Euro Trip....when in Rome...

Written March 10th, 2008

Hey guys! Buon giorno!!

I'm happy to report that Brian and I made it safely to Rome and it is an absolutely breathtaking city!!! We're staying at a cute little bed and breakfast in the heart of the city. Yesterday we started our day at the Colosseum and it was completely surreal seeing it for the first time!!! I took tons of pictures of course so every angle of it is documented, haha. We had pizza for lunch and it was to die for. We then went to the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and walked all through the city. I stopped to take a picture every 5 steps because everywhere you turn there is something beautiful to see. For dinner we went to this cute area of town called Trastervere with narrow winding streets...it was hard to pick a restaurant because there were so many charming ones....but the one we picked was great. I got gnocchi and Brian had lasagna and we shared a bottle of Chianti. Let's just say we weren't the least bit disappointed. Italy officially has the best Italian food I've ever had, which makes sense, haha. We then went to a bar near our hotel that was playing techno club music, one of the songs had Detroit in it's lyrics and we thought that was hilarious... I think we were the oldest people there, it was fantastic people watching. European guys have very interesting haircuts and they really love their gel. Today we are headed to the Vatican, The Pantheon (which I have been excited to see since my art class) and Piazza Navonna to name a few destinations. Tomorrow we take a train to Florence at 3...I'll be sad to leave Rome, but I'm excited to see Florence too!

-Danielle





The very beautiful Trevi Fountain


Victorio Emanuel Monument...it's huge!


About to make a wish in the Trevi Fountain to guarantee our return to Rome:)


Looking over Rome


St. Peters Square in the Vatican


My favorite room in The Vatican museum


Pretty bridge along our walk from The Vatican to The Pantheon


One of many amazing Italian dinners...bread and olive oil with every meal, loved it!


After an extensive search for the store we found Rome the Gnome Jr. (yes there is a story behind this:)


Joey our new Italian friend we made in our random bar stop on the walk home...check out our crazy drinks.


The Pantheon at night...I love this picture


American Mom and Daughter who were on our tour of the Vatican and that we randomly saw again hours later in a whole in the wall bar by Piazza Navona....we shared stories and they loved Rome the Gnome, haha. Good times.




Roman Forum



Victorio Emanuel Monument


It is surreal to stand in front of The Colosseum


First of my jumping pics across Europe...inside the Colosseum


Inside The Pantheon...amazing!



Standing in front of St. Peter's basilica

***Top 10 list- Favorite things about Rome

(in no particular order)

• The Vatican, absolutely amazing...seeing the Sistine Chapel in person, priceless




• St. Peter's Basilica...I love buildings that make you feel small




• buying Rome the Gnome Jr.




• The Pantheon




• The Colleoseum... of course...being anywhere that originated in 70 A.D. is awesome




• Eating pizza in Italy...does it get any better?




• Making a wish in Trevi fountain




• Enjoying the delicious gnocchi in Trastevere




• One word...gelatto...yum




• Being able to say "when in Rome" in Rome ;)
  

Rome is high on my list of places I have been lucky enough to see!!!

Ok getting this blog back on track...

I didn't realize how time consuming blogging would be...I just couldn't fit it in while on the 3 week European Adventure of a lifetime...however I did fit in email updates to my friends and family so I think I will post each of those to document my 9 stops in Europe. Enjoy!!

Eurotrip 2008

I'm currently traveling all over Europe for 18 days....it's a blast!! Destinations Rome, Florence, Venice, Dublin for St. Patty's Day, Scotland, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague and Geneva Switzerland!



As soon as I can I will update my blog with each stop of the trip! Ciao!



Danielle

Adventures in Barcelona

Buenos Dias!!

I am having the time of my life here in Barcelona. Every weekend my roommates and I go site-seeing and we have had the opportunity to see a lot! Plus the weather has been absolutely fabulous which makes exploring all the more fun. Recently we took a helicopter ride above the city which was a great experience!!! The views were amazing and it wasn´t scary in the least bit. Below are some of my favorite pics of the flight etc. I highly recommend taking a helicopter ride if you have never been:)



Posing with the pilot before our flight...we were all really excited.


I got to sit in the front which was awesome



Check out that water



The pilot and I.....:)



Love this pic!!!



The Mediterranean Sea:)



Barcelona




The Port Olimpica high rise buildings



View of our apartment from above (reddish building)



View from above the water




Team BCN and the pilot, he was great.




View of Tibidabo from the air....such a beautiful church



What a sweeeet experience!

"May you live all the days of your life"- JS

Cheers!

-Danielle

Me encanta Barcelona

Hola from Spain!!!!


Everything went very smoothly with the trip over to Spain and I have now been living in Barcelona for 2 and a half weeks. I am absolutely loving it here!!! I am here getting certified to teach English as a foreign language and the course is going well. It´s a lot of work because we have lessons in the morning about teaching techniques, grammar etc. and then in the afternoon we teach real English learners. Although a little nerve-racking at first teaching actual students is such an invaluable experience and I am thankful I get to do so. I definitely feel I made the right decision in coming here to take this course.


On a lighter note exploring Barcelona has been a blast. Every weekend my roommates and new friends from Seattle Kelcie and Jennifer and I go site-seeing in an effort to see all we can! They are a ton of a fun and we get along great which has made this experience all the better. Also I have met tons of really cool people here from all over Europe and am completely inspired to gain more experience living abroad. It´s so fun to meet people with all different native languages, backgrounds and stories. In addition, my apartment is right near the beach which is so nice for obvious reasons:).







With my roomies Kelcie and Jennifer at Park Guell






I love living right by the beach.






New friends from Germany @ Q-Bar






Park Guell!!!






At Gaudi´s Park Guell....my favorite site in Barcelona thus far:)




View from Park Guell...you can see all the way to the beach and Mediterranean Sea!





Gaudi Museum in Park Guell





In front of Casa Batllo one of Antoni Gaudi´s most famous buildings








Casa Batllo, the roof is supposed to be a dragon´s back ad the balconies are inspired by carnival masks and represent the dragon´s victims.





Posing with my roommate and new friend Jennifer from Seattle




Team BCN shadows on Passeig de Gracia





"Be happy in this moment... for this moment is your life"



Absolutely loving this experience:)





-Danielle

Barcelona or bust!

I leave for Spain in 1 day and I can't believe it's finally here!!!

I am so excited to be in Barcelona and have yet to get nervous about the trip, however I think when I get off the plane reality will set in and I'll probably think whoa I'm really doing this...:)

I got my accommodation information this week and I'll be living in an apartment with two other girls from the TEFL certification class. It will be interesting to meet them, feels like a blind date or something;) The apartment building is close to the school and to the beach! Love it!

I can't wait to hear Spanish all the time, meet new people and see all the unique Atoni Gaudi architecture....I have a feeling I may never want to leave!

Well I will report back from Barcelona, Spain!!! Adios! Wish me luck!!


-Danielle

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money." ~Susan Heller

It's official...

I officially have my plane tickets and travel plans for my BIG European adventure...

Figured I should post my plan...the itinerary is as follows...


Feb. 8th-March 8th, 2008...living in Barcelona while getting my TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language if you aren't up on this acronym;) I will be living with two other students of the program. I'm SO excited!!


March 9th-March 27th...Traveling around Europe with my friend Brian...going to Rome, Florence, Venice, Dublin for St. Patrick's Day (So fricken pumped!), Scotland, Amsterdam, Germany and Switzerland. (Not sure what cities yet in Germ. and Switz. let me know if you have any suggestions!)


March 29th-April 6th...taking a Contiki tour of Egypt!!! Yes Egypt....I decided to go BIG. Figured I was already over there, might as well make the most of it.


April 7th-April 10th....sleeping all day, haha


I will be updating my blog while I'm abroad...can't wait to share pics and stories, I'm SO EXCITED for this adventure.



This is me on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon after reaching the top...and this will be how I feel in Feb. when I step off the plane in Barcelona!!! Yessssss!!! :)

-Danielle


“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”-Miriam Beard