Firenze

Today was a non stop workout, right after breakfast we went out and about in Florence for a walking tour with Nicilo (a temporary tour guide). During the tour he gave us an explanation of the statues in one of the main squares and went to the river to snap a few pictures.

At the end of the tour the A-town group went to a leather making factory but we decided to do a little exploring on our own. We went to see the David and it was breathtaking. The great detail of every inch of the body and the perspective was beyond amazing.

From there we ended up getting lost and had to call Jesus for help. He took our our chaperones for lunch and us kids went to a pizzeria and had true Italian pizza.

Back at the hotel I went with Daro to the little bakery a few doors down and I had a delicious chocolate cream pastry. We got back to the hotel and Bryanna had a bite of my pastry and decided she wanted to go, so I went back with her and got a mini-pie (the pizza wasn’t that filling). Later we met up with our chaperones and went on more adventures.

We went back to the Duomo and climbed to the top, all 464 of them. it was well worth it though because the view of Florence from the top was absolutely spectacular. Once we made the slow hike back down the stairs we went to revive our selves with the highlight of Italy.

Gelato. Ice cream can not even compare.

The next stop was the Uffizi museum where we saw great paintings by world renowned artists.  What impressed me the most were the life like sculptures.

At 6:30 we met Jesus at the hotel and walked to dinner (and got lost, it made us feel better about earlier). The meal was pasta, then beef and a lot of peas. The unforunate part I that desert is fruit.

J-Bau, J-Hunt, Vargas, Liz, Corey and I fell behind the group going to the hotel so we could do a little shopping. But most stores were already closed despite the fact it was 8 o’clock on a Friday night. We got more gelato, because I for one can not get enough of it. At a little touristy shop Liz and Jen got a few things, and earlier Liz and I bought some nice cheap scarves. J-hunt tried to guide us back to the hotel non-chalantly but her plan was foiled, and we ended up doing a wee bit more wandering. Finally we made it back to the hotel and we are ready to sleep after a long day of eating, walking, and climbing. Wake up call bright and early tomorrow at 6 am.

Today has been the best part of the trip so far in my opinion.  First of all it has the BEST  food I have ever tasted especially the ice cream that I became addicted to. Other than the food the sight seeing was breath taking and overwhelming.  We woke up very tired from the night before because we went to a night club and didn’t get home till late. Despite being tired my eyes had no problem staying open once the tour began. We first started the day off with a walking tour and roamed the heart of the city which our hotel is luckily located in. Its hard to believe just one city could contain so much historic wonders because what we think is old back home is not nearly as old as what Florence has to offer.

After seeing the city we then split up from the other group that was traveling with us to go to a museum so we could see the statue of David. This was the highlight of my day because just standing 10 feet away from it and gazing up at the massive statue leaves you in a daze. Its hard to believe someone could even sculpt something like that in a time period where you weren’t even allowed to study the human body, because the details on the statue were so precise and accurate you could even see the veins and muscles sculpted into the ancient stone. I spent a good amount of my time in that museum admiring the statue of David and it seems like I could have spent the entire day there.

After the museum we then went out to eat for lunch which is now my favorite part of the day. I ate a whole pizza by myself and was about to get another since it was so good and different from the pizza back home. We then had free time for the rest of the day which I was very excited about because I couldn’t wait to see what else the city had to offer. So we stopped at the hotel to pick up a few things but sadly drowsiness took over and I literally passed out on my bed for a good 2-3 hours while the others went out. I guess I didn’t even realize how tired I was but it turned out to be a good thing because once everyone else came back they were all dead and tired when we went out for dinner and I looked like the only one who was alive. So I was now well rested and spent the rest of my day shopping and looking around for gifts for you people back home. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow because we are going to Rome which is the place I have been anticipating to finally go to and I cant wait to tell everyone back home about the places I’ve been to.

Today started as usual – bread, croissant, juice and coffee. However, Jenn, Spencer, Liz, Kate, and Gail (a teacher from the Pennsylvania group) and I decided to catch the sunrise over the Mediterranean Sea. After breakfast we took a quick walk to the shoreline in Nice. It was amazing! The rain had stopped, and even though it was still cloudy, you could see the sun peeking just above the horizon. The water was a beautiful aquamarine color, and washed up on the shore in little waves. We all decided we wanted to touch the water, which was probably not that best idea as Liz and I managed to get soaked by a rogue wave. However, despite the wet pants and shoes, we were all happy we went.

Back on the bus once again, we wove along the coastline of France and Italy, taking in the beautiful vistas. Cliffs and mountains surrounded us, along with terraced gardens and houses built into the hillsides. We also caught glimpses of the Italian Alps with their snow-covered peaks poking above the clouds.

Our first stop of the day was a perfumerie. I am not totally sure what goes on in such a place because I decided to walk around the little town in which we were in rather than be sprayed with perfume. Liz, Daro and Corey decided to stick with me, and we walked across a bridge to snap more pictures of the scenery. I even found “Nietzsche’s Path”, which led me up a hill to another beautiful view.

We all met back at the bus about an hour later. During our ride to Pisa, we watched The Notebook. I fell asleep, which bummed me out a little bit because I wanted to see it, but I just couldn’t keep my eyes open. We arrived in Pisa about four hours later. The leaning tower exceeded my expectations! We also had time to explore the baptistery and cathedral. I was awed by the intricacy of the marble stonework. Jesus led us through the buildings and parts of the town, explaining the history and art along the way.

After a few hours, we boarded the bus once again, and headed to Florence! As we drove into the city, Jesus pointed out the original medieval walls and stone arch entrances. We dropped our bags off at the hotel and immediately headed to dinner in a small restaurant around the corner. The first course was lasagna – excellent!!! I thought that we’d get dessert next, but instead, they brought us chicken and green beans. By the time I finished the second plate I was stuffed. We all got nervous when they started handing out knives, but it turned out they were to cut up fresh fruit for dessert!

Jesus next led a small group of us on a night tour of Florence. It was almost as beautiful as I remembered it from the last time I was here – 16 years ago. We saw the Duomo, the Ufizi Galley, Ponte Vecchio, and a few more squares and sites. We even stopped at the boar statue, pet his nose, dropped in some coins and made some wishes!

When we came back to the hotel, we split once again. The boys went with Jenn and some of the Allentown kids to a Discotheque for teens. The girls stayed with Kendra and me, and we brought along Nick from A-town to come have Gelato with us. It was a beautiful night as we sat on the steps of the Duomo, chatted, and enjoyed the sweet ice cream. Yes folks, it’s that warm out! At almost 60 degrees at 10:30pm, it’s a nice change from yesterday’s rain.

The girls are now playing Uno with Kendra as I type this entry and prepare the photos. We are looking forward to our day in Florence tomorrow! Check out the pictures from today!

So we started off the morning with the normal breakfast of bread and croissant. Then Jenn, Jen, Kate, Spencer, and I decided to take pictures on the beach while it was nice out. When we were at the beach we decided to try to touch the water. This wasn’t the best idea for us. When a wave came we tried to run away which semi worked. I ended up falling and sitting on the rocks. When another wave came I was not warned and didn’t have enough time to run away. I was soaked up to my knees. We figured that I could just go back to the hotel and change real quick but that didn’t happen. By the time we got back our stuff was loaded and everybody was on the bus.

Then we drove along the coast for a while and ended up at a perfumery. I didn’t go in because I didn’t want to get a headache. Jen, Corey, Daro, and I walked around and took some great pictures. We wandered around and tried to find a shop to buy some stuff. then we got on the bus and drove some more. The notebook was put in and the whole bus was quiet. Once the movie was done and almost every one was asleep Jesus woke us up just to see the mountains that were marble. It was very overcast but still nice.

We finally arrived in Pisa and saw the leaning tower. Sadly we could not go in it but it was still very cool to see. Jesus took people on a walking tour of the city. We were shown many old building and made Jesus became ashamed of our lack of memory about when buildings were built. On our way back Jess, Jenn, Kendra, Aly, and I all went for gelato. I got caramel cream. Then we went back to our meeting place and were off again. My shoes were still soaking wet but better.

After about another hour and a half bus ride we finally arrived in Florence. We ended up going in a giant circle trying to find the place to drop us off. We then had to walk through the streets with our entire luggage looking like complete tourist. We went to dinner and had lasagna for the first course, chicken (which we told Marcello was duck and he believed us) and had fruit for dessert. We went back to the hotel and Jesus took us for another walking tour in Florence. It was really pretty at night with the lights and everything. All the Lowell people went but the boys and some Allentown kids came along. We got back and saw all the kids leave for the club and we went out for some more gelato. This was the same group as before pretty much. Then we got back and played some Uno and I won the first game but lost the second.

We got on the road early this morning, with our first stop at Avignon.  The sun finally came out as we toured the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) where seven Popes served during the 14th and 15th centuries. The palace was incredible, and we even climbed to the top of the wall for a panoramic view of the city and river below.

Once we finished our tour, we wandered the streets of Avignon. Kate, Liz, Daro, Corey, Spencer and I went our own way, stopping first to grab some sandwiches. I had goat cheese, brie and tomato on a toasted baguette. Have I mentioned that I love France? We explored the city, eventually making it down to the river and the Pont Saint-Bénezet, a bridge constructed in the 12th century. It was incredible. The weather was so warm, and we even saw scullers practicing on the river!

After that, we spent more time on the bus, finally arriving in Nice in the late afternoon. Though it was raining too hard for a tour of the city, we did get a chance to see some of the sights by bus. The view was incredible, and Nice is definitely a place I would like to spend more time exploring! Our first stop was Les confiseries Florian. Free chocolate + a tour of how it’s made = a great time for all! We left with bags full of French sweets. We then  went to dinner in the heart of Nice. On the way we passed all of the decorations for Carnival. Dinner was great – salad and ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese, and apple pie for dessert.

We then checked into the hotel, and a smaller group of us got back onto the bus for a night tour of Monaco. Despite the rain, it was well worth the trip. Jesus gave us a guided tour and history of this small principality. It is the second smallest country in the world, after Vatican City. The view looking out into the Mediterranean Sea was incredible. When we finished up, we snuck into a small pizzeria for crepes, coffee and hot chocolate.

It was an incredible day. Tomorrow we are off to Italy! Until then, check out today’s pictures here.

We woke early for a long bus ride had a good breakfast with the usual croissant and bread which I always love.  We then got on a long bus ride to Avignon.  The first impression of it was amazing with the towering entrance and the golden Virgin Mary on top.  We then went into the awesome fortress where we given some speaking device that let us go on our own.  We heard the narration of each room and this was nice so we could go at our own pace.  So this meant that I was the one in the way back cause it takes a while for it to sink in.  I think we spent around an hour and half within it where we took lots of pictures of wonderful architecture.

Once we did get out Jen, the other boys and some girls then had to get something to eat so I of course had to get a crepe to compare to back home and the other cities of Europe.  It had melted nutella inside which is my new love in life and I plan on buying a jar in Italy.  Then we walked around and decided to head to the bridge which cost 4 Euros which was so worth it.  There were amazing views of the river and the palace.  For all you rowers out there we saw some boat rowing down the river so the rower’s addiction of the week was satisfied.  Sadly we had to go and meet back with the group and drive to Nice.

After most of us went to sleep then we woke up to rain in Nice so Nice was not nice to us.  Once we arrived in Nice we went to the chocolate factory where they told us all about how they made the candy then we all had to buy something after learning about all this goodness.  I got a gift and something for myself.  Then we went out to dinner for some pasta with a unique sauce which was ok but not great.  Don’t forget that it was still raining so we then had to decide if we wanted to go to the second smallest country in the world, which is Monaco even with the rain, I thought it’d be good and it was.  One million euros gets you about five hundred square feet.  Then we were kinda hungry so we got some crepes again so I had nutella which was good but Avignon’s is better.  Then we took a bus tour and then went to sleep at the hotel.

Here are some cute candids from Jenn’s camera from the last five days. Enjoy!

Today began with a 6:30am wakeup call. Everyone looked tired as we at the same breakfast as yesterday. At 8am, we boarded the bus and left Barcelona, headed for France!

Though the majority of the day was spent travelling on the bus, we did have the opportunity for some sightseeing. Our first stop was the ancient medieval French city of Carcassonne. It is one of the few, and the most complete, of the French fortresses still in existence, parts of which date back to 100 B.C. Jesus led us through the narrow, winding cobbled lanes as he gave us the history of the city.

Kendra, Jenn and I led the kids to a small café for lunch. The owner was very sweet and let us make our Nutella and peanut butter sandwiches and eat inside. Though many of the kids had never eaten Nutella before, they are all hooked now! Everyone got a drink, ranging from soda and lemonade, to hot chocolate and cappuccinos.  There was a roaring fire in the fireplace, and a beautiful bullmastiff that a local guy claimed was the town’s guard dog, but it was clear he was too sweet of an animal for such a job. We warmed ourselves by the fire before venturing back into the cold and rainy streets to shop and explore. Once again, we split up into several groups. Marcelo and I went into a few small gift shops looking for patches. We both found ones we liked – I think he taken up my habit of collecting a patch from each place I visit.

After our stop, we spent more quality time sleeping and listening to iPods on the bus. The rain lulled most of us to sleep pretty quickly. Though not ideal, the weather really wasn’t as bad as it sounds – the mist is actually rather calming.

We arrived a bit late to our next stop, Pont du Guard, but luckily we still got to see this incredible Roman Aqueduct. It was phenomenal! It is the largest surviving aqueduct from the Roman Empire. Though just 275m long, it was originally part of a 32-mile stretch. It is thought that it was constructed during the 1st century. Amazingly, the entire bridge was built without mortar!

As we walked across the lower bridge to the other side, I came across some stone stairs. Though most of the group proceeded to the banks of the river to take pictures, Kate, Kendra, Liz and I decided to take the path less taken and climbed the stairs. We soon found ourselves at the second level, and finally, the top of the aqueduct! We stood in the very place through which water once flowed on the bridge. Behind us was a long tunnel, about 50m long, carved out of the stone hillside.  Though the sky was darkening, we decided to brave the walk to the other side. Once through, we snapped some pictures and followed a trail through the woods to get back to the aqueduct. It was an awesome 20-minute hike!  We were all sad that we couldn’t continue through the trail – but dinner reservations awaited us, cutting the trip short.

After dinner, Jesus led a small group to an old Roman forum. Sadly, I could not go because I had to finish a paper.  The call of grad school always beckons Here are some more pictures from the day!

We started our morning with a breakfast of fresh croissants, butter, strawberry jam, orange juice and the equivalent of honey smacks cereal. Kendra, Jenn and I also had café con leches to help get our gears moving.

Our first activity of the day was a bus tour of Barcelona, led by a local guide, Ellie. We drove by the stadium and other athletic buildings from the 1992 Olympics. It struck me that none of our students are old enough to remember those Olympics, and some of them weren’t even born at that time! We also took a quick stop to take some panoramic pictures of the city below. Sadly, the sky was grey and cloudy, hindering the visibility.

The next stop was Antoni Gaudi’s famous La Sagrada Familia. Here we saw his modernista style in grand scale. The outside of the church was comprised of four different architectural styles – Neo-Gothic, Modernista, Cubism and Art Nouveau. Though the building was begun in 1882, it is still under construction and expected to be for at least another 16 years. The façade designed by Gaudi was incredible – the way he represented biblically stories was so beautifully done.

After Ellie gave us a history of the architectural components of the church, and explained the symbolism of Gaudi’s work, we climbed back on the bus and made our way to the Park Guell, Gaudi’s home and failed attempt at making a community in the Modernista style. Though not popular during his time, the park is now a huge attraction. The trees, flowers, and other vegetation planted during his time have flourished and grown, turning the area into a beautiful, peaceful natural hideaway overlooking the bustling city below.

We ended our tour in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. After Ellie departed, we had lunch together at a small café. The food was incredible – we chose from plates of a variety of skewered delights such as egg salad on crusty bread, topped with caviar; mozzarella, black olives and tomatoes; dumplings filled with potatoes, cheese and pork; and pork smothered with cheese atop baguettes. Needless to say, everyone was more than satisfied. I have been so impressed with everyone’s willingness to try new things – not a single kid has turned down the opportunity to at least try everything once. Much to their surprise, more often they find that they like it!

After lunch, we split up for a few hours. We’re still not quite sure what the boys did, but they came back with shopping bags with new clothing. Kendra and I visited the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, a massive gothic structure built on the ruins of the city’s Roman walls and aqueduct. The interior was beautiful and decorated in the typical intricate style of a gothic church. However, we were pleasantly surprised when we walked into the church’s outdoor garden. It was raining ever sol slightly, casting a peaceful air upon everything around us. There were geese walking and wading through the garden and stone pools. I was surprised, and thankful, at how few people were there.

While we were at the Cathedral, Jenn went with Kate, Sara and Liz to the Salvador Dali Museum. They reported that it was incredible – in fact, Sara said she liked this museum the best so far, especially because Dali got her brain really thinking. Afterwards, they went to the Cathedral as well.  By that time, Kendra and I were wandering around the Gothic quarter. We eventually made our way to La Rambla, Barcelona’s main  shopping thoroughfare. Along with the stores, street vendors lined the center pedestrian walkway, selling everything from souvenirs and trinkets to roosters, flowers and food. We eventually came upon St. Josep la Boqueria. I was reminded of Convent Garden in London – vendors sold fresh fruits, meat, fish, candy, and more! Every stall was a bit different. Kendra bought some kiwi, strawberries and kiwi from one merchant. Later on, we happened upon a woman selling truffles of all kinds – we couldn’t help ourselves from buying several. While we were picking them out, she let us taste-test – they were incredible! We even picked out a chocolate hedgehog for Jenn.

By this time, we were tired so we stopped at a local café and had more café con leches, and homemade chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Meanwhile, Jenn, Sara, Liz and Kate had started shopping! Aly, Bryanna and Jess went shopping during their free time – they were beyond excited for the three H&M’s less than four blocks from each other. All of the girls met back up with Jesus at 5:30 to go buy Spanish olive oil. We all were planning to purchase it in Italy, but Jesus told us how most Italian olive oil is actually made in Spain, and then relabeled by Italian companies. So off to the grocery store we went! While everyone else was learning about the varieties of oil, Sara and I decided to grab snacks and food for tomorrow’s lunch so we wouldn’t have to spend a lot of money while traveling. We bought nutella, peanut butter, bread, bananas, clementines, and kiwi. With our arms full, we checked out, spending just a Euro per person for all of that food!

After shopping, it was time to meet up with everyone for a walking tour of the Gothic quarter. Jesus led us back to the Cathedral, and we got to see the gardens once again, this time by moonlight. We walked down tiny alleys and through old, crumbling buildings as Jesus relayed to us the history of ancient Barcelona. Our last stop before dinner was Santa María del Pí. Though unassuming from the outside, the interior of this 14th century gothic church was impressive.

We had dinner at a small buffet on the shore of the Mediterranean. By this time, the rain was falling hard. The food was good, though similar to what we’ve been eating at other buffets. We took the Metro back to the hotel, and everyone settled in for some much needed rest.

Make sure you check out today’s pictures! And I will leave you with the music of local street performers that Sara and I saw at the park. We liked them so much, we bought their CD!

Today we woke up at eight and had breakfast a half hour later. The breakfasts have been small but good. After breakfast we got on our bus and we went on a tour around the city of Barcelona. We stopped to see the skyline of the city and it was beautiful. We took pictures and got back on the bus to go to the Sagrada Familia although it was still being built and under construction, what we saw was beyond amazing. It contained many different symbols and things that have never been. There was so much detail on this building it kept your eyes moving and you weren’t even thinking of your aching neck from staring up at it. We circled the building looking at it from all points and when we finished, we visited the souvenir shops where most of us left with a bag. Then we went on a short walking tour, seeing many gothic buildings and a gothic church.

We were given four hours of free time. We all settled in a restaurant that had an open buffet, even the pickiest eaters, such as myself, could find something to eat there. After lunch, many of us chose to go shopping, some chose to visit museums and cathedrals. Bryanna, Alyson and I chose to shop in the stores along the roads and alleyways. The four boys decided to go shopping as well, and Sara, Liz, and Kate decided to stay with the chaperones and go to the Dali museum and do a little bit of shopping. We all met up and walked to the metro together. We stopped and walked in the drizzling rain to a restaurant for dinner. On the way we saw a few sculptures. Dinner was another open buffet giving you choices for your appetizer, your dinner, and your dessert. We all enjoyed the food and we got ready to leave for an hour-long trip back to the hotel. We got on the metro twice and then got on a trolley and arrived home around eleven. Some of us showered and visited the computer before going to bed, and all of us packed up our bags and got ready for an early morning to head to France.

Barcelona was an amazing city as well as the rest of Spain we visited. Although there are things here that I’ve never seen before, I am crazy excited for France!