. Our guide also gave us almond cookies for dessert. We loved our tour and decided it was our favorite thing we did in Italy!

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

To get the most of out of our Italy Eurail, we trained from Florence to Pisa, Pisa to Bologna in one day. Pisa was our "train break" that lasted about 2 hours. When we got off the train, I looked at a map and the leaning tower of Pisa looked like an easy fifteen or twenty minute walk. We walked over a bridge in Pisa that gave a great view of the city.

When I planned to visit the tower, I wasn't sure I wanted to see the tourist staple of Italy. My opinion changed when we saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. The white tiled tower began to be constructed in three different phases around 1173. We did not go up the tower, but took lots of pictures from below.

We went inside Duomo number 3 of the week which was right next to the leaning tower. Mom tried to light another candle like we did in Florence, but this time she put someone else's out on accident.

I am glad we saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa for a couple of hours. We both agreed is was a highlight of the trip!

Florence

We woke in Florence to rain, but not even weather could keep us inside. We grabbed the umbrellas and started walking to old town. About twenty minutes into the walk it started to pour rain, so we ducked into a coffee shop for cappuccinos. By the time we finished our drink and looking at the window displays, the rain had calmed down enough for us to go outside. Our next idea was to walk through Florence's Duomo. My mom and I lit candles in the church, which was neat. Down the street from the church we found outdoor markets. I bargained for a gray hat and mom found a neat ornament.

We didn't see as much of Florence as I would have liked that morning because we took bus ride through Tuscany to Castello Il Palagio for a vineyard tour. However, the next morning we woke up early to the best day of weather we had in Italy and saw more of Florence. We did an hour loop around the main old buildings. My favorite was the large bridge over the river with lots of shops on the bridge. Mom kept saying, "They just don't make them like the use to." She is completely right. In Florence it is easy to tell of the of different styles of architecture through the years because all of the buildings are so different. Italy has so many beautiful cities with colorful buildings, cobble stone streets, and great shops!

Siena

To avoid carrying our luggage around Siena, we went to Florence and left our luggage at the hotel. I got a little turned around in Florence so the luggage drop took longer than expected. We got back on the train and went to the medieval city in Italy.

The temperatures were cooler than Rome so we walked around for a couple of hours before getting back on the train to Florence. We saw Piazza del Campo which is a shell shaped piazza in Siena with old brick buildings surrounding the center. Siena also had lots of cute shops with Tuscan theme ceramics inside. We stopped for our daily cappuccino while we warmed up. Italy is interesting because it charges almost double if you drink a cappuccino at a table instead of standing up at the counter. In Siena we walked around the first Duomo church of the week. Italy has many Duomo's in every city. The cathedrals are white and blue striped on the inside and outside.

We made it back to Florence and ate dinner at Trattoria. We had lasagna instead of mushroom pizza. Lasagna became my favorite food to order in Italy. I never even ate lasagna in the states, but now it's a must!

Vatican City

On Day 2 of our Italy trip, we dedicated most of the day to touring Vatican City. After researching all about Italy I realized my mom and I were traveling during 'low season.' Low season has pros and cons to it. For example, there are a low amount of other tourists so lines are shorter and attractions less crowded; however, the weather is cold and damp.

Monday morning we took the metro from our hostel to the Vatican. We were able to walk right into St. Peter's Basilica. The church was huge and extremely ornate. We saw Michaelangelo's sculpture, La Pieta, which was neat for me since I had seen it in my World Civ textbook just a few weeks earlier. After taking in St. Peter's Basilica, we walked a ways to the Vatican Museum, which is the 2nd largest in the world.

We shared an audio guide while we walked through the museum. We walked for about 2 hours and decided to take a cappuccino break before the Sistine Chapel. Out of all of the places we went in Italy, I was most surprised by the Sistine Chapel. I expected one continuous painting on the ceiling, but instead Michaelango made lots of individual paintings put together. In my opinion, St. Peter's Basilica is more impressive. However, the Sistine Chapel is still beautiful and we listened to all 7 of the audio clips about the chapel. I learned the Sistine Chapel is the location of the voting for the next Pope. Overall, the Vatican city was worth our time in Rome.

We finished our day by having the usual lunch of mushroom pizza and salad. Then, we walked to the Spanish Steps, ate Gelato (when in Rome do as the Romans!), and watched a movie in our hostel. We loved Roma and are ready for more of Italy!

Rome, Italy

During my semester in Germany, I got the idea to spend a week traveling through Italy with my favorite travel partner and best friend, my mom! I left on Saturday night Nov. 27th for an all night train to Rome, while my mom rode in first class from Atlanta to Rome. We decided to meet in Roma Termini train station and walk to the hostel together.

I got to the train station around 9 a.m. on Sunday and started to look for her. About twenty minutes later, I hear my name yelled. My mom and I had found each other in Italy with no problem!

We walked to the hostel together with all of our luggage. Mom had a few surprises in her bag to give me. She had 3 cans of American Diet Coke that she had gotten from the flight attendant. She split a can while we looked at a map of Rome. I 'upgraded' at the hostel to a four person room (instead of an 8 person room) but no one else ever came. We had the room to ourselves for two nights in Rome!

We started walking for the Coliseum which was only ten minutes away. We joined a guided tour of the 2,000 year old arena. My mom and I were both shocked to find out an estimated 700,000 people, including gladiators, servants, and prisoners, had died in the arena. In between the tour of the Coliseum and Palatine Hill, we ate an Italian restaurant where we split mushroom pizza and salad. This meal became the 'usual' for the week. After lunch we had the tour of Palatine Hill which was the center of the Holy Roman Empire. We stood on the ground where "all roads led to Rome."

To finish up our day, we threw pennies in the Trevi Fountain, walked around Piazza Nivona, and saw the Pantheon. We stopped for cappuccinos which became a daily event to escape the cold or rain. At least this was our excuse. Surprisingly, cappuccinos were really cheap so we drank one every day! We were so excited to be together and to conquer Italy!

Christkindal Markts

Although the Germans do not celebrate Thanksgiving, they do celebrate Christmas in a big way! Before the beginning of December, Christkindal Markts take place all over Germany until December 24th. Christkindal Markts consist of temporary wooden shops or booths. They sell all kinds of gifts from ornaments to jewelry, clothing, and other handmade goods. The markts also have lots of food like Gluhwein (hot wine), roasted nuts, sausages, cheeses, and more baked goods.

I had a day on my eurail left to use on the trains so I took a day trip to Bamberg, Germany to see their Christmas Markets and to view the Black Forest. I heard about black forest cake so I tried some in Bamberg. Black Forest cake is chocolate cake layered with whip cream and cherries. I used the cake and coffee as a break from the cold temperatures. While on the train, I saw the first snow of the winter season. I bought a few small things to bring back as gifts from the markets but mostly enjoyed all of the decorations.

Germany decorates similarly to the states with lights, trees, and bows. As I update the blog, Regensburg has at least a foot of snow on the ground. I am impressed with how the town handles snow. The plows are out and public transportation is still working. I even went to the grocery store (for bread of course) and did not find a nervous mob of people. I wish I had snow gear so I could play in it or a snowmobile to go around town. Only two more days until I leave Europe!

Thanksgiving Lunch

For Thanksgiving, my friend Jessica decided to cook our German friends the typical Thanksgiving meal. Briona, Jessica, and I went shopping for all of the ingredients on Thursday (the actual day of Thanksgiving) for the lunch on Friday. We all agreed to postpone Thanksgiving one day since we had finals to take on Thursday.

Our first difficulty to overcome in our attempt to make Thanksgiving was to find a turkey. We wandered the meat section of the Netto and found something similar to a turkey. Then, I spotted a real turkey in the frozen section! It said "Ready Turkey" on the package, but Jessica thought I said "Freddy the Turkey" so we decided to call him Freddy for the rest of Thanksgiving.

Poor Jessica took on the task of preparing the turkey to be cooked in the oven. I had no idea what you had to do to a turkey so luckily I didn't volunteer. On Friday the three cooks met in Jessica's kitchen and started preparing food at 11 for a 2 o'clock lunch. We made mash potatoes, pumpkin bread, peanut butter cookies, the turkey, green beans, corn, rolls, and macaroni casserole. We were so proud to serve the meal to our German friends. They were shocked at the amount of food on the table. In all about 10 of us ate Thanksgiving lunch together. The Germans had never had turkey before and loved the dishes we made. They all asked for the recipes. Another 'shocker' to them was the peanut butter cookies. We were all so full afterwards, but the hours of preparation were worth it.

The food honestly tasted like home!

Around Paris

Touring Versailles can really zap a person of their energy. At 4:30 Marta and I got on a train back into Paris. For dinner we fixed pasta at Marta's friend's apartment. Her friend has lived in the same apartment for almost 3 years in Paris. I loved talking with her about her life in Paris. Her apartment consisted of a tiny one room with a fold out bed, small table with 2 chairs, a tiny sink next to 2 burners for cookies, a miniature oven and refrigerator, and a tiny bathroom. The three of us took up the entire living space of this flat, but it was a neat experience.

We left her friend around 7 with a goal to see the Eiffel Tower a night. Marta and I stopped at a crepe stand and each ordered a chocolate crepe for dessert. We came around the corner from the crepe stand, and there was the magnificent Eiffel Tower lit up at night! The tower was an amazing sight.

After snapping a few photos, we took the metro to Montmarte on the north side of Paris. The little neighborhood is situated on a hill which provides an amazing view of Paris. My only wish is that I could have seen Paris during the day from the steps of Sacre Coeur (a church on the hill) as well. We did a little shopping along the streets while finding the metro to take back to our hotel. The day of visiting Versailles and around Paris was another success!

Sunday morning brought cloudy weather with light rain. We dressed warm and went on a hunt for breakfast. Since it was Sunday, the bakeries were few and far between. Luckily, we found a place to eat croissants and coffee before the Lourve museum. The museum is huge and people were not exaggerating when they mentioned it's size. The museum had been the former royal palace in France before Versailles. As tourists our main goal was to see the Mona Lisa, which I even took a picture of!

We wandered around the massive museum for about two hours before taking a break. We got drinks and sat at a table just admiring the building itself, aside from all of the art work it contained. Lastly, before leaving Paris we walked along the Seine River (which is now my favorite) to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The buildings along the way reflect the French architecture with tan buildings, black railings, and black roofs. I loved the views from the Seine River the most! Marta and I were sad to board the train home for Regensburg. I could have easily spent several more days in Paris.