Im Almost home!! Yesterday we got to kinda sleep in (9 am-since the free breakfest stopped at 10!) and we took a train to Venice. The original plan was to go to Vencie at 4:30 and catch the over night train to Austria... but since we had no plans for yesterday we decided to go earlier and see Venice as well! I must say I am very glad that we did that! Venice was so pretty... It is the town that is like a bunch of little islands. Instead of cars, everyone has boats! We took the gondola (my sister and I call them the romantic boats!) ride... The man that was paddling us was named Mario and he gave us a lot of history of the town. It was fun. We walked around some more and it became more clear that Venice definately had VERY good retail therapy (Shopping!!). Too bad I dont have ANY money! We ate some dinner and had some gelato, and then my sister and I found the fake purse seller! Those are always fun. He started showing us his bags and my sister found one that she really liked. I saw some that I liked, but I couldnt see me using them. So he gave us a special price of 2 for 100 euros, and my mom handed him the money before I had made my final decision. Then I couldnt find a bag that I loved that I was willing to spend the money for, but we had already given him the money, so I had to take one, because he could have ran off with the money and only my sister would have had a bag. So i just took one, but I wasnt very happy about it.
Well then, we headed back to the train station, and my parents decided to walk some more, while my siblings and I sat down! Well my mom came back and said there were four purse sellers over there and I could go try and trade with them if I wanted to! So my sis and I walk down there and the first guy we come to is the guy I bought the bag from. I see him and immediately go up to him and try and get this other bag that I wanted, but he wouldnt trade... so I keep walking and I see this other guy and he has this AWESOME purple bag that I want... So I walk to him and ask if I can do the trade. He told me I would have to give him 20 more Euros. So I start walking away, because I have no money. He yells after me and says ok, ok 15 euros... but I dont have that much either! So I walk back to him, show him my wallet and that I only have 5 Euros in there. He tells me no... So I walk away. He yells again and quotes the 15 euro price and from about 50 feet away I yell back that I only have 5 euros!! So then he yells ok... come here. And he said that he would do it! Oh I was so happy that he decided to trade me bags and only for 5 euros! It was awesome and I love my new purse! It's so me! Haha!
Then we boarded the over night train. Now that was an experience. So we get into our night cabin and I feel like I am in the navy. There are two sets of bunks in there that are 3 high. and the walkway is about 1.5 feet wide and 4 feet long... basically NO ROOM!! haha! So we make our beds, and head off. I tried to sleep as much as possible, but the driver of the train was not very good at breaking softly so everytime we stopped I woke up. And there were a couple times where I thought the train was going to de-rail, so I was a little freaked out!! We arrived in Salzburg, Austria at 5 am and headed to the hotel for a little nap. I was so happy because when we got in I was able to call my best friend. She didnt even recognize my voice... it was funny, and I was so happy to talk to her, even though it was only for 5 mins! haha! But it was worth it. Woke up at 7:45 am had breakfest and then went on our Sound of Music Tour. For those of you that dont know, most of the sound of music was filmed in Austria and is about an Austrian family! It was pretty cool... a little cheezey at times, but still fun! Then we came back to the hotel room to relax and just chill out. So far, Austria has been really beautiful. My camera died so I wont have many pics of it, but it is really pretty!!
OMG... only 4 more days till I am home! I have loved my Europe experience, but I am so ready to be home! Tomorrow we are going to some Salt cave things and they have huge natural slides in them... then we head to Germany tomorrow night. Monday we are going to the BMW factory and Tuesday we are headed to Heidelberg, where my dad was born. Then we leave Wednesday morning and I am back in the states by 3 pm! Oh I cannot wait. Love and miss everyone back home. Not too much longer!! Peace
<><
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Under the Tuscan Sun!
What an incredible day today was! I has so much fun! Last night, or I should say early this morning, I woke up and watched Soul Central. AH, it was so good to hear a message and worship (in spirit) with my church family! I saw my friends through the cameras, so it was kinda like I was there! Haha! And Joe preached an awesome word! Now... I must say it is much better being there in person, but in times when I cant, I am so thankful for Streaming Faith! And Gigi, J-Crew, Angie, and Donnie did the best job EVER on Production ;) It was very good...
Alright, back to today! So we went on a Vespa Tour! It was so fun. For those of you that dont know, a Vespa is like a motorized scooter that you ride on. Everyone in Europe seems to drive them!! SO we went through Tuscany... driving our scooters, and just enjoying the scene! Then we stopped at a winery. Had a little wine tour and ate some lunch. Got to do a lil wine tasting, but I dont like wine that much, so didnt have too much of it! Then we headed back! Our tour guide was so cool. His name was Sam and he was doing all these crazy things on the scooter! And he had some pretty sweet magic tricks the he showed us at lunch! We also had one other woman with us named Bonnie. She was so sweet. She just moved to Italy from Canada. She was funny and it was so cool meeting her... felt like she was just part of our family, and it was her birthday today... so it was cool to celebrate that with her! Well... we are headed to dinner soon! Tomorrow is a day of relaxation... my dad told us we can sleep in and chill! So that will be nice. We take the overnight train to Austria tomorrow night, so I probably wont be back on until Saturday sometime! Only 5 more days till I go home! AHH Cant wait! Love and miss you all!!!
<><
Alright, back to today! So we went on a Vespa Tour! It was so fun. For those of you that dont know, a Vespa is like a motorized scooter that you ride on. Everyone in Europe seems to drive them!! SO we went through Tuscany... driving our scooters, and just enjoying the scene! Then we stopped at a winery. Had a little wine tour and ate some lunch. Got to do a lil wine tasting, but I dont like wine that much, so didnt have too much of it! Then we headed back! Our tour guide was so cool. His name was Sam and he was doing all these crazy things on the scooter! And he had some pretty sweet magic tricks the he showed us at lunch! We also had one other woman with us named Bonnie. She was so sweet. She just moved to Italy from Canada. She was funny and it was so cool meeting her... felt like she was just part of our family, and it was her birthday today... so it was cool to celebrate that with her! Well... we are headed to dinner soon! Tomorrow is a day of relaxation... my dad told us we can sleep in and chill! So that will be nice. We take the overnight train to Austria tomorrow night, so I probably wont be back on until Saturday sometime! Only 5 more days till I go home! AHH Cant wait! Love and miss you all!!!
<><
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ciao Roma!
Today was an interesting day! We woke up at the crack of dawn to get ready and head to the Vatican. Got there and they were holding mass, so the church was not going to be opening till 1 pm. So we headed to the Vatican museum and looked over there for awhile. It was pretty sweet to see the artwork and we saw the Sistine Chapel! That was cool! I got some photos and video footage in there, even though I was not supposed to! Haha! Then we headed back over towards the church and saw the Pope. He was talking, but it was in Italian, so I have no idea what he said. We sat there for about an hour and a half while he talked to people and they kissed his ring! Then we went into Saint Peter's Basillica. That thing was HUGE! I could not believe how big it was!
Then we got on a train and headed to Florence. We arrived at about 6 pm, and now I am just chilling in the hotel room. My parents and brother went to dinner, but me and my sister stayed back and are just relaxing. Tomorrow should be a fun day. We are doing a Vespa (Scooter) tour! So that will be really exciting. OH... and today I have been gone for a week, and I only have one week left! Woo Hoo! I think this last week is gonna fly by... although I know next wednesday is going to feel like forever! Having a good time, but cant wait to get home! Love and miss you all! <><
Then we got on a train and headed to Florence. We arrived at about 6 pm, and now I am just chilling in the hotel room. My parents and brother went to dinner, but me and my sister stayed back and are just relaxing. Tomorrow should be a fun day. We are doing a Vespa (Scooter) tour! So that will be really exciting. OH... and today I have been gone for a week, and I only have one week left! Woo Hoo! I think this last week is gonna fly by... although I know next wednesday is going to feel like forever! Having a good time, but cant wait to get home! Love and miss you all! <><
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
GLADIATOR!
Today was a busy day... but I seem to say that every day! haha! We woke up kinda early and ate breakfest at the hotel. It wasnt as good as the one in Greece, but they do have excellent tea! The we started on our trek to see all the things in Rome. We started at the Palentino, which is where all the Caesars' lived. It was pretty neat to see all the ruins and think that over 2000 years ago people were building these structures and walking around the streets. Crazy! Then we headed over to the Colosseum. That was a cool experience. You could see where they held all the slaves and animals before gladiator tournaments and where everyone would sit. Also crazy to think that thousands of years ago they were watching people fight to the death as a sport. On the outside of the Colosseum there were men dressed up like Gladiators trying to get people to take pics with them and give them money... kinda silly if you ask me! Then I saw some horses! Oh I was so excited... I walked up and seriously stood there for 5 mins and just pet the horse... it was awesome! haha!
The next part was probably the coolest. We walked to a church and beneath the church is an old prison were Paul and Peter were thrown for a couple years. It was crazy to be standing in the room where Paul and Peter were... all I can say is that it was an unbelievable experience and I got major goose bumps. Incredible. We then came back to the room and took a nap. Then we went to this really good restaurant where are waitor was from Mass. and his name was Neal! He said he got tired of living in the US and did some traveling and that is where he landed. It was pretty neat! Then we hit up the Spanish steps. Im still trying to figure out what the significance to them was. I mean I know that they lead to the Spanish Embassy, but why do they have special steps? haha!
Tomorrow we are going to the Vatican and then getting on a train to Florence. I dont know if I will have access to the internet there, but I will try to write soon! Love and miss you all back home! 1 WEEK!!! WOO HOO!!
The next part was probably the coolest. We walked to a church and beneath the church is an old prison were Paul and Peter were thrown for a couple years. It was crazy to be standing in the room where Paul and Peter were... all I can say is that it was an unbelievable experience and I got major goose bumps. Incredible. We then came back to the room and took a nap. Then we went to this really good restaurant where are waitor was from Mass. and his name was Neal! He said he got tired of living in the US and did some traveling and that is where he landed. It was pretty neat! Then we hit up the Spanish steps. Im still trying to figure out what the significance to them was. I mean I know that they lead to the Spanish Embassy, but why do they have special steps? haha!
Tomorrow we are going to the Vatican and then getting on a train to Florence. I dont know if I will have access to the internet there, but I will try to write soon! Love and miss you all back home! 1 WEEK!!! WOO HOO!!
Monday, June 22, 2009
When in Rome...
Wow... It's been one whole day since I have been able to get on this thing! Yesterday we left Santorini Island! My dad upgraded our tickets for the 7 hour boat ride and got us into the business class. That meant that we were able to sit on couches and have ac, instead of having to ride in the hot sun! Well... the ac was broken that day and didnt start working till right when we pulled into the port at Athens! Haha! So needless to say everyone was a bit grumpy! Santorini Island was nice though! They have black pebble beaches there... it kinda hurts when you are walking into and out of the water... I think that's why most of the people had on water shoes! haha! But I can offically say that I have swam in the Mediterrean!
Today we got up and took a plane to Rome. Short little flight from Greece to here. We are staying at this nice little bed and breakfest place that has free wi-fi! woo hoo! When we got into our room, I went to use the restroom and my sister slammed the door behind me. Well, this caused the lock to become jammed. I tried to exit... but it wouldnt open... and me, being the kind of person that I am... FREAKED OUT!!! I thought my fam was leaving and they wouldnt realize that I was locked in the bathroom! So I immediately start banging on the door and yelling. Well then I hear my sister laughing so I know they havent left. Well my dad tries for about 5 mins to open it... and nothing is working, so my sister calls the front desk. The bell boy is then in our room trying to unlock the door... after about another 5 mins... IM FREE!!! haha! Let's just say it was probably the most funny thing that has happened on our trip! I could not believe that I got locked in the flipping bathroom! hahaha! Well that was the exciting part... then we went out to dinner and now we are just chillin in the rooms! Cant believe only have 1 week and 2 days left! I like Europe... but I love home! Miss and love you all!
Peace <><
Today we got up and took a plane to Rome. Short little flight from Greece to here. We are staying at this nice little bed and breakfest place that has free wi-fi! woo hoo! When we got into our room, I went to use the restroom and my sister slammed the door behind me. Well, this caused the lock to become jammed. I tried to exit... but it wouldnt open... and me, being the kind of person that I am... FREAKED OUT!!! I thought my fam was leaving and they wouldnt realize that I was locked in the bathroom! So I immediately start banging on the door and yelling. Well then I hear my sister laughing so I know they havent left. Well my dad tries for about 5 mins to open it... and nothing is working, so my sister calls the front desk. The bell boy is then in our room trying to unlock the door... after about another 5 mins... IM FREE!!! haha! Let's just say it was probably the most funny thing that has happened on our trip! I could not believe that I got locked in the flipping bathroom! hahaha! Well that was the exciting part... then we went out to dinner and now we are just chillin in the rooms! Cant believe only have 1 week and 2 days left! I like Europe... but I love home! Miss and love you all!
Peace <><
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Rough...
WOW... what a day today has been! I dont want to seem like Im complaining, but Im just going to share some things that have been on my heart the past couple of days. First, I'll start off with what I did. I had to wake up at 5 am to go with the fam and get on a boat to come to Santorini Island. The water is so blue here and the ride was beautiful! The only problem was it was 7 hours!! So kinda long... haha! Well we got here and then took a half an hour bus ride to our hotel. Our hotel was not what we had originally planned on staying at, so of course my mom began to complain. So she and my dad went on a walk and I went and got on the net...
When I got on, I had a message from my best friend, and it made me so excited. As I read the message, I couldnt help but cry. She was telling about things that had been going on and just how she missed me... and it made me think... I know why things with my parents dont usually go so well... Because they complain and find the negative in the situations and Im not that kind of person, or at least I try not to be. I try and have fun with whatever I am doing and just be bubbly and positive. So I have realized that on this trip, my family's negativity is making me negative and the enemy is using that. I want to have fun on this trip... I mean it's two weeks away from work and I not having to worry about anything, but I am finding myself worrying more about other little things than ever before. So I have decided that from this point on, the enemy can bring me down NO LONGER on this trip. He has tried and tried... and I have let him get to me a couple times, but NO MORE! I mean he even used my parents and the whole Bible College thing. That was the worst one... I feel like they dont even think I am going to a school... but I know that this is my calling and I am not going to let that bring me down!
So now that I feel like I got that off... I just miss home! I miss being able to goof off and have fun and not worrying about my mom shsshing me! My sister and I joked and said that when it comes to vacation... fun is not allowed (or at least that's what it seems like). I know that this trip is going to be fun and I am so thankful that I am getting to experience this... but that's not to say that I am not ready to get back home!
So... I am on Santorini Island right now... that's the island where the movie the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was set on! It's really pretty here, but we are only here until tomorrow at 3:30 pm... literally on here for 24 hours! Very short trip. But the houses and what not are so pretty! It almost looks unreal sometimes! It's 7 pm here right now... and we are about to head out and do some shopping and eat some dinner. Im going to try and get some good pictures and all that while we are out and upload them tonight! Hopefully I will be able to get on tomorrow before we leave and blog on last time... then I wont be able to get on till we get to Italy on Monday! I'll make it haha! Well Love and Miss everyone back home! <><
When I got on, I had a message from my best friend, and it made me so excited. As I read the message, I couldnt help but cry. She was telling about things that had been going on and just how she missed me... and it made me think... I know why things with my parents dont usually go so well... Because they complain and find the negative in the situations and Im not that kind of person, or at least I try not to be. I try and have fun with whatever I am doing and just be bubbly and positive. So I have realized that on this trip, my family's negativity is making me negative and the enemy is using that. I want to have fun on this trip... I mean it's two weeks away from work and I not having to worry about anything, but I am finding myself worrying more about other little things than ever before. So I have decided that from this point on, the enemy can bring me down NO LONGER on this trip. He has tried and tried... and I have let him get to me a couple times, but NO MORE! I mean he even used my parents and the whole Bible College thing. That was the worst one... I feel like they dont even think I am going to a school... but I know that this is my calling and I am not going to let that bring me down!
So now that I feel like I got that off... I just miss home! I miss being able to goof off and have fun and not worrying about my mom shsshing me! My sister and I joked and said that when it comes to vacation... fun is not allowed (or at least that's what it seems like). I know that this trip is going to be fun and I am so thankful that I am getting to experience this... but that's not to say that I am not ready to get back home!
So... I am on Santorini Island right now... that's the island where the movie the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was set on! It's really pretty here, but we are only here until tomorrow at 3:30 pm... literally on here for 24 hours! Very short trip. But the houses and what not are so pretty! It almost looks unreal sometimes! It's 7 pm here right now... and we are about to head out and do some shopping and eat some dinner. Im going to try and get some good pictures and all that while we are out and upload them tonight! Hopefully I will be able to get on tomorrow before we leave and blog on last time... then I wont be able to get on till we get to Italy on Monday! I'll make it haha! Well Love and Miss everyone back home! <><
Friday, June 19, 2009
Akropolis!!!
Ahh... Greece has been amazing so far! This morning was a little rough. I woke up at 5:30 am to my sister typing on the computer... and then I could not fall back asleep! So I woke up and just played around on the computer. Talked to a few people from home...sent some people messages and what not! The usual! haha! Then I got ready to go to Akropolis!
We ate breakfeast at the hotel and I gotta say it is probably one of the best breakfeasts I have ever had! Then we started the hike to Akropolis. It was about 30 mins away from our hotel and we made a pit stop at one of the first Olympic Stadiums. It was cool to see all the marble that they used, and though it was hot outside, the marble was very cool. Then we continued on to Akropolis. When we got there I had to pee really bad, and when we went into the "water closet" it was .50 euros to use! I thought that was crazy to have to pay to use the restroom!
The Akropolis was very sweet! It was a long hike up, but the history behind it and actually seeing all the ruins was amazing! The part that amazed me the most is that Paul stood on one of the hills and preached to the church. It was so neat to see the history. And the marble on top is so pretty. I would love to take is all home with me!
After that we ate lunch at this really good restaurant, I cant say the name! haha! But I had a chicken gyro and it was probably the most amazing thing I have eaten! We walked back to the hotel and I am just chilling in the room right now. Im pretty tired... I may try and catch a nap! Had a long day! Tomorrow we are waking up at 5 am to catch a boat to Santorini Island. I will be there until Sunday, and I dont know if I have free WiFi! I know that Italy does, so I may not be back on here till then. But till then, PEACE OUT!!
We ate breakfeast at the hotel and I gotta say it is probably one of the best breakfeasts I have ever had! Then we started the hike to Akropolis. It was about 30 mins away from our hotel and we made a pit stop at one of the first Olympic Stadiums. It was cool to see all the marble that they used, and though it was hot outside, the marble was very cool. Then we continued on to Akropolis. When we got there I had to pee really bad, and when we went into the "water closet" it was .50 euros to use! I thought that was crazy to have to pay to use the restroom!
The Akropolis was very sweet! It was a long hike up, but the history behind it and actually seeing all the ruins was amazing! The part that amazed me the most is that Paul stood on one of the hills and preached to the church. It was so neat to see the history. And the marble on top is so pretty. I would love to take is all home with me!
After that we ate lunch at this really good restaurant, I cant say the name! haha! But I had a chicken gyro and it was probably the most amazing thing I have eaten! We walked back to the hotel and I am just chilling in the room right now. Im pretty tired... I may try and catch a nap! Had a long day! Tomorrow we are waking up at 5 am to catch a boat to Santorini Island. I will be there until Sunday, and I dont know if I have free WiFi! I know that Italy does, so I may not be back on here till then. But till then, PEACE OUT!!
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