FINALLY!

It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally going to write about the trip! I've been meaning to, I made up excuses not to, I still don't have all my (over 1,000) pictures from the trip off my memory cards....blah, blah, blah. I've had it with myself.

So for those of you who care, I'm finally going to start writing about my amazing trip!

I'm back!

A little jet-lagged.

Still digesting all the beautiful things I saw.

We've been home about four days now and I'm very thankful that I live with one of the girls that was on the trip. Otherwise I might have been going through withdrawals.

I'm getting to the point where I can begin looking back on the trip; I've had to let distance develop to think clearly. As I get settled in back here at home (though not too settled; I move out in less than two months) I'll begin writing up the trip here on the blog to share with you all. Pictures will come....eventually. I took tons. Over a thousand. And have the tiniest smidgen of memory on my computer. So it may take me a while to figure out how that's going to work.

But look for a walk through of the trip soon!

When in Rome...

I look like a frickin' tourist!

But thanks to the giant group I'm with and the wonderful Target bag I have, no one has even tried to pick-pocket me.

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. This city is huge. I suppose I'll write up a summary of our trip thus far -- it would be logical to do so in chronological order.

VENICE:

Was nice. Small. Very touristy. (That gave it minus a few points) But in the evening, when most people had gone back to their cruise ships and it was cooler, the city was wonderful. My favorite was the water front. A cool breeze, great gelato, and lots of laughs. It was the perfect place to start with because you can never really get lost. I mean, you're on an island.

FLORENCE:

Oh. My. Goodness. My favorite city so far. The place reeks of history, art and Michelangelo.

*sigh*

Can I go back please?

We saw Michelangelo's David. I cried. Honesty.

ROME:

Get me out.

Okay, so the ruins are cool, the coliseum was neat. The Sistine chapel was beautiful, but I was jaded from the museum by the time we got there and couldn't fully appreciate it. The Vatican was beautiful, but again, I was tired. What made that trip was getting to see Michelangelo's Pieta (through bullet proof glass...). I teared up. (Can you tell I'm a fan?)

If I was here with perhaps one other person and we had more time, I would like Rome. But in this heat and large group I just get tired and feel dirty.

Get me to the Italian coast please! Which is where we are going tomorrow. Thank goodness.

Dear Mom, Dad Rick, Dad Mike, and Jen,

I am having a wonderful time in Italy. The art is beautiful, the people mostly kind. I think I like the smaller towns better here, but it is all a wonderful experience. I promise I am being safe, I'm even remembering to put on sunscreen. I am having the best food of my life and am planning on trying to recreate it for the rest of my life. I am also seeing beautiful art that is completely changing me. I'm gaining new ideas, knowledge and am eager to be back in a place where I can work on my own art. This trip is creating in me a thirst for learning I've never had before. I am quite disappointed that next year will be me senior year. I feel like I am just getting started. Thank you for always letting me peruse what is in my heart and supporting me in what I choose. I love you all; tell my sisters the same.

A Plethora of Places

If you so care to follow me/my group during our adventure in Italy and France, there are plenty of ways to do so!

First is obviously this blogg. It's my personal one and I'm not certain how often (if at all) I will be able to update it. I'm guessing that many of my posts will come after the trip. I'm planning on posting excerpts from my journal, reflecting and sharing stories. But feel free to follow here or bookmark the page, just in case!

Secondly is the group's blogg. That ,I know, will be updated during the trip, including pictures. :-)

Thirdly is Facebook! If you'd like you can join or check the Facebook group for our trip.

Lastly, is a Wiki page. I don't think that will be updated on the trip...I believe it is mainly an information center. Though, I really have no idea.

So check them all! Bookmark your preferred site, and feel free to attempt getting in touch with me!

ONE WEEK!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have barely started packing.

Last night I went out and got an XL camping towel from R.E.I. (They're having a big sale right now). Now I can wash my clothes in the sink, thanks to these little handy-dandy detergent sheets my mom picked up for me, then roll them dry with that towel! It's even big enough to double as a towel for myself if I need it.

I also bought sweats! Which are unrelated to the trip; I'm just glad to finally have a pair of sweats that fit.

I've started throwing little things into the backpack that I'm taking like wet-wipes, sanitizer, grungy flip-flops (for the shower), etc. It's really time for me to start packing though. *Deep breath* I'm going to pack up my clothes in zip-lock bags, find a way for everything to fit and still have room for stuff I'll buy. :-D

This is going to be interesting.... I'll perhaps update you on how it's going. If I somehow have time.

less than two weeks!

Soooo.....

It's been a while.

But we're leaving in less than two weeks!!!

I'm super excited.

A new friend of mine is letting me borrow her backpack that she used on this same trip a few years ago. When she left it was only 10 pounds. When she came back it was only 15. My goal is to meet or beat that.

I doubt it'll happen. But I'm gonna try!

A few weeks ago for our final, we had to pack everything we were going to

take and go on a 30 minute hike around town, including going up and down stairs and hoisting our luggage up above our heads. Everyone packed pretty light. Mark was impressed.

I was hoping I could just keep everything I had packed in my suitcase until we left for the trip....but I wanted to wear some of the clothes that were in there. So I wrote down what I took out. But it's definitely not a comprehensive list.

Now I have a completely different set-up to work with. It'll be interesting. I'm pretty sure I'll prefer the backpack though.

Less than two weeks! I'll try to keep you updated.

Trip Overview

Alright.  So this is our route from the US to Italy, then France, and back home.

June 1st we leave from Seattle, WA on a plane to Frankfurt.  From there we catch a train into our first stay, Venice.  We get to explore the channels of this sinking city for two days enjoying the sites, music and food - including a gelato shop (Fantasy Gelato) that one of my professors says is the best in Italy.

Then we move to Michalangelo's home town, Florence.  There we get to see priceless works of art such as Michalangelo's David and the Birth of Venus (one of my favorites).

From there we move to Assisi.  As in Saint Francis of Assisi.

Next is the capital, ROME.  Here we are staying right across from the coliseum!

Then we are on to Cinque Terra, for nothing but relaxing.  Cinque Terra is a combination of five small fishing towns right along the coast.  Brightly colored buildings hug the cliffs of the coast and boats tied to their docks fill the harbor.  The only thing we're doing here for a couple days is relaxing, swimming, hiking, anything we want.  The water is so clear that if you swim out a ways in the calm water you can see clear down 30 feet.  The only way I will be able to leave this beautiful coast is knowing that our next stop is France!

We will take the chunnel over to France and move our way to Arles.  I believe here we get to see Van Goah pieces.

Then we move on to Carcassone, a completely medieval town complete with ramparts and moats.  I plan on taking pictures posing like Robin Hood.  We are staying just outside the city here, and then moving on to Rocamadoor.  It is here that legend says Zachius brought mother Mary's remains after she died.  He traveled up to what is now known as France, at the time barely populated.  He rode up rivers as far as he could until he came to this secluded area.  He then carried her remains high into the cliffs to guard.  Over time however others slowly discovered him there (as often happens with sacred items).  They built a monastery there keeping the remains of the Modonna hidden.  Then during the times of the crusades, knights would often make this place one of their last stops before they went off to battle.  They would buy a candle and on their knees pray and climb hundreds of stairs to get to the Black Madonna then pray before her.  We get to visit and pay our respects as well.

Then as we move on we will find ourselves in the Loire Valley.  Here was a court of France and the area is filled with beautiful estates.  When I have been drug away from this beautiful country, we will be in another medieval town.

Chartres is filled with Gothic cathedrals that we will be allowed to roam (with our knees and shoulders covered, of course).  Then, to the capital!

PARIS!  The city of love.  Here we will go to the Louver, travel out to Versailles if we wish and explore!  By this last stop on our trip we will have mainly free time.

All over I plan to journal, take pictures, try wonderful food, and shop a little.  I’m so excited!  I’ll keep you updated on each location as I get more information on it.