This blog has not been updated, not because I am not traveling and not because I am not writing, but I just have not been writing here. I have not taken any long overseas trips anytime lately. If you want to stay on top of my writing, please find me at Inspired to Write (my blog), Suite 101 (travel articles) , and HubPages (mixed writing). Thanks for stopping by.... read more

I have finished my trip and I wanted to add closing thoughts to all of those who have been reading--thank you by the way. My last weekend in Barcelona and Europe was enjoyable and I managed to squeeze in Monserrat and any last minute photos of Barcelona I may have not snapped. Lisa (my flatmate) and I went to the Cultural Museum on Sunday and the currrent exhibit was titled "The Apartheid". While it was compelling, it had a sobering affect on us as well. I needn't get into too many of the reasons for this obvious affect. But, it was a reminder of all the places in the world that have it worse than us. It also reminded me personally as an American of the things that have happened and still happens in the Unted ... read more

Yesterday we took a day trip up to Figueres to the place where Salvador Dali was born, where he died in 1989, and also where his museum was built in 1974. He was quite an intelligent, eccentric, and egotistical man(slash)aristic genious. He was quite proud and a bit arrogant about his accomplishments. I love this quote,by Salvador Dali himself... "Each morning when I awake, I experience again a supreme pleasure - that of being Salvador Dali." or another one..."I don't do drugs - I am drugs." Well looking at some of his art you would think he did take drugs though. But, he allowed much of the subconcious thoughts come through in his art. His biggest inspiration was Gala, his lover and later wife. She is in many of his paintings and he was quite obsessed ... read more

After buying some food including antipasto, cheese, salad, and wine, we had a spectacular dinner made by our host Sergio, in Riomaggiore. It was so much food and it was wonderful!! We all went to sleep and mom and I left the next day to go to a town south of France called Nice. We arrived and found a hotel near the train station and headed off to explore the town. It was a lovely little town with lots to see. It was near the ocean and had lots of great seafood. We had to change gears from listening and speaking Italian to French. The days we spent there inlcluded taking the train to Monaco and Monte Carlo which were towns only 15 minutes away. We actually joined a quick tour of the two towns on ... read more

So, Cinque Terre is a place in Northwest Italy, near La Spezia. It is on the water, but it is more like the west coast than Florida, with cliffs and rocky beaches. So, it is so beautiful and there are small mountains adjacent to this place. You can hike all 5 towns which is what many people do. It takes atleast 5 hours, and the last few hikes are a lot of work, but so worth it. After you finish, you will build up an appetite so you can eat great fresh seafood and pasta to devour at the end of the day. We hiked them all in one day and then took the train back to Riomaggiore which is where we stayed. Ah, about that. Well, when we arrived in Cinque Terre, we had no ... read more