http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Italy en-us Wed, 02 Dec 09 22:58:26 +0000 Wed, 02 Dec 09 22:58:26 +0000 Hi everyoneIt has been so busy over here that I have not had a moment to write about my adventures. Last I left you I was headed on my midsemester break to Ireland. It was a great time My friend Mary and I traveled throughout Ireland together. It was her first time there and my thirdhellipbut I love it every time I go. We stayed with Uncle Phil and Aunt Rita while in Dublin. They were great w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Siena/blog-457289.html SO SORRY I haven't written in so long time just got away from me completely I didn't even realize it had been so long I will start by saying... I BOUGHT SHOES They are the most beautiful heels I love them. They are a sort of suede like material all black pretty tall with sort of looped ribbon of the same material down the front. I wore them to a birthday party in a private room by on http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Bergamo/blog-457276.html Here I will write something about how horrible Florence was but how awesome the people at Festival Della Creativita that we met were. Shout outs to Mike from Vancouver and Peter and Abby from the NL. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-456537.html The weekend after Fall Break me my roommate Caryn our friend Abby from our program and another friend Matt went to Ravenna which is about an hour and a half from Florence. We took a train which was not that expensive. When we got there it was confusing on which way to go first. We eventually figured out where to go first to buy tickets. We bought tickets for all 4 places to see the mosaics http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Emilia-Romagna/Ravenna/blog-455853.html Foreign travelers to Italy sometimes ask how to dress so as not to look out of place among the fashionable Italians.So we can surely give you some smart tips. Dressing as Italians do may also be a matter of security in bigger cities it may be more secure not to look too obviously like a tourist.Italians are very fashionconscious but more importantly they are very respectful of traditions and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/blog-455599.html Stereotypes always tend to have some truth mixed in with a few generalizations and a bit of exaggeration. Letrsquos see whatrsquos true in the Italian stereotypeSpaghetti and pasta in general are sacred. You cannot take pasta away from an Italian meal otherwise it wonrsquot be complete. And a good meal should always be shared with someone else. It is a way to share conversation and jokes f http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/blog-455591.html Limone sul Garda the lovely town on the Western banks of Lake Garda province of Brescia with less than one thousand inhabitants recently took the international spotlight for the 'longevity protein' found in the blood of several of its citizens. The story of the discovery of Apolypoprotein A1 Milan began in 1979 when a railway employee who was born in Limone but had lived in Milan for over 2 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/blog-455588.html The Settimane Musicali di Stresa e del Lago Maggiore are with no doubt among the bestknown European classical music festivals every year they offer to their audience performances by internationally famous artists.In 20010 the Stresa Festival will inaugurate its 49th edition with the Spring Concerts five openair events entitled Flowery staves performed in the beautiful gardens of the lake.Now t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Maggiore/blog-455377.html EMERGENCIES Ospedale Santo SpiritoTel. 0668351Ospedale Regina MargheritaVia Morosini near StandaViale TrastevereFatebenefratelliTiber IslandSan Giacomo in AugustaVia Canova 29 Via del CorsoCentro Antiveleni Poison CenterTel. 06490663Guardia Medica Medical GuardTel. 0658201030Free emergency medical help to be called only at night in case of emergency.HOSPITALS CLINICS Salvator Mund http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-455374.html An Extraordinary Wealth of Culture Today anyone who visits Torino will experience the hospitality of a great European capital the hotels restaurants night spots information and products offered by the www.RomanticaTours.com will enable visitors to enjoy a rich and varied stay. Lovers of classical culture will soon discover that Torino is the Italian capital of the Baroque and Liberty styles http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Piedmont/blog-455373.html There are so many reasons to visit Turin Torino its Province and the Piemonte Region. Here a holiday becomes a sequence of trips first through the hills of the Canavese exploring castles and towers sanctuaries and abbeys royal residences and parks. Then through the Olympic Mountains magnificent when covered in snow amongst the ski resorts that hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics.Then the Citt http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Piedmont/blog-455371.html The second largest province in Italy Brescia offers countless things to see and do the city the lakes the valleys the mountains culture nature food and wine sport.BRESCIABrescia is a beautiful Italian art city.It has very ancient origins the Cenoman Gauls being the first to set a colony and name the area after the Celtic word brig or briga mountain fortress. They became faithful alli http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Brescia/blog-455369.html So Elyse and I spent our first weekend apart since Europehellipseriously the first time we have been apart for more than an hour since we arrived here So while Elyse spent the weekend relaxing and exploring Venice I went off to Rome with some other people from our class. Herersquos the lowdown on my Roman excursion The good the bad and the uglyThe good Rome is officially tied with Lond http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-455364.html You will have the opportunity to spend a stimulating afternoon in an intimate atmosphere exploring the world of musical drama and tasting prestigious local wines and appetizers chosen for the occasionAnteprima Opera Introduction to the Opera is a preperformance talk whose aim is to introduce the audience to the plot and the main aspects of the opera event which will take place on the same eve http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Verona/blog-455349.html You will have the opportunity to spend a stimulating afternoon in an intimate atmosphere exploring the world of musical drama and tasting prestigious local wines and appetizers chosen for the occasionAnteprima Opera Introduction to the Opera is a preperformance talk whose aim is to introduce the audience to the plot and the main aspects of the opera event which will take place on the same eve http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Verona/blog-455346.html Gourmands and wine connoisseurs alike lap up an afternoon in Florence tasting an assortment of cheeses and Tuscan favorites on this exclusive adult's only foodlovers' tour.Set in a Florentine wine bar this small group maximum 12 people offers the ideal opportunity to taste locally sourced cheeses accompanied by the many flavors of figs truffle honey and aromatic strawberry vinegar.With your http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-455344.html The Cruiser Bike Tour is the most appropriate to visit the entire historical center of Rome in less time then simply walking from the Colosseum to the Imperial Forums from the Vatican City to the beautiful Piazza di Spagna and much more Our Escorted Cruiser Bike Tours is very fun for the whole family individual and groups who would like to discover Roma with an expert Tour Leader so Enjoy Rome http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-455339.html Day 34 RomeWe got up rather late and ate breakfast across the street at Yellow a bar that is somehow connected with our hotel Hotel Romae the Groovy Hotel. Instead of getting breakfast from the hotel we are given a 7 euro credit there and they had a great vegetarian breakfast for 8 euros....It is located in an old Art Nouveau cafe...beautiful woodwork...We then walked to the ruins of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-455306.html Day 32 Day 33 RomaOther than having to change hotels a few times but they have all been in the same block our first two days in Rome have been wonderful...the weather continues to be sunny and mild getting cool at night...We spent Saturday fist doing the Roman sights...the Colosseum the forums and a great information center on the area with some new digs right nearby...we finished the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-455094.html Day 28 SiracusaWe headed out to Archeological Museum in the late morning walking there from the hostel. The museum is outstanding it covers prehistory to Roman times and has artifacts from many sites in Sicily. We took more than 2 hours to go through even with some hurrying at the end since we wanted some time outside in the beautiful sunshine. We walked past the remains of one of Siracu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/Taormina/blog-455091.html