Paris Pictures

 A great view of the city of Paris.

 Some street performer near the Arc de Triomphe.

 At night the Eiffel Tower sparkles!

 Do you see the Statue of Liberty...

 Notre Dame Cathedral. I found Quasimodo inside, but he is rather camera-shy.

 "He met Marmalarde down in old Moulin Rouge
Struttin’ her stuff on the street.."

I found Space Invader's street art... I was pretty proud of myself, thank you very much.

Versailles pictures

 The Chateau of Versailles was built by Louis XIV when he moved the Kingdom's capital away from Paris. It was a huge Palace. Almost as big as Napoleon's Louvre Palace.

 Just look at this GOLD gate. Ridiculous. Gold was everywhere. On the roof, all over the inside... EVERYWHERE.

 This tomb made me laugh. It you can see at the Queen's feet there is a weiner dog. She really loved her dog!

 The chandeliers were a site themselves! The paintings on the ceilings were pretty neat too. I feel bad for the artists that had to paint upside down.

 A lot of the paintings, if not all, had Louis XIV in them. Many had him pictured with different Gods. Here he is with many of the Greek Gods. The figure in the middle, in the bright red robe is Hermes, Zeus' messenger.

The gardens of Versailles were in full bloom! Very Queen of Hearts.

Rome

 Our first hotel in Rome. We were so excited that we each had our own bed! I told Emily to do a model pose to show off the room. Ha ha.

 In the Piazza Novana. This fountain is in a few movies. Our fun night out started here.

 Yeah, we weren't drunk... just delirious.

Me and Danilo in front of the first house in Rome.. Really really old building.

 In front of the Colosseum. I love that the city lights all the Roman ruins up at night.

 Spanish Steps. Dani actually filmed us running up and back down all those steps. It's hard to do in heels.

 In front of the Pantheon, aka really cool ancient building.

 I have a secret passion for street art. I don't know tons of the artists but I know this is a Space Invader. I actually found his work in Florence and Paris. Kinda neat. He really likes Pac Man.

 Fontana di Trevi. We are holding up the coins we tossed in and wished for love.. of course.

 In Vatican City with St. Peter's Basilica behind us.

 We couldn't get enough of this street water in Rome, It tasted so good! so yeah, I got my picture taken drinking from one.

 Ok, this picture cracked me up. This is an entry to the Vatican. Notice you have Italian Police on the Rome side and then Vatican Police on the other side of the wall. Hilarious to me.

 Sheryl and I got a private tour at the Colosseum. We went underneath were no one can really go except for these tours. Really learned a lot and appreciated our tour guide!

 Just taking in the view.

 The Colosseum is HUGE, and could fit a lot of people.

 Outside of the Colosseum

In St. Peter's Basillica. Emily took a lot of pictures so I'll steal hers when she gives them to me. It was breath taking.

Rome was my favorite city. I could definitely go back to Rome. I feel like you can learn so much in that city.

Florence Pictures

 This was the third David of Florence. This is the bronze replica. Sadly I couldn't get a picture of the real one as cameras are forbidden.. I did think about sneaking one tho.

 We went on a walk along the Arno river around sunset one night and I took this gem.

 While we were up on the hill where the bronze David was we sat and waited for our bus to take us back to town Em was just sitting there, so I took a picture of her. Loves!

When we were at the market shopping away all our money we kept finding these chalk artists that recreate masterpieces. It was pretty neat to watch. They sure used a lot of chalk!

I'm home! Time for some pictures!

I'm home! I am so sad/happy. I really enjoyed my time in Europe but I really missed my bed! I'm totally dying from jet-lag right now... I have a headache that won't budge but life goes on!
My last stop was Venice. Venice is a site to behold because of the engineering of the city. It is entirely a city on water... held up by wooden (mostly) posts.

 Beautiful shot of one of my favorite buildings in Venice. "Santa Maria della Salute"

 We went on a gondola ride... some of the canals were a tight squeeze!

 Our Gondoliere.

 From our Hotel on our little island Lido, just of of Venice.

 The buildings and bridges were beautiful in Venice... I couldn't get enough of them.

We LOVED our gelato. I ate it at least 2xday once we got to Italy. The blue amazing flavor: vanilla icing.

I will backtrack and put some pictures up from the trip. Just know I'm home and now have to get back to life. Up next: my birthday is Sunday! I'm turning 25 and loving it. Em and I are already trying to decide on our next big trip... maybe India? New Zealand/Australia? Japan? I'm excited to plan it... now I need some money.. hmmm

Florence Day 2 and 3

Yesterday was my best friend's birthday so first off I want to say happy birthday Lee! Ok Florence. I woke up yesterday in the weirdest funk. I couldn't shake it all day. I felt as if I was drugged on NyQuil. It freaked me out all day but I refused to let it ruin our second day in Florence. We stared the day going to the museum where the original David is. We keep getting lucky because we didn't pay since it was cultural week? I dunno but I felt cultured. We also didn't pay for the Louvre because it was Sunday and it's free that day. We didn't pay to see Norte Dame wither because we went during mass... Someone upstairs knows how much this vacation is already draining my funds :) Back to David; he is an amazing site to behold! First, he is gigantic! Second, I had no idea that was David as in David and Goliath! He even has a sling draped across his back. All I know is Michelangelo did a magnificent job with the fluidity of his body and the stance he has David in really shows the humility and innocence I picture David had when he was given the task to kill the giant. After the museum, we spent the day going to the big market area about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. There we saw a marble replica of the David. Then we ate lunch at the same restaurant Emily visited last time. They have the most amazing tomato soup. I can't wait to go home and try to recreate it, it was THAT good. We shopped a lot yesterday and I found the one thing I wanted in Florence: a leather jacket! It is amazing. I'm sure I paid way too much but I don't want to think about that.

Today was a pretty leisurely day. We went up to one of the David replicas at the Piazzale Michelangelo. It is a bronze replica but still pretty cool and there is a great view of the city! Florence isn't that big I found out.
Scary moment of the day: I was out buying some scarves and I was bartering with the guy. He got really mad because I wS asking for such a low price and he wouldn't even budge so I said, "ok I'll go somewhere else then" he got soooo angry at me, he grabbed my wrist and shook me saying I have to buy for his price. I ended up breaking his grip and walked away to where Em was and bought scarves at the cart right next to his. Haha. I was shaking and sweating after that fun incident. I wish I could put pictures on here but I can't via iPhone. Tomorrow our last stop: Venice!

Florence Day 1

Our last night in Rome was spent again with our Roman friend Dani till the wee hours of the night... or early early morning... you choose, I'm too tired still to decide. It was not so much sight seeing as the previous night but just as fun. We saw some more areas of Rome most tourists do not ever see. Our favorite was a bar/restaurante that was tucked away between the walls of an ancient Roman aquaduct. You literally have no idea it is there unless you were let into the "secret club" of all knowing like our friend, Dani... or if you are a DJ there like he is. Either way it was adorable, romantic, and everything I feel Rome had to offer... rolled into one little spot.
We got up at 6 today to get ready, pack, and go to St Peter's Basillica in Vatican City. It opens at 7 and it's mostly for morning mass but it is honestly the best time to go if you want to really take in this monumentous beauty of a cathedral. Minus the priests and guards there werew about 40 people in there with us. Compared to the crazy crowds of people all jammed in scooting around to get pictures that you would normally find during the day. I'm amazed at the beauty of that building and thankfully it is free to see or else we may not have gone. It is a must for anyone that goes to Rome. Like a lady we met from Alabama told us while we were eating at a nearby pizzeria "you must go see this building. Drop your religion at the door and embrace the beauty".
After the Vatican we got on our really really fast train to Florence, checked into our hotel and of course... a fiasco occurred. Originally Em and Sheryl were only going and I jumped on last minute so some of the hotels Emily couldn't change to 3 people (it's a HUGE ordeal when you don't tell them the correct number here), so I had to get my own room at another hotel a few blocks away for tomorrow night and the next. Oh well.
Today was a lazy day after that. We all crashed for 2-3 hours, took much needed showers and then got early dinner... shopped because Florence is the BEST area to shop for "good quality, special price for nice people", and now I am in an internet cafe about to call it an early night. I am starting to miss California but thankfully the weather has been tremendously perfect our whole trip. Belissima!

Roma, I LOVE ROMA!

Last night and today were magical. Last night, Em and I had a girls night on the Roman town. We got all dolled up in our new clothes and heels (not a great choice when you ended up walking the COBBLED roads for the nezxt 5 hours) and we headed to some of the hot spots to meet my future husband, an italian of course. So we walked to an area called Piazza Novana and I bought a beautiful street painting there and then we got some dinner, pizza of course. Em ended up flirting with the waiter enough to borrow his cell phone to call her friend from Rome, Danilo. It was pretty funny that she was calling a guy from this guy's cell who I'm certain was hoping for a night with one of us...or both. We met up with Danilo around midnight and he drove us all over Rome. I can't wait to post some of the pictures. The old buildings at night are gorgeous all lit up. We went to the Fontana di Trevi (seen in lots of movies), the Basillica, the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, and about 5 other buildings I cannot remember their names. Dani was a great tour guide giving us little details and stories (maybe not all true but who cares?)

Here is one picture of us in front of the Trevi Fountain. We did the traditional throwing of the coin. We wished for husbands... Haven't found him yet but there is still a few more days left of this trip. :)

I am in love with Italy and am so glad I still have two more stops in Italy before I have to go home. The language is by far my favorite (although I do love the English accent). When people talk they sound almost as if they are singing to you... its very beautiful. And the men... they love to flirt... what a nice change of scene seeing that the men back home can't figure that skill. 

After about 4 hours of sleep I got up and ready to go to the Colosseum with Sheryl (Em stayed in bed since she's seen it) We ended up buying tickets for later in the day and went back so we could take a guided tour under the ampitheatre: best choice I've made so far! I learned so much about the Roman Empire and why they built the Colosseum. Tonight we are meeting up with Dani again so it should be another adventure... but I'm going to be wearing flat shoes tonight. my 5 blisters are cussing at me still from last night. "pain is beauty" yes?

Paris Day 2, Versailles Day 1, and Rome Day 1

Okay.. so I haven't had a computer around and unfortunately these internet cafes don't have slots for my memory card. That means no pictures, but let me fill you in on the excitment we have seen the past three days.  Our second day in Paris was just as great as the first! We wanted to go see the Moulin Rouge and so we took the metro there first, and we met some tourists from Texas, it felt good to talk in English with someone who really understands you. Next we went to an area where there are all these street painters. They are random artists that do paintings of the Eiffel tower or the Arche... etc. Sheryl and Em bartered their paintings way down and they are beautiful. I didn't really see any that caught my eye so I came back empty handed. Then we went to the Champs de Elysses where the Arche de Triumph is and shopped!! It was lots of walking and lots of fun! We also went to the Eiffel Tower again at night to see it sparkle which is an incredible sight.
The next day we decided we had seen the major sites in Paris and traveled by nasty train to Versailles where there is an enormous Palace where Louis XIV lived. He was just as vain as Napoleon. SO GAUDY... but great for charging 15 € and walking around his old Palace in complete awe.  After we got back to Paris I mentioned to the girls that I wanted to see the sister Statue of Liberty. Emily had no idea that there was another in France. I only knew because of National Treasure (Literature and Media can teach you many things!) We found this quaint little walkway leading away from the staute towards the Eiffel Tower that we strolled on and I loved the peaceful atmosphere there. We flew out to Rome that night and WHAT AN EXPERIENCE THAT WAS! First, our taxi driver from our hotel in Paris didn't want to take us to the airport because it was far away but I used my charm and got him to agree anyways. We got there just as the gate was closing (oh, the taxi cost 180€... ridiculous but we were the idiots who booked a flight on the farthest Paris airport.) So in Europe they don't let you in when the gates close, no exceptions... unless.... our flight got delayed. THANKFULLY IT DID! So we checked our baggage and got through the securtiy and had an hour before our plane left. Thank you Jesus.
Our Hotel in Rome the first night was a 4 star and very nice compared to some of the others we had been in... AND WE EACH HAD OUR OWN BED! what a luxury. The next day (which is today) we got up and checked in to our next hotel, a bed and breakfast right next to the Vatican; then we went to the Vatican and saw the Sistine Chapel. WHAT A SIGHT TO BEHOLD! Just to think that Michelangelo painted that whole area (with some help) was hard to really comprehend. I really liked seeing all the biblical names and realized that there are a lot that are unfamilar to me, I'm guessing because they are books that were left out when the King James version was comprised.
That brings me to now. Right now I am sitting in a scary internet cafe while my clothes (garments included) are getting washed, dried, and folded by some immigrants down the street. I really don't even care... I AM IN ITALIA! oh... Melanie, I had some Chocolato Gelato for you already. I'll try to sneak some back for you sis.

Sidenote: If you want to feel beautiful girls here is some advice: go to Italy. The men here are all about flirting and telling you how beautiful you are. I love it. I want to live here, the culture is so different. The French were not all that impressive to me, no manners but nice when you needed help. I will say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Englishmen. They are all gentlemen and I liked the way they dressed there, with their coats collar up and fitted clothing. Chivalry isn't dead there either, which is always refreshing to know. CIAO!

I thought all was lost... thankfully I thought wrong!

Okay, I had a minor panic attack this morning. I went to look on my camera to show a picture to Em and my camera said "no files contained". FML....WTF....of course I started blaming the hotel computer for earasing them and of course this guy was on the computer for an hour so I decided I'll wait until tonight to check. knowing me and my worrisome self, I thought about it all day. Sorry Emily and Sheryl: when I get anxious or bugged I shut off so I was kinda gloomy all day. I just decided to stick my memory card in the computer and VIOLA! they were there. THANK THE LORD! CRISIS ADVERTED!!! So here are a few highlights from London:

 

I love this ad on the tube! 

 We went and saw the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace.

 This is at Portabello Market.... such a fun shopping area!

 

 I am on the London Bridge, with the beautiful Tower Bridge behind me

 WE GOT TO SEE WICKED... IN LONDON!!!!

This is a picture to shoz the mass of people there to see the changing of the guards... it really wasn't anything too spectacular. I can only imagine what it will be like for Prince William's wedding:

Paris Day 1

We made it to Paris today! After we left our luggage at the hotel, we made our way to the Louvre. It was so cool and really hard to not get lost in! Em's poor mom had to keep going up and down stairs while we tried to figure out where we were in the ENORMOUS building.  

Yes, I saw her... the Mona Lisa. Everyone says she is so small! I actually thought the painting was a pretty decent size. It's no Sistine Chapel but...

Next we went to Notre Dame during mass which meant it was free and a really cool experience.

I absolutely love stain-glass windows in cathedrals. What art!!

This is our hotel (Hotel France Eiffel), pretty cool location, wee? Good work Emily!

We dropped the very pooped out Momma Sheryl at the hotel and we ran to the Eiffel Tower to see the twinkling lights. I love this structure and the magnificent men who built it.

I love this shot, and yes it was all me... I laid on the nasty ground to get it. AMAZING!

Well, I now have a computer so I can upload pics for you to see. I will try to get some London ones on here tomorrow or later tonight.