So, it's been a long few days since I last posted! Picking up where I left off...
On Friday, July 14 Mom and I decided to spend our last day at the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. Other than the Pantheon, these are some of the most ancient bits of the Roman Empire, and some of my favorites. I think Mom enjoyed them too! After a super-hot day in the sun we cleaned up and went out for our last meal in Italy... pasta, of course!! Then we took the evening to pack up so we could get an early start to the airport. Moms flew out early, so we said our goodbyes at 7am (Italy time) and she spent the next 20-hours or so traveling home to Wisconsin (and made it safe!).
I flew out a bit later and arrived to Dublin in the early afternoon. The very first thing that I noticed was how cooooooold it was there! Dublin was 30-degrees colder than Rome! The second thing I noticed was that understanding Irish-English was not as easy as expected (although it gets better fast)! Anyway, I caught the bus (where a random local confessed that he hated Guinness and preferred Miller), found my hotel, and climbed under the down comforter to keep from freezing to death (actually, it was just for a nap!). After waking up I decided to wander around and found the city to be beautiful, the locals to be very friendly, everything to be very pedestrian friendly. I had a sandwich in O'Neills, one of the oldest pubs in the city (300+ years) then went home to bed.
The next day, Sunday, I caught a city bus tour and spent a lazy day hopping off at a few places. I saw St. Stevens Green (an awesome park in the middle of the city), several very cool churches, the shopping district (including a store called "knobs and knockers" and several "TK Maxx'"), Trinity College, and Temple Bar (the bar/restaurant area of the city. After a lot of walking, I went out for a late dinner at a pub and had amazing steak and Guinness pie, then I slept like a baby!
Monday I took a tour of Kilmainham Gaol (jail). It is a pretty important part of Irish history and was very interesting. Did a little more wandering around, had more steak and Guinness pie (YUUM) and a Guinness (eeeeeeew) for dinner, then packed up to head out of town the next morning.
On Tuesday I left Dublin and caught the train up to Coleraine, on the NE coast of Northern Ireland. I was met at the station by one of my very best friends from high school whom I haven't seen in about 14-years!! Marianne and her daughters were staying in Coleraine for a few days so I joined them. Tuesday night we walked along the Giants Causeway which is an incredible natural wonder! Once the girls went to bed we had some wine and caught up on life.
On Wednesday we drove down to Belfast. We took a cool bus tour where I learner that I really need to brush up on Irish history! Did you know that Belfast still has and uses "peace walls" to keep the protistant and catholics separated?!! After dinner Marianne took me out to a few Irish bars which were very fun and exactly what I envisioned!
Yesterday, Thursday, we went to the Titanic museum. The Titanic was built in Belfast. I was amused that they said that the ship was in perfect condition when they gave it to the English captain, so the sinking wasn't their fault! In the afternoon we hopped on a ferry and headed to Scotland. It was a few hours drive to Edinburgh, where Marianne and her family live, so I got to see some of the beautiful Scottish country. It has been a very rainy summer here for them, but hopefully the weather clears up for the next few days so we can enjoy our time together!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
***Jenni and MOM take Rome!
From Jenni and her mom, Cindy:
(Sorry for the change of format, but we are on a Kindle now)
On Sunday, July 8, Jenni's mom, Cindy, came to join Jenni and Amy and embark on her own short Italian adventure! After a well-deserved nap and shower, all three of us went out for a fancy dinner at a wine bar (...called "Wine Bar"). It was a dinner to jointly celebrate the end of an exciting summer for Amy (who was scheduled to leave soon) and the arrival of Cindy. After dinner we walked up the Spanish Steps and enjoyed a beautiful stroll home along a path that has gorgeous views of the city.
On Monday we jumped an early train to the city of Pisa. After finding the correct bus to the famous basilica and campanile (aka, the leaning tower) we had some lunch and entered the grounds of the church. Although the tower is at the far end of the grounds behind a large baptistery building and the beautiful basilica, it is the very first thing you notice because it looks as though it is about to go over at any moment! After some tourist photos (of course, we HAD to take them!) we toured the basilica and found that it appears that many pieces of it (inside and out) had been "borrowed" (maybe without permission) from other churches... None of the columns matched, the stained glass windows had no real theme, some of the stones even had parts of words carved on them from their original site! The baptistery (we guess that's where they baptise people) looked like a pretty normal (by Italian church standards) churchy place, until they gave an echo demonstration. One guy came in and started singing various notes. His voice perfectly echoed within the round, domed room until he sounded like a whole choir! It was as beautiful as it was amazing!
Bright and early on Tuesday morning Amy had to leave for the US. Jenni helped her get to the train station where she started the rest of her looooong journey home. (She made it safe and hopefully posts an update soon!)
Tuesday Jenni and Cindy spent the day at the Vatican. After a walk through the Vatican Museums we saw the amazing Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica. Cindy was impressed by the grandeur of it all: the size of the basilica, the amount of gold leaf, the number of art pieces, etc. We took a quick (and HOT) ride home and then got ready for a night at the opera. We saw a nice performance of famous Italian pieces then enjoyed a delicious gelato on the way home while watching the crowd from on the Spanish Steps.
On Wednesday, Jenni wanted to walk Cindy around some of the nearby sites. First stop, the Trevi Fountain. Cindy was impressed by the beauty and size of the fountain and both took a moment to throw in a coin to ensure their safe return to Rome in the future. The second stop was the Pantheon. Cindy said it was "awesome" and thought it was an architectural wonder. The third stop was Piazza Navona. After people watching for awhile we headed home for the night. It was a long day of walking!
Today, Thursday, we decided to catch a hop-on-hop-off tour of the city. We drove by the Roman Forum and the Colosseum (which got us excited for our tour tomorrow!) then "hopped off" near the Mouth of Truth. The legend is that the jaws of the mouth will snap shut and bite off the hand of a liar. We have both survived having our hand in the mouth... whew! Next we stopped by the capitoline area to check out a great view of the forum and to see a super old church before jumping back on our bus. On the way home we enjoyed a sunset over the Vatican.
Tomorrow we get to see another amazing part of Roman history, but other than that, the sad time has come to start preparing to leave Rome... doing laundry, washing dishes, eating all the left over food... It is sad (but still exciting and fun) time for Jenni. Next stop for Cindy, America. Next stops for Jenni, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
(Sorry for the change of format, but we are on a Kindle now)
On Sunday, July 8, Jenni's mom, Cindy, came to join Jenni and Amy and embark on her own short Italian adventure! After a well-deserved nap and shower, all three of us went out for a fancy dinner at a wine bar (...called "Wine Bar"). It was a dinner to jointly celebrate the end of an exciting summer for Amy (who was scheduled to leave soon) and the arrival of Cindy. After dinner we walked up the Spanish Steps and enjoyed a beautiful stroll home along a path that has gorgeous views of the city.
On Monday we jumped an early train to the city of Pisa. After finding the correct bus to the famous basilica and campanile (aka, the leaning tower) we had some lunch and entered the grounds of the church. Although the tower is at the far end of the grounds behind a large baptistery building and the beautiful basilica, it is the very first thing you notice because it looks as though it is about to go over at any moment! After some tourist photos (of course, we HAD to take them!) we toured the basilica and found that it appears that many pieces of it (inside and out) had been "borrowed" (maybe without permission) from other churches... None of the columns matched, the stained glass windows had no real theme, some of the stones even had parts of words carved on them from their original site! The baptistery (we guess that's where they baptise people) looked like a pretty normal (by Italian church standards) churchy place, until they gave an echo demonstration. One guy came in and started singing various notes. His voice perfectly echoed within the round, domed room until he sounded like a whole choir! It was as beautiful as it was amazing!
Bright and early on Tuesday morning Amy had to leave for the US. Jenni helped her get to the train station where she started the rest of her looooong journey home. (She made it safe and hopefully posts an update soon!)
Tuesday Jenni and Cindy spent the day at the Vatican. After a walk through the Vatican Museums we saw the amazing Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica. Cindy was impressed by the grandeur of it all: the size of the basilica, the amount of gold leaf, the number of art pieces, etc. We took a quick (and HOT) ride home and then got ready for a night at the opera. We saw a nice performance of famous Italian pieces then enjoyed a delicious gelato on the way home while watching the crowd from on the Spanish Steps.
On Wednesday, Jenni wanted to walk Cindy around some of the nearby sites. First stop, the Trevi Fountain. Cindy was impressed by the beauty and size of the fountain and both took a moment to throw in a coin to ensure their safe return to Rome in the future. The second stop was the Pantheon. Cindy said it was "awesome" and thought it was an architectural wonder. The third stop was Piazza Navona. After people watching for awhile we headed home for the night. It was a long day of walking!
Today, Thursday, we decided to catch a hop-on-hop-off tour of the city. We drove by the Roman Forum and the Colosseum (which got us excited for our tour tomorrow!) then "hopped off" near the Mouth of Truth. The legend is that the jaws of the mouth will snap shut and bite off the hand of a liar. We have both survived having our hand in the mouth... whew! Next we stopped by the capitoline area to check out a great view of the forum and to see a super old church before jumping back on our bus. On the way home we enjoyed a sunset over the Vatican.
Tomorrow we get to see another amazing part of Roman history, but other than that, the sad time has come to start preparing to leave Rome... doing laundry, washing dishes, eating all the left over food... It is sad (but still exciting and fun) time for Jenni. Next stop for Cindy, America. Next stops for Jenni, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ahhh, Venice...
We got back from Venice yesterday (our last mini trip of our summer). There isn't a ton to do in Venice, but plenty to see and more than enough to buy!
Monday afternoon after checking in to our room (we actually stayed in Venice Mestres, the closest city on the mainland) we rode the train into the city. Most people know that Venice is built on islands and that people use boats to get to and from places on small canals but what you think you know does not compare to what you actually see. Once off the train at the station the only form of transportation is boat or your own two feet.
We walked around city until arriving in St. Mark's Square where there is a beautiful church (St. Mark's basilica), a tall campanile, and plenty of little shops. Near the Grand Canal is the famous Bridge of Sighs. On one side of the bridge is the court house and on the other is the prison. The bridge connecting the two buildings is where it is said that the prisoners took a sigh wishing for their freedom, before being locked up.
The following day we returned to St. Mark's Square to go to the top of the campanile. From there, Venice looked like one large city but if you looked close enough you could find a few main canals. When looking around from the top it is possible to see the Adriatic Sea surround the entire cluster of islands.
Afterwords we took an authentic gondola ride which is designed to show you the lesser touristic areas of the city. (And yes, our gondolier was dressed in dark pants with a blue and white stripped shirt!) Our time ended with a nice dinner after stopping in many of the shops!
On the 4th of July we rode the train back to Rome while sporting our red, white, and blue! It was hard for both of us to be away from family and friends during the holiday weekend but found plenty of other proud Americans here in Rome wearing their patriotism on their sleeves (literally... And their shorts too!)
Now we are spending the next few days revisiting a few favorite places again and a few more on the "still to see" list before our time in Rome comes to an end. We are filling our days (and out bellies) with plenty of pasta and even more gelato before we need to leave this beautiful city.
Pictures:
1) Us on our gondola ride
2) the Bridge of Sighs
3) Grand Canal
4) Entering the Grand Canal on our gondola ride
5) St. Mark's basilica
6) parked gondolas
7) Happy Birthday America!
Monday afternoon after checking in to our room (we actually stayed in Venice Mestres, the closest city on the mainland) we rode the train into the city. Most people know that Venice is built on islands and that people use boats to get to and from places on small canals but what you think you know does not compare to what you actually see. Once off the train at the station the only form of transportation is boat or your own two feet.
We walked around city until arriving in St. Mark's Square where there is a beautiful church (St. Mark's basilica), a tall campanile, and plenty of little shops. Near the Grand Canal is the famous Bridge of Sighs. On one side of the bridge is the court house and on the other is the prison. The bridge connecting the two buildings is where it is said that the prisoners took a sigh wishing for their freedom, before being locked up.
The following day we returned to St. Mark's Square to go to the top of the campanile. From there, Venice looked like one large city but if you looked close enough you could find a few main canals. When looking around from the top it is possible to see the Adriatic Sea surround the entire cluster of islands.
Afterwords we took an authentic gondola ride which is designed to show you the lesser touristic areas of the city. (And yes, our gondolier was dressed in dark pants with a blue and white stripped shirt!) Our time ended with a nice dinner after stopping in many of the shops!
On the 4th of July we rode the train back to Rome while sporting our red, white, and blue! It was hard for both of us to be away from family and friends during the holiday weekend but found plenty of other proud Americans here in Rome wearing their patriotism on their sleeves (literally... And their shorts too!)
Now we are spending the next few days revisiting a few favorite places again and a few more on the "still to see" list before our time in Rome comes to an end. We are filling our days (and out bellies) with plenty of pasta and even more gelato before we need to leave this beautiful city.
Pictures:
1) Us on our gondola ride
2) the Bridge of Sighs
3) Grand Canal
4) Entering the Grand Canal on our gondola ride
5) St. Mark's basilica
6) parked gondolas
7) Happy Birthday America!
Friday, June 29, 2012
It's all Greek to me (us)!
Well, we are home from Greece (as of yesterday). We left Sunday and flew to Santorini Island. (Interesting history on the name... When the Roman Empire ruled Greece, they called the island the "Holy Irene"... Saint Irene... Santa Irini... Santorini!)
Anyway, after all our running around Rome, Croatia, and Paris, the island was a wonderful change of pace. It was dustier and a bit less picturesque than we expected, but it had a definite island feel! We had a Greek lunch then spent the afternoon on a beautiful black sand beach! (The whole Santorini Island grouping was formed by volcano and the sand is from the volcanic rock.) After swimming in the Mediterranean and roasting in the sun all day we had a chill dinner overlooking the beach, roamed around shopping, and went to bed early. (Oh, we forgot to mention that our trip had started at 3am when we got up to head to the airport, so sleep was necessary!)
The next morning (Monday) we joined an awesome tour group to see all of the Santorini Islands. (And thanks to the economic downfall of Greece we paid only €20 for a full day tour!) First stop after a short boat ride was a hike to the top of the still active Santorini Volcano. Thanks to everything being black rock and vegetation-less, it was a hooooot hike! But don't worry, the second stop was a dive into the Mediterranean to swim in the hot springs (which were not actually hot, but quite refreshing). The third stop was to Thiresa, a small farming and fishing island where we had more crystal water to swim in and more cloudless sun to enjoy. After dinner on the boat we landed in Oia (pronounced Eee-aah), the city that you usually see when you see pictures of Santorini. It is well-known for its amazing sunsets and its blue roofed churches. To get from the boat landing to the city, there were 220 steps; Amy was really excited to ride a donkey up, and Jenni was really excited to avoid the smelly donkeys and walk up! (Jenni noted that Amy smelled like ass... HA HA!) At the top, we were not disappointed by the city, shopping, milkshakes, or sunset. After a short bus ride back we called it a night!
On Tuesday, we checked out of our room and went to the beach again. We decided that Santorini was the place for an adventure! We took to new heights and went parasailing!! The view (and the wonderful breeze) were fantastic!! It was amazingly quiet up there! After drying out we had lunch and lounged around by the pool until it was time to head to the airport. Overall, Santorini was wonderful; the people were welcoming and generous (we got several free desserts and a free ride to the airport), the atmosphere was so relaxed, and the island was gorgeous. No internet access also helped us really get away from things for a few days. Plus, we had a 24-hour bakery down the street which we might have visited about 5 delicious times!
After Santorini we went to Athens... which, sad to say, was actually much less interesting than expected. Tuesday night we got to our hostel, checked in, and went to bed. On Wednesday we had a tour of the Acropolis scheduled. We saw some old stuff (like the Parthenon) then went to a museum to see more old stuff... Truth be told, it might have been cooler if we weren't surrounded by even better history in Rome every day. In Rome, we get to be a part of, and walk within, history all the time; in Athens, we got to see history. In Rome, history is every where you look, but in Athens some history has been moved to a museum rather than leaving at its original site. We were underwhelmed.
We spent the afternoon shopping in the Plaka, the center of the city and an area with tons of shops and restaurants. It is called the "neighborhood of the Gods" because it is in the shadow of the Acropolis (the area which houses both the Parthenon as well as many other ancient temples).
Thursday we got up and literally had nothing more to see. After channeling our inner-Greeks (thank you, Uncle Lee! - see below), we watched the birds in the park until it was time to go to the airport.
After a few days to rest up and get our lives in order, we head out to Venice on Monday!!
Also, the Euro Cup 2012 finals will be Sunday night, Spain versus ITALY! The semi-finals were last night and it was a huge party! It should be a zoo here on Sunday!! Go Italy! (And if you aren't into sports, it's like the soccer version of the Super Bowl, but with all of Europe!)
Pictures:
1) swimming at the Santorini hot springs
2) our awesome tour boat!!
3) Amy riding a smelly ass (hehe)
4) us at a volcano
5) beautiful sunset over Santorini
6) parasailing!
7) "channeling our inner Greek" with a toga party
8) more parasailing
9) at the Parthenon in the Acropolis
10) beautiful views over Oia, Santorini
Anyway, after all our running around Rome, Croatia, and Paris, the island was a wonderful change of pace. It was dustier and a bit less picturesque than we expected, but it had a definite island feel! We had a Greek lunch then spent the afternoon on a beautiful black sand beach! (The whole Santorini Island grouping was formed by volcano and the sand is from the volcanic rock.) After swimming in the Mediterranean and roasting in the sun all day we had a chill dinner overlooking the beach, roamed around shopping, and went to bed early. (Oh, we forgot to mention that our trip had started at 3am when we got up to head to the airport, so sleep was necessary!)
The next morning (Monday) we joined an awesome tour group to see all of the Santorini Islands. (And thanks to the economic downfall of Greece we paid only €20 for a full day tour!) First stop after a short boat ride was a hike to the top of the still active Santorini Volcano. Thanks to everything being black rock and vegetation-less, it was a hooooot hike! But don't worry, the second stop was a dive into the Mediterranean to swim in the hot springs (which were not actually hot, but quite refreshing). The third stop was to Thiresa, a small farming and fishing island where we had more crystal water to swim in and more cloudless sun to enjoy. After dinner on the boat we landed in Oia (pronounced Eee-aah), the city that you usually see when you see pictures of Santorini. It is well-known for its amazing sunsets and its blue roofed churches. To get from the boat landing to the city, there were 220 steps; Amy was really excited to ride a donkey up, and Jenni was really excited to avoid the smelly donkeys and walk up! (Jenni noted that Amy smelled like ass... HA HA!) At the top, we were not disappointed by the city, shopping, milkshakes, or sunset. After a short bus ride back we called it a night!
On Tuesday, we checked out of our room and went to the beach again. We decided that Santorini was the place for an adventure! We took to new heights and went parasailing!! The view (and the wonderful breeze) were fantastic!! It was amazingly quiet up there! After drying out we had lunch and lounged around by the pool until it was time to head to the airport. Overall, Santorini was wonderful; the people were welcoming and generous (we got several free desserts and a free ride to the airport), the atmosphere was so relaxed, and the island was gorgeous. No internet access also helped us really get away from things for a few days. Plus, we had a 24-hour bakery down the street which we might have visited about 5 delicious times!
After Santorini we went to Athens... which, sad to say, was actually much less interesting than expected. Tuesday night we got to our hostel, checked in, and went to bed. On Wednesday we had a tour of the Acropolis scheduled. We saw some old stuff (like the Parthenon) then went to a museum to see more old stuff... Truth be told, it might have been cooler if we weren't surrounded by even better history in Rome every day. In Rome, we get to be a part of, and walk within, history all the time; in Athens, we got to see history. In Rome, history is every where you look, but in Athens some history has been moved to a museum rather than leaving at its original site. We were underwhelmed.
We spent the afternoon shopping in the Plaka, the center of the city and an area with tons of shops and restaurants. It is called the "neighborhood of the Gods" because it is in the shadow of the Acropolis (the area which houses both the Parthenon as well as many other ancient temples).
Thursday we got up and literally had nothing more to see. After channeling our inner-Greeks (thank you, Uncle Lee! - see below), we watched the birds in the park until it was time to go to the airport.
After a few days to rest up and get our lives in order, we head out to Venice on Monday!!
Also, the Euro Cup 2012 finals will be Sunday night, Spain versus ITALY! The semi-finals were last night and it was a huge party! It should be a zoo here on Sunday!! Go Italy! (And if you aren't into sports, it's like the soccer version of the Super Bowl, but with all of Europe!)
Pictures:
1) swimming at the Santorini hot springs
2) our awesome tour boat!!
3) Amy riding a smelly ass (hehe)
4) us at a volcano
5) beautiful sunset over Santorini
6) parasailing!
7) "channeling our inner Greek" with a toga party
8) more parasailing
9) at the Parthenon in the Acropolis
10) beautiful views over Oia, Santorini
Friday, June 22, 2012
Paris... Both Predictable and Unredictable
When people first think of Paris, most people think of the Eiffel Tower. Don't worry we saw that (Amy wouldn't let that one slip by) but Moulin Rouge was the first big sight we saw!
Amy's friend from high school (Charlotte King) gave us a guided tour of some of the lesser known sights in Paris for our first big day! We now can say we drank tea at the Paris mosque, saw a Red Panda at the Paris Zoo, and ate pasties by the river.
Now for the more predictable items... The usual, more touristy spots. On the way to the Eiffel Tower we walked through the Louvre to see the neat buildings, beautiful gardens, fountains, and of course the pyramid!
Along the way to the Eiffel Tower, Amy must have taken about 20+ pictures before even getting there. (Jenni thinks this is an inaccurate statement as Amy took a picture of the Eiffel Tower ANY time it was in sight ALL DAY LONG!)
After 674 steps to the second level (the highest the general public can go by stairs) we then jumped on an elevator to the top and could see for 37 miles. Amy was excited to have made it to the top but after enjoying the view of the rest of the city, realized she prefers to see the Eiffel Tower than to see the city from the Tower. (And yes, we climbed back down- 647 steps!)
Since the planing stages our trip Jenni always spoke of a surprise in Paris for Amy, which she managed to keep a secret until in the Eiffel tower- the Tower twinkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour after sunset! The view from across the river was spectacular! It twinkled with a million little lights- much like camera flashes but much more grand! We finished this memorable evening with our first Nutella and Banana Crepe! (After months of hearing about
Jenni's Crepe craving she was satisfied!)
Done with steps- no way! We needed to climb to the top of the Notre Dame cathedral! 387 stone steps lead the way. Each step in a spiral, complete with a wear pattern from the constant use of the steps since it was completed in 1177. Notre Dame is recognizable from the mix of architectural styles and the famous Gargoyles! There are hundreds of gargoyles- each unique... Various types of creatures in different poses. The gargoyles sit along the edge of the roof line looking pensive, keeping watch over the city. After the front ledge we went to the top of the bell tower complete with the famous bell and great views of the city! Inside the stained glass windows were beautiful! The sun even shown through projecting the colors onto the ancient columns.
The afternoon was sent shopping! For dinner we went to a "burger place" suggested by a local. The burgers were fantastic! But by then we knew we were nearly about to fall over from exhaustion and called it a night. We don't have a clue how far we walked that day but it was enough to give us many blisters (even with good shoes) and many aches and pains!
The following morning was spent at the Louvre. We only had a little of time so we made sure to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo (the armless statue.) After seeing the two, we aren't really sure why either is that famous! On our way out we also stopped by to see the inverted pyramid!
Lunch was spent at a corner cafe before parting ways on separate tours- Amy to Versailles and Jenni to Giverny.
Amy: I went to Versailles to see the palace of King Louis XIV. The entrance to the palace had the largest gold gate a person could imagine- it was berth taking (even with an impending thunder storm!) Sadly do to the weather the gardens were closed- a tour of the inside palace it was! Countless paintings and sculptures filled the palace (but after the Vatican nothing could really compare.) The Hall of Mirrors was the most impressive with rows and rows of chandeliers- 17 large chandeliers, 26 small chandeliers, 357 mirrors, and 17 glass doors!
Jenni: I went to Giverny, the home and garden of Claude Monet! It was on my list of things to do before I die, and I was pretty sure I would never be closer again. I will be honest, it was pouring so hard that I was wandering around the droopy gardens feeling sorry for
myself... until I turned a corner and saw myself staring at the bridge and water lilies from one of Monets most famous pieces. The realization that I was standing where Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, once sat developing his new style of painting and changing the course of art forever altered my perspective a bit. The gardens were beautiful after that and I could see how, even on one of the worst days, he could be inspired to paint there. Fortunately after surviving the closest thing to a hurricane I have ever experience (as in I found leaves in my pockets later that day!) the sun came out and I was able to get some great shots of the amazing garden, river, and home!
We had a nice dinner over looking a busy street- dinner and a show in a way! Next was a walk along the river and through part of the Louvre. We walked on the Champs Ellysse to the Arch de Triumphe. The Arch is so huge it kept looking like it was only a block away but we just didn't seem to get any closer! The Arch is dedicated to French soldiers and is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
We ended the night with one last Nutella and Banana Crepe! By 6am we were on our way back to Home
to Rome! It was a long day of travel and now we have less than 48 hours to heal our blisters and aching wounds until we leave for Greece on Sunday! (A few days in Santorini and a few days in Athens!)
Pictures:
1) Twinkling Eiffel Tower
2) Gargoyle on top of Notre Dame watching over the city
3) Yummm... Crepes!
4) Arch de Triumphe
5) The golden gate at Versailles
6) View from the Eiffel Tower
7) One of many stained glass windows in Notre Dame
8) Eiffel Tower
9) More Eiffel Tower
10) The worn steps in Notre Dame cathedral
11) Hall of Mirrors
12) Our complicated toilet... After a small shower now we have no leg room (even for short girls) when sitting on the toilet
13) View of Monet's garden at Giverny
14) Even more Eiffel tower with the French Statue of Liberty Twin
Amy's Effie Tower picture total: 121
Amy's friend from high school (Charlotte King) gave us a guided tour of some of the lesser known sights in Paris for our first big day! We now can say we drank tea at the Paris mosque, saw a Red Panda at the Paris Zoo, and ate pasties by the river.
Now for the more predictable items... The usual, more touristy spots. On the way to the Eiffel Tower we walked through the Louvre to see the neat buildings, beautiful gardens, fountains, and of course the pyramid!
Along the way to the Eiffel Tower, Amy must have taken about 20+ pictures before even getting there. (Jenni thinks this is an inaccurate statement as Amy took a picture of the Eiffel Tower ANY time it was in sight ALL DAY LONG!)
After 674 steps to the second level (the highest the general public can go by stairs) we then jumped on an elevator to the top and could see for 37 miles. Amy was excited to have made it to the top but after enjoying the view of the rest of the city, realized she prefers to see the Eiffel Tower than to see the city from the Tower. (And yes, we climbed back down- 647 steps!)
Since the planing stages our trip Jenni always spoke of a surprise in Paris for Amy, which she managed to keep a secret until in the Eiffel tower- the Tower twinkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour after sunset! The view from across the river was spectacular! It twinkled with a million little lights- much like camera flashes but much more grand! We finished this memorable evening with our first Nutella and Banana Crepe! (After months of hearing about
Jenni's Crepe craving she was satisfied!)
Done with steps- no way! We needed to climb to the top of the Notre Dame cathedral! 387 stone steps lead the way. Each step in a spiral, complete with a wear pattern from the constant use of the steps since it was completed in 1177. Notre Dame is recognizable from the mix of architectural styles and the famous Gargoyles! There are hundreds of gargoyles- each unique... Various types of creatures in different poses. The gargoyles sit along the edge of the roof line looking pensive, keeping watch over the city. After the front ledge we went to the top of the bell tower complete with the famous bell and great views of the city! Inside the stained glass windows were beautiful! The sun even shown through projecting the colors onto the ancient columns.
The afternoon was sent shopping! For dinner we went to a "burger place" suggested by a local. The burgers were fantastic! But by then we knew we were nearly about to fall over from exhaustion and called it a night. We don't have a clue how far we walked that day but it was enough to give us many blisters (even with good shoes) and many aches and pains!
The following morning was spent at the Louvre. We only had a little of time so we made sure to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo (the armless statue.) After seeing the two, we aren't really sure why either is that famous! On our way out we also stopped by to see the inverted pyramid!
Lunch was spent at a corner cafe before parting ways on separate tours- Amy to Versailles and Jenni to Giverny.
Amy: I went to Versailles to see the palace of King Louis XIV. The entrance to the palace had the largest gold gate a person could imagine- it was berth taking (even with an impending thunder storm!) Sadly do to the weather the gardens were closed- a tour of the inside palace it was! Countless paintings and sculptures filled the palace (but after the Vatican nothing could really compare.) The Hall of Mirrors was the most impressive with rows and rows of chandeliers- 17 large chandeliers, 26 small chandeliers, 357 mirrors, and 17 glass doors!
Jenni: I went to Giverny, the home and garden of Claude Monet! It was on my list of things to do before I die, and I was pretty sure I would never be closer again. I will be honest, it was pouring so hard that I was wandering around the droopy gardens feeling sorry for
myself... until I turned a corner and saw myself staring at the bridge and water lilies from one of Monets most famous pieces. The realization that I was standing where Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, once sat developing his new style of painting and changing the course of art forever altered my perspective a bit. The gardens were beautiful after that and I could see how, even on one of the worst days, he could be inspired to paint there. Fortunately after surviving the closest thing to a hurricane I have ever experience (as in I found leaves in my pockets later that day!) the sun came out and I was able to get some great shots of the amazing garden, river, and home!
We had a nice dinner over looking a busy street- dinner and a show in a way! Next was a walk along the river and through part of the Louvre. We walked on the Champs Ellysse to the Arch de Triumphe. The Arch is so huge it kept looking like it was only a block away but we just didn't seem to get any closer! The Arch is dedicated to French soldiers and is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
We ended the night with one last Nutella and Banana Crepe! By 6am we were on our way back to Home
to Rome! It was a long day of travel and now we have less than 48 hours to heal our blisters and aching wounds until we leave for Greece on Sunday! (A few days in Santorini and a few days in Athens!)
Pictures:
1) Twinkling Eiffel Tower
2) Gargoyle on top of Notre Dame watching over the city
3) Yummm... Crepes!
4) Arch de Triumphe
5) The golden gate at Versailles
6) View from the Eiffel Tower
7) One of many stained glass windows in Notre Dame
8) Eiffel Tower
9) More Eiffel Tower
10) The worn steps in Notre Dame cathedral
11) Hall of Mirrors
12) Our complicated toilet... After a small shower now we have no leg room (even for short girls) when sitting on the toilet
13) View of Monet's garden at Giverny
14) Even more Eiffel tower with the French Statue of Liberty Twin
Amy's Effie Tower picture total: 121
Monday, June 18, 2012
Paris, Here We Come!
The past few days have been spent doing more housework (more laundry, scrubbed our floors and homemade dinner) plus a tip to the famous "Mouth of Truth." This large face like medallion now set into the wall but was once believed to be a drain cover in 4th century BC. Legend has it that the mouth would "snap shut" on the hands of someone who told lies. As a result, it became tradition to have your spouse put their hand in to test their faithfulness.
Strange things have been happening around the city lately too... Don't worry, we are safe but there has just been some odd events. One morning we woke up to find our Piazza del Popolo filled with a stage and massive balloons. Later there was a parade of people that all made their way down to the Piazza. After the parade, only a mere few hours later, everything was gone- no stage, no people, or big balloons! At the Spanish Steps for two days in a row we have walked past various bands playing music dressed in what looks to be military apparel. After researching we cannot find a military holiday or any holiday for that matter on the Italian calendar. There was also a large group of chanting people in the Piazza with colorful smoke bombs. (Of course the chants were in a different language so we don't know what it was about.) We also were wondering the city when we found many groups of 10ish people wearing various team color shirts and riding bicycles. Chances are these things happen in many cities across the world but when you don't know what the shirts or banners say it is a bit odd.
Today we are leaving for Paris! Our are packed, the apartment is clean, and now we must wait until it gets closer to the time we leave. (If only you could here the excitement in Amy's voice... It is probably stopping Jenni from taking a nap!) Cross your fingers for the forecast as 2 out of the 3 days calls for rain.
Again, don't be alarmed if you don't hear from us for a few days but we will post again upon our return!
Arrivederci!
Amy and Jenni
Photos:
1) Our Piazza filled with the craziness of all the people and balloons
2) One of the military bands on the Spanish Steps
3) The Mouth of Truth (not snapping off Amy's hand!)
Strange things have been happening around the city lately too... Don't worry, we are safe but there has just been some odd events. One morning we woke up to find our Piazza del Popolo filled with a stage and massive balloons. Later there was a parade of people that all made their way down to the Piazza. After the parade, only a mere few hours later, everything was gone- no stage, no people, or big balloons! At the Spanish Steps for two days in a row we have walked past various bands playing music dressed in what looks to be military apparel. After researching we cannot find a military holiday or any holiday for that matter on the Italian calendar. There was also a large group of chanting people in the Piazza with colorful smoke bombs. (Of course the chants were in a different language so we don't know what it was about.) We also were wondering the city when we found many groups of 10ish people wearing various team color shirts and riding bicycles. Chances are these things happen in many cities across the world but when you don't know what the shirts or banners say it is a bit odd.
Today we are leaving for Paris! Our are packed, the apartment is clean, and now we must wait until it gets closer to the time we leave. (If only you could here the excitement in Amy's voice... It is probably stopping Jenni from taking a nap!) Cross your fingers for the forecast as 2 out of the 3 days calls for rain.
Again, don't be alarmed if you don't hear from us for a few days but we will post again upon our return!
Arrivederci!
Amy and Jenni
Photos:
1) Our Piazza filled with the craziness of all the people and balloons
2) One of the military bands on the Spanish Steps
3) The Mouth of Truth (not snapping off Amy's hand!)
Saturday, June 16, 2012
More Waterfalls... Because the Few from Last Time Aren't Enough
No commentary needed- the pictures speak for themselves. (All from Plitvice NP in Croatia) Enjoy!
Arrivederci!
Amy and Jenni
Arrivederci!
Amy and Jenni
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