I'm old!!
It's been ages since I last updated, as I've had trouble with this website. Never seems to want to work when I find an internet cafe!
Anyway, from Barcelona, we went to the French Riviera. I went to Nice for a bit but it was Sunday and the French are still old fashioned in the sense that they only work 5.5 days a week - Sunday not included!!!! That night we went to Monte Carlo for a tour around and a go in the casino. I thought I'd put a couple of euro in the slot machine, just to say I've been there, done that! I came away with an extra 6.70 euro!! Not bad really as we were on the 10 cent machines!!
From there we headed to Florence, Italy. Beautiful city and rich in history (which European town isn't??!!). Learnt a lot about Michangelo and his work. Saw the fake David statue but couldn't be bothered waiting in the 2 hour line to see the real one!
Next stop was Rome!! The day we arrived, we went to the Vatican City as it would be closed for a religious holiday the next day. The line was 3 blocks long!! We nearly cried, as the heat was about 28 degrees!!! Luckily, the line moved really fast and only took us half an hour to get inside. It was beautiful. The Sistine Chapel was amazing! If we weren't on a time deadline, we could've stayed in there for a lot longer. The others tried to get into St Peter's church, but I'd been there 8 years ago, so didn't bother waiting in the lines. Cameron has done Rome as well, so we just hung out - and tried to work out where things were from Angels & Demons book (by Dan Brown).
The next day we had a tour guide to take us around the Colusseum and the Roman Forum. She gave us the extended version and at 9am and 25 degrees, we weren't caring too much! From there, a bunch of us went out for lunch to celebrate my birthday!! I can't believe I'm 21 again!!! After that, Cam and I headed back to the campsite for a snooze and long shower before everyone else got home! The joy of already seeing the city. At dinner a couple of girls from our tour gave me a cup that when filled with hot liquid, a guys pants disappear, and a box that looked like tic tacs, but are actually shaped as.......well, what's under those guys pants! NICE! After dinner our tour manager, Dave, got everyone in our group together and got them to sing Happy Birthday as loud as possible, so every single person at the campsite could hear them!!! Then as a present from the bus, I was given 50 euro! That's about $100NZ! Still have to decide what I want to buy with it. That night we partied it up at the onsite nightclub, which I am proud to say that I was one of the last to leave at 3am!!!
The next stop was Venice - the city built in the water! The temperature was HORRIBLE! Worst than Rome (which is the furtherest south we went). 8am in the morning and the sweat is dripping off us! First we went to a lace and glass blowing demonstrations - both famous from Venice. We wandered around ourselves for a few hours, but with the heat, most of ended up sitting in St Mark's square in the shade with some gelato! Then we all headed off for a gondola ride!! It's was so lovely - bottle of wine, some friends and a peaceful cruise through the canels.
Now we are in Vienna. Last night we went to a Mozart and Strauss concert. It was awesome actually. Even Cameron enjoyed it!!!!! Off to explore the city now. We're having PROPER Wiener Schnitzel (don't hassle the spelling!).
Thanks to those who sent birthday wishes. It was great to hear from you!!!!!
BYE FOR NOW!!!
Anyway, from Barcelona, we went to the French Riviera. I went to Nice for a bit but it was Sunday and the French are still old fashioned in the sense that they only work 5.5 days a week - Sunday not included!!!! That night we went to Monte Carlo for a tour around and a go in the casino. I thought I'd put a couple of euro in the slot machine, just to say I've been there, done that! I came away with an extra 6.70 euro!! Not bad really as we were on the 10 cent machines!!
From there we headed to Florence, Italy. Beautiful city and rich in history (which European town isn't??!!). Learnt a lot about Michangelo and his work. Saw the fake David statue but couldn't be bothered waiting in the 2 hour line to see the real one!
Next stop was Rome!! The day we arrived, we went to the Vatican City as it would be closed for a religious holiday the next day. The line was 3 blocks long!! We nearly cried, as the heat was about 28 degrees!!! Luckily, the line moved really fast and only took us half an hour to get inside. It was beautiful. The Sistine Chapel was amazing! If we weren't on a time deadline, we could've stayed in there for a lot longer. The others tried to get into St Peter's church, but I'd been there 8 years ago, so didn't bother waiting in the lines. Cameron has done Rome as well, so we just hung out - and tried to work out where things were from Angels & Demons book (by Dan Brown).
The next day we had a tour guide to take us around the Colusseum and the Roman Forum. She gave us the extended version and at 9am and 25 degrees, we weren't caring too much! From there, a bunch of us went out for lunch to celebrate my birthday!! I can't believe I'm 21 again!!! After that, Cam and I headed back to the campsite for a snooze and long shower before everyone else got home! The joy of already seeing the city. At dinner a couple of girls from our tour gave me a cup that when filled with hot liquid, a guys pants disappear, and a box that looked like tic tacs, but are actually shaped as.......well, what's under those guys pants! NICE! After dinner our tour manager, Dave, got everyone in our group together and got them to sing Happy Birthday as loud as possible, so every single person at the campsite could hear them!!! Then as a present from the bus, I was given 50 euro! That's about $100NZ! Still have to decide what I want to buy with it. That night we partied it up at the onsite nightclub, which I am proud to say that I was one of the last to leave at 3am!!!
The next stop was Venice - the city built in the water! The temperature was HORRIBLE! Worst than Rome (which is the furtherest south we went). 8am in the morning and the sweat is dripping off us! First we went to a lace and glass blowing demonstrations - both famous from Venice. We wandered around ourselves for a few hours, but with the heat, most of ended up sitting in St Mark's square in the shade with some gelato! Then we all headed off for a gondola ride!! It's was so lovely - bottle of wine, some friends and a peaceful cruise through the canels.
Now we are in Vienna. Last night we went to a Mozart and Strauss concert. It was awesome actually. Even Cameron enjoyed it!!!!! Off to explore the city now. We're having PROPER Wiener Schnitzel (don't hassle the spelling!).
Thanks to those who sent birthday wishes. It was great to hear from you!!!!!
BYE FOR NOW!!!
posted by Jacki @ 8:24 pm
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