puppylover22's Guestbook

Jess the Brave One
Do you know that children's book? I just wanted to remind you how much those of us who know (and love) you enjoy your fabulous travelogue. You are so full of life! Your voice comes through in every entry - funny, free-spirited, full of curiosity. Bring on the questionable wine, the riot police, the strudel stealer - "I'm not afraid, I'm Canadian!" You make us smile.

Hello, from a fellow travelblogger! I'm going to be traveling to Italy in a month or two and was wondering if you could give me some advice on getting around. I want to see...well, everything...and thought that a train pass would be easiest. The only one I've seen offers just three days within two months - I'll be in Italy for a week and want to travel more than that! I'm also a student. Any advice? Email: travel_goddess@hotmail.co.uk

Hi Jess and Derek, A shame that Venice was so expensive. I seem to remember it being quite a bit cheaper than Rome when we were there years ago. Hope you like Vanity Fair. I read it a few years back and liked it - as I recall it dealt alot with the road to dispair when pursuing a course of trying to keep-up an expensive, fashionable lifestyle to impress the Jones's. I certainly hope that your most recent outbreak of bug bites receed soon. Alec will be arriving in Honolulu next week so it will be great to see him again. I really hope that you like Venice. I had a marvellous time their while attending a Mollusc Symposium about 6 years ago. It's really a charming city. Love Mom

Hi Jessica. Venice was our favourite city when your Dad and I were in Italy. I hope it is just as lovely in the winter. Mind you, in certain spots it is necessary to hold breath as the sewage pipes occasionally spring leaks and the smell is pretty ripe! As an undergraduate, I took a course titled "The Roman Republic" as an Arts option. It really made seeing the sites of Rome all that more interesting, although most of the big historical monuments are from the Empire period. We ate lots of pizza in Italy because it was the only thing that we could afford.

holy!!!
man jess! i can't believe all the places you've been already!!!! that's so awesome!!! say hi to derek from me!!

Vatican Guards
I should have mentioned that they took your camera but gave it back when you left the Vatican if you tried to take a picture in the Sistine Chapel. It was still under restoration (in 1989) and they only let a limited number of people in a time. As neat as the Coliseum was I much more enjoyed wandering the Forum and the Palatine hill all day with a detailed guidebook that identified all the sites. It was 35oC and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We'll compare pics when you get home. Don't forget to have a bologna sandwich (you'll have as much trouble trying to get a Danish in Copenhagen).

Harlequins
You'll have to keep your eyes open for the Swiss guards at the Vatican with uniforms designed by Michelangelo.

You can see the rest of the Acropolis when you go back through London...most of it is in the Royal Museum :)

Have good fun in Europe!
Ha Jessica, Derrick, Mark! I just quickly read al your story's from the last copple of weeks and it looks like you all had an amazing time in Malysia! I like that because i "have" to spend there 2 weeks at the end of February. At the moment I am in Angkor Wat (Cambodia) and it is amazing over here. The Tempels are even more beautiful then I already aspected (and I had really high expectations)! Vietnam was like a rollercoaster (big up's and downs). If you compare Bangkok with the big cities of Vietnam, then Bangkok is like a nice friendly, cousy, quiet city. But Vietnam has also some incredible nature (halong bay; mekong delta, central highlands) and some beautiful small villages. But overall I really had a good time overthere! So enjoy your time in Europe (I hope you have nice wetter) and if you're in Holland in March or April ( I fly back 28th of February), send a mail and maybe we can meet again! Greetings, Joost

Hye
Hye Jess...That was the nice story about your travel to Singapore...I hope u`ll tell more about something new in Singapore that I never heard of...Take care...See ya..

Hello from Elora!!!
Wow. Sounds like you're having the time of your life! Are you looking forward to coming back to Canada? Thanks for the Christmas card, and we hope to see you in August. Take care, jess.