Venice - one of my favorites I was in Venice in January!!!! The gondaliers were on strike. I walked and walked and walked some more - not a lot of tourists around. Went into every patisserie and had a hot drink as I walked. I loved Venice...It was so romantic and I didn't miss a car at all. My hotel was wonderful. The keys were huge and you left your key at the desk when you went out. It was way too ornate to carry with you. The breakfast was delightful and I really didn't want to leave but I had to catch a train to Paris. I relived Venice through your blog. Would love to take Mr. Honeycutt - wonder how he would survive????? I'm still here and expect to be here when you return. Could I interest you in some vino and bruschetta in exchange for a play-by-play of your trip????
Wish I was there!!! Hi Steph! Things have finally calmed down with my summer classes to sit and enjoy reading your entries. Wow what an experience you are having! A year ago this time Erin and I were in Sweden and Denmark, and a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought about wanting to go back and experience more of Europe. Your pictures are amazing. I can't wait to see more, and hear stories. I totally understood your experience at the grocery store and figuring out how to find your way in a foreign city. While in Sweden, I finally decided if I kept waiting around to find someone to go with me places, I'd spend a lot of time going nowhere. So, off I went. It was exhilarating to think that I was finding my way around a European city alone! I found some amazing things on that evening walk. Mind you, I was a little nervous, and the map was kind of hard to read, but I did it! The grocery store was a hoot. Finally, a sweet english speaking customer walked with me back to the water section and helped me understand about "gas" or "no gas". Do they put ice in drinks in Italy? One night I literally tipped a waiter big time to fix me an iced tea with ice in it. It was delicious! Oh, and about the hot violin player.........I seem to remember something about another one that caught your eye not too long ago......hmmmmm......interesting. Well......gotta go study for one more final. Love you, and I'll look forward to more of your entries. Nina
sister! haha. heyy. i'm glad you're having such a great time! and even though all the museums and architecture would probably get old for me in about a week...i can tell you are definitely in your element. =] don't study too hard. and remember to go out to the bars and flirt with some hot Italian guy. hahaa. miss you and love you!
Love your blog! Stephanie: I love your writings! I feel as if I were right there with you. I, too, was blown away by the art and in my case, the organs that are still played magnificently in all the churches. The arts are so much more appreciated in European culture and there seems to be a genuine love for them. (Eye candy helps too!!!). Love the pictures, had no idea the mosquitos were so bad, love gelato, this opera season I ordered two box seats for the Lyric - you'll have to go to one of the four operas with me and continue to test your Italian!! Continue to write - it makes me feel as though I am right there with you. Fondly, Ms. J
Italian supermarkets Glad you're enjoying your stay in Florence. Make sure you buy some bottled water while you're in the supermarket, it works out much cheaper. As for things being written in Italian, you are actually in Italy the same as if you were in France you would find things written in French. Why do you think things should be written in English? After Venice I find Florence one of the most expensive Italian cities, I visited last year and found most things, such as bars and restaurants, a complete ripoff and very tourist orientated. I live in Lazio near Rome where things are a fraction of the price. Hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday. Kind regards.
Excited for You On my first trip to Europe, I landed in Munich and I skiied in Austria for a week. I eurailpassed to Switzerland, Italy, France, Leichtenstein (spent eight days in each country) and back to Munich. I skiied from one country to another, took the TGV, walked the Rialto in Venice, had a private tour of Versailles, stayed with an only French-speaking woman and her Lebanese husband (she took me to Versailles and we were in places the public wasn't allowed to visit), was hugged and kissed by so many men and women I lost count, ate different foods (probably shouldn't have asked what it was in their native languages), and drank many wines (some from home vineyards and downstairs cellars). Did the old wine, cheese, bread picnic (as delicious as everyone says - sort of like hotdogs at a ballgame). Wouldn't have traded it for the whole world. Still bring out my "memory box" and read my handwritten journals of everything I did. It seems like only yesterday. I'm ready to go again and would in a heartbeat. The jet lag is worse coming back than going over. Do everything you are told about adjusting to the time. Fake out your mind and body to European time. Can't wait to read your next entry. Ms. Janice
Ms. Janice
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Venice - one of my favorites
I was in Venice in January!!!! The gondaliers were on strike. I walked and walked and walked some more - not a lot of tourists around. Went into every patisserie and had a hot drink as I walked. I loved Venice...It was so romantic and I didn't miss a car at all. My hotel was wonderful. The keys were huge and you left your key at the desk when you went out. It was way too ornate to carry with you. The breakfast was delightful and I really didn't want to leave but I had to catch a train to Paris. I relived Venice through your blog. Would love to take Mr. Honeycutt - wonder how he would survive????? I'm still here and expect to be here when you return. Could I interest you in some vino and bruschetta in exchange for a play-by-play of your trip????