Praha, Paris, and home

Ok, so I'm actually at home writing this, as many of you may know and probably stopped reading.  Prague (Praha) was great!!! It really has a different feel to it than any other city we visited in Europe.  It's medieval architecture was something to be marveled! It had the high walled cities and the big gothic cathedrals with wonderful stained glass work!

We tried to have at least one traditional meal everywhere we went.  Danielle and I ate at a cute little place not too far from Prague castle.  I had roasted duck and she had chicken.  They both came on cabbage with dumplings.  Very good! We both also got a Pilsner to go with it.

Our hostel was amazing!!! It had a very modern bar and decorations along with very nice rooms and bathrooms.  It was close to a very very yummy pastery and sandwhich shop!

I flew from Prague to Paris and had a long layover in the airport there so I went and explored Paris alone.  It was awesome! A little on the dirty side, but you can't really complain about sitting in the Centre Pompideau and eating a Nutella crepe!  I saw the Louvre, Eiffle Tower, Centre Pompideu, Les Infediels, and Arc De Triumph.  I was sad, because the Tour de France had just ended two days before I got there!!!! They were still taking down  chairs!! Maybe next tour I'll see.

Sleeping in the airports was less than exciting, but well worth it.  Now I'm home and bored out of my mind. Here are a few things that I will miss most:

Not tipping

Being able to buy liquor anywhere

Efficient public transportation

Yummy food

Danielle and Megan

Meeting new people from around the world

Free book exchanges

Pasteries for breakfast

Delicious coffee

cafes

Taking my time

Besos (if that's how you spell it)

Things I like most about being home:

free public restrooms

cheap food

free water

family/friends

driving my car (which I haven't done yet)

free internet

using my phone

would I do it all again? you betcha!! working on planning my next trip! who wants to come w/?

Czech Czech Czech it out

I will write more about Praha later...I only have 4 min left in the airport internet station! Praha was GREAT...if you go, and you are young stay at St.Christopher's Mosaic! We saw Prague Castle, Petrin Hill, Vsygard, Old Town Square, The Dancing House, and lots of other things I will write more later.  I went around Paris by myself today, it was nice.  I had to sleep on the floor of the airport last night in Paris, and it's the floor again tonight but in Coppenhagen.  Be home tomorrow around 12 your time!

Berliner

Sooooo...I keep ending up doing these posts the days I am getting ready to leave these places.  Today is our last day in Berlin :( The day we got here, we went and saw all the touristy stuff like Alexander platz, TV tower, Dom, Reichstag, The Wall, Holocost Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, Burning Book square, and such.  Its kind of weird because they bomed most things Natzi, so much is destoryed.  And much of the buildings here still have blackened soot on them, that stand as a reminder of WWII.  Its surprising to me to see after how many times Germany has been in trouble, and how much money they have had to pay other countries, that now they are one of the most prosperous countries in the EU.  Yesterday, we went to a concentration camp right outside of Berlin. It was quite an experience getting there, we had to change metros 4 times for the same line!!! The concentration camp we went to was one that had sections set up to look very santiary and nice for when other countries came to visit the camps during there use, so they would get a completely different view of the camp, but they were never allowed in the other section of the camp. That is where they housed Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals, Soviets, Work shy, disableded people, ect.  It was very sad being there and I felt only appropriate that it was cloudy and cold out.  A good reminder to be weary of very captivating leaders.  Today we are going to the markets and then board the train to Prague, my last(ish) stop of the trip. 

Güten Tag!

Athens and Santorini thus far.

Ok...overall impression...Greece is far superior to Italy!! Sorry to those fans of Italy, however, Greece is cheaper, less crowded and the people are MUCH nicer!  I was so surprised to find out how out of the way people will go to help you out in Greece.  Not only did we find a place where you could get a Gyro for 1,80 they also would give us free water, wrap it up, give us napkins, put it in a bag all with a smile on their faces!  The historical landmarks in Athens were also much less crowded and a lot more scenic.  We visited The Parthanon (of course), Hadrians Wall, ancient Agora, Plaka, some market, Cape Sounio (Temple of Posideon), and the beach!  Favorite places there were Temple of Sounio where we had our own private beach and the Beach!  I think my favorite food would be everthing! Mousaka, Gyros, Souvlaki, Greek Salad, Baklava, ect.

Funny beach story.  The day Danielle and I were going to leave on the ferry for Santorini we went to the beach first.  There was this group of Greek guys who asked if they could talk to us and we said no we were reading.  Then one proceeds to throw rocks at me in order to get my attention.  Frustrated I go into the ocean to swim.  Then this guy come into the ocean and swims over to me, I swim away.  He swims to me, so I finally gave up.  He ended up being very nice, but didn't believe I was leaving that day.  Just a tribute to the relentless Greek men!

We finally took the ferry to Santorini, when they say deck seat, they really mean it.  We sat outside on the deck for 5 hours.  I was getting a little sea sick, but luckily we made some friends with girls from Texas and one had Dremamin! We got to this huge rock at like midnight and were picked up by the person who owned our hostel in the mini bus.  It is a cute little old Greek couple who owns the hostel and they are so sweet.  There sun lives next door and has an internet cafe/ATV, scooter rental place! We have rented 2 ATVs and have been riding them around the MAGNIFICENT island!!! This is hands down the most beautiful place I have ever seen.  You have GOT to come to Santorini!  We got a cheese platter and wine sampler for 12,00 and watched the sun set.  Many many pictures to come (when i get back!) They have red, black, and white sand beaches here.  They have an active volcano close and I think that's the reason for the sand! Tommorrow I think brings more ATVs and beach going.

Google image Santorini and start making your plans to visit....NOW!

Roma

Sorry, it's been a while.  My debit card got frauded and I have spent most of my internet time dealing with that.

Ok, So I am currently now in Athens, Greece, but I didn't write about Rome sooo...here is a recap from ROMA.

We stayed at a really cool camping sight.  Plus Camping Roma (I highly recommend it if you are young and ever are interested in going to Rome or you like camping)  We had our own private airconditioned cabin w/ our own bathroom.  Our place had two pools, a bar, super market, and resturant.

We got to visit the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, the Colloseum (I can't spell anything any more), Trevi Fountain, Spainish Stairs, Vantican City (Sistine Chapel, Vatican Musuems), and St.Peter's Bascilica.  I found it all very cool, but super super super touristy.  Loads of people! Word to the wise though...if you go to Palatine Hill first, you can buy a pass for Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, and the Collosum for 12 euros and skip the que (line) at the Colloseum which is forever long!!! Out of all the things we saw I was most impressed w/ St.Peter's Bascillica and The Collosuem.  I was a little underwhelmed by the Vantican.  I think it's important to see the Sistine chapel, but it's very small, and you feel very much like cattle being herded out of the room.  I was much more impressed with St.Peter's, which is FREE entrance and not as crowded. There is even a taxidermied Pope! And there is the tomb of St.Peter...which I need to figure out the time line and history of that.

One of my favorite nights was going to watch the World Cup final at the Fifa Fan Fest Roma in some HUGE park in Rome at the top of the Spanish stairs.  It was like a huge rock concert!  Too bad there was a lot of smoke and I am now sick! And it was very very very HOT! It's been pretty hot over here, if I come back again...I'm thinking fall.

Rome is one of those cities where you walk around and you feel like every other thing could be some sort of historical landmark. Lots to see and do.  Our first night in Athens (last night) we spent watching whatever random tv shows they have on in our hotel room (yes HOTEL not HOSTEL, we've moved up in the world).  So far they have had Desperate House Wives, Chuck, the Nany, and some show called Gotta Dance (kind of so you think you can dance and the guy off of Coyote Ugly is a judge!).  I will write about Athens later, and will try to put up pictures.  I might have left my camera cord in Venice :(.

Ciao for now!

Florence

Ahhh..ok dont have much time on my internet card!! Florence has been great! We are leaving for Roma in a few hours! The mosquitos are better here! Our hostel is AMAZING! They have turkish bath, indoor pool, sauna, and a roof top terrace bar with an amazing view of the city! We went to the Duomo and went inside, it was beautiful! We also went to the Santa Croce church, which houses the tombs of famous Italians such as Machiavelli, Gallelao, Michaelangelo, and Donatello.  It was very very cool! Lots of pictures.  We went to the Italian leather mart!!!!! I bought a smaller purple leather bag, I had to hold back I wanted so much more, but I know Rome will be expensive.  There is a public service worker strike today so all of the musuems, trains, and such are closed today...Thank goodness our train is NOT cancelled but the smaller trips are. These Europeans and their strikes!! Ok, I will write soon, and hopefully post pictures! Chao!

Venice

Sorry I havent had internet for a few days.  We arrived in Venice on Monday and have been staying at a campsite here.  Its kind of far out, but its really cool.  We had our own little trailor thing.

When we first got to Italy we took the train from Milan to Venice, and then needed to get on the public bus to our hostel.  Apparently in Italy you have to pay for the bus at the bus station before you get on....so we rode for free...whoops.  I guess it happens all the time though, and no one really seemed to care.  We finally got to our hostel, and I jumped in the sweet pool they have here!  We them took our hostels shuttle bus back to Venice and explored.  We tried to go to San Marcos square by following the signs...this didnt work out so well!  We did get to see lots of cool stuff though! The next day we got a map and finally made it there!  The line for the basillica tour was sooooo long, so we didnt do that, I took the tour of Doges Palace, way worth the 7.50£ I payed!!  We didnt take a gondala, because it was sooo expensive! We took the water metro instead. The mosquitos here are nuts!!! Ive got many bites, but besides that I had a great time here.  The gilatto is out of this world and you can get yummy sandwhiches and pizza for realitively cheap.  Today we are going back to Venice for a few hours then on the bus to Florence.  Here are a few pics from Venice.