I have been a busy girl since my return home about a week and a half ago. I have also been working on sleeping my jet lag off. I am finally going to try to write all about my week in Italy and about my week of adjusting back into American life with my family. I will start with that day that I left the manor until today...where did all the time go?
Friday April 21st...on the way to Italy
It was a sad day when I left the manor for the last time . Emotions were running high and believe it or not we were bored with nothing to do because we didn't leave the manor until 3am. After all the checkout procedures were completed we tried our hardest to occupy ourselves. The coach arrived and picked us up at 3am and we had a 2 hour ride to the Heather airport. We arrived there at about 5, checked in and flew out at about 7. I slept a little on our 3 hour plane ride to Rome but not much more before that. When we arrived in Rome around 11am we took a coach bus from the airport to to the hotel. The coach dropped us off and then we set out in search for the hotel. It really wasn't that far away from the hotel but we had taken a few wrong turns and ended up walking for 20 minutes. It was hot and all we wanted to do was sleep. We finally made it into our hotel room and settled into the room for a few hours. My roommates for the week were Lizzy, Amanda R. and Katie Del. Then we set out find the Colosseum which was not very far from our hotel. It was an amazing site and to imagine all the history that is within that Colosseum is amazing! We ate some Gelato...which is Italian for ice cream but wow!! It was like no other ice cream that I have had before. We ate it at least twice a day while in Italy. Next we walked around the Roman Forum which is a site with a ton of Roman ruins in it. It was so neat to see... one of my favorite things. After the Roman adventure we headed back to the hotel and after gathering ourselves together we went out to eat at an outdoor restaurant just down from our hotel where I had actual Italian pizza. It is thin crust, not much sauce and believe it or not...very yummy! Then back to the hotel and fell asleep from exhaustion.
Saturday April 22nd...First full day in Rome,
We got up for breakfast at 7:30am. The breakfast only consisted of bread and tea. Next we took a while to figure out how to use the bus system in order to get to the Vatican City. Once we finally figured it out we made our way to the Vatican, stood in a VERY long line for about an hour to get in. While waiting we got some gelato of course. In the Vatican city we saw alot of art and works by Michelagelo and Raphael. We saw the Sistine Chapel, an Egyptian Museum, and some famous statues that I studied about in Art History. It was really neat to see things in real life that I have learned about. We ate pizza again in the little cafe in the Vatican. We then walked slowly to some bridges that cross the famous Thymes River. We stopped at some shops along the way and I bought a hand painted scenery thing along with a wire picture frame. Got some Gelato...again:) Then we found our way to the Pantheon where there was a wedding taking place and as the bride and groom exited the building the tourists flooded in...it was a funny sight and of course we joined:) Next we made our way to the Trevi Fountain, it is a BIG fountain and it is said that if you throw 1 coin in you will come back to Rome, 2 you will fall in love in Rome, and 3 you will get married in Rome...I only threw one in because I am cheap. After that we ate at a palace of a Mc Donalds with a not so nice restroom. In Italy they don't believe in toilet seats so that was interesting. After that we went to the Spanish Steps at night and yes got some more gelato. The Spanish steps are where famous artists would come and be inspired. It was fun, we sat there for a while and got harassed by a guy selling flowers...there is a story there. We walked back to the hotel and were in bed by 12:30.
Sunday April, 23rd...last full day in Rome,
After breakfast we went to the Colosseum and went inside. It was a really neat experience and so amazing to think that I got togo onside of that historical building. After that I went with Setz and Megan. First we saw Roman soldiers on parade outside of the Colosseum and a big market type thing. We then slowly made our way to St Peter's Cathedral. On the way we got some gelato of course then ate a sandwich on the steps of a building, once we made it to St. Peter's we say the dome and the pieta (famous sculpture of Jesus and Mary by Micheangelo) The church is the 4th largest in the world. It is soooo immense. We walked across the bridge and then saw some of the illegal street vendors get caught and chased away by the polizia:) After that we found our way to see the spanish steps by day. There were so many people there it was insane:) On our walk back we got some doner kebab to eat then packed and had a few laughs with my roomies for the week:)
Monday April 24th...on the way to Florence,
We left Rome at 9am and took a 4 hour bus ride to Florence. The scenery was amazing on the way. When we first got there we weren't able to go onto our rooms, so I went with the boyz and Setz to a market were I bought a new bag. After we went back and took our things to our room we went back out and walked around the city. We saw some sites and did some shopping and ate some calzones...mmmm! Then we went back to the hotel and Setz and I went to the park by the hotel to hang out. Tiffany and Tina met us and we tried to mix Sangria(wine) from barcelona and gelato to make the wine taste better...it didn't work:) Then Josh and John came and we talked for a while and then played on the playground for a while until I face planted off of the swing. It was quite exciting I guess. I only scraped my face and had a fat lip.
Tuesday April 25th...full day in Florence
We ate breakfast at 9 and then went to the Duomo. It is a huge, highly decorated church. Then we went to San Marco Piazza and got a snack. After that we went to the Accedemia where the statue of David by Michelagelo is. It was really cool. It was a HUGE statue that is amazing when seen in real life. Then we went to the Ponte Veccho which is one of the only market bridges in the world that is still in operation. Then of course we needed to get our fix of gelato and then back to the hotel for a nap. At 6 we went out to eat for Lizzie's Birthday dinner. Then we got dessert and guess what it was? YUP...gelato:) Then we hung out at the piazza outside of our hotel. Then Megan and I went for a walk and hung out.
Wednesday April 26th...on the way to Venice
We left the hotel in Florence around 9 am and headed for Venice on a coach bus. We arrived in amazing Venice!! The canals and the peacefulness of this city put me in a state of awe. It was a 10 minute walk to our hotel which was in what seemed like a small allie, but in all reality it was just like all the other streets in the city, because there are no roads in the city everything is run by foot and canal. Venice is exactly what I pictured Italy to be like. We took a water taxi to Murano Island where all the glass is made. Right away when we got there a man directed us into a building where we got to watch some men making glass. It was so fun to see! They were speaking in another language so it was impossible to know what they were talking about. Then we went shopping and walked around the island. When we got back to Venice we went out to eat with a big group of people then got gelato for dessert of course and then I walked around a bit with Lizzie, Megan, and Tina. After a stop in an internet place I went to the hotel and played cards for a little bit in the boyz room.
Thursday April 27th....Full day in Venice,
It had been wonderful weather throughout our entire week in Italy until our last day in Venice and Italy at that. It was a bummer but we walked around and enjoyed the city regardless. In the beginning of the day we did some shopping of course, saw the Rialto Bridge, went to San Marco Piazza, ate pizza and took a water taxi back. We took a rest at the hotel and I packed for the fun trip back to England. Then we went for a wet Gondola ride, Gondolas are only used by tourists in Venice, they are expensive, but we thought it was a must because we were in Venice, so we did it and it was FUN!! We did a bit more shopping, met a bunch of people for supper...I had AMAZING lasagna! Got Gelato of course and the I walked around the city in the rain with Megan and Katie Ridgeway we went to San Marco Piazza and saw the Bridge of Sighs...then we walked back and went to bed to be refreshed for the trip back.
Friday April 28th...Back to England,
We got up and had breakfast at 7 and left the hotel at 8. We walked to and loaded our coach in the rain. We arrived at Marco Polo airport in Venice and had to wait in the check in line for quite some time because of some meeting. We had our 3 hour flight and got into Gatwick airport by London where we got on another coach bus to go to heathrow airport where we collected our luggage. There we met up with people from Harlaxton who had been on other trips and such. We found a spot to camp out for the night in the airport. After getting settled Megan and I took the underground into London to meet some people for supper. We went to a pub for a drink and some fish and chips. It was the last time I had fish and chips and cider in England:(. Then we took a walk over the millennium bridge and then walked along the river. There was a beautiful sunset to go along with the sights of London. It was a great end to my semester abroad. We shopped and walked around some more before seeing the others off. Then Megan and I walked around a bit more, got a cadbury egg mcflurry and took the underground back to our sleepy friends at the airport. Then I did my best to sleep but it was just a on and off thing until the airport started to buzz again at about 6 am.
Saturday April 29th...On my way home!!
After a night in the airport it was finally time to say goodbye and head back to the good ol' US of A! My plane took off at about 12:30 and it was a 8.5 hour ride. On the plane I just watched some movies, tried to sleep, and ate. Upon arrival into Chicago I went through all the landing stuff and then went through the door to see Tim and Jen! We headed for home and stopped at Applebees for supper on the way. I drove after that for the first time in 4 months! It was a strange feeling to be back home but a good one at the same time. When I got home Jill, Greg and Tim had a big welcome home sign at the end of the driveway and my friends put a sign on the door and when I came in the door... I saw peytie, mom and dad!! Peytie directed me upstairs to see the balloons and flowers that my aunt chris, grandma, and mom got for me! I know how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family that cares about me soo very much! I then got a call from Emily Eck:) and as I was getting ready to head to Becky's prom Heather came and surprised me! Once I was ready her and I picked up Lisa and went to the High School where Becky tackled me with a giant hug:). After the beautiful grand march heather and I danced for a while and then we went to Ann's house where Ashley surprised us and came over to. It was so nice to see then an spend an hour with them. After that I went to the high school and helped with post prom a bit. Then I was so tired from being up for almost 2 days straight that I wiped out at about 3am.
The Next Week,
I awoke at noon by Peytie and went to the golf course for brunch Sunday. The rest of the week is a blur I know that grandma and grandpa came to visit on Monday I worked at Cedar quite a bit during the week and on Thursday I went to Kathie and Jeff and Kathie chopped all my hair off. It is really short. The next weekend Heather was home and we hung out for a bit. It is now Tuesday May10th. I will be going to EC next week to visit and apply for jobs. It will be a good time I am sure. It is hard to believe that my semester in England. It was a wonderful time and I wouldn't change a single minute.
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