Venice

Thursday March 17, 2011

We arrived in Venice pretty late, after our long train ride in. First thing we did was check into our hotel, which was gorgeous. It was by far the best place that we had stayed the whole trip. I ended up that I was sharing a bed with Jordan and Sean.. which got to be a little weird, but I won't get in that.
Anyway, our hotel was pretty far away from Venice still.. we were not on the little island itself we were back in some small town that had nothing in it except people who do not speak any English. After getting some food, me, Sean, Katie, and Ross decided that we wanted to go into Venice even though it was already after midnight. We wanted to make the most of our stay because we did not have much time there at all. Everyone else stayed and went to the hotel bar for drinks.
We took a night bus into Venice and once we got there I was in awe. It was such a beautiful night but since it was so late the streets were silent. We walked along the tiny little alley ways connecting from road to a canal and back and just enjoyed the peace and quiet. After coming from the busyness of Barcelona and Rome it was actually nice to have a relaxing walk in the dark. We found a vendor selling wine, so we got two bottles and sipped it as we walked. It was a really nice way to enjoy our first night.

Friday March 18, 2011
First and only full day in Venice =( However, we did make the best of it. We got up early and headed right into the good part of Venice. The first thing we did when we got there was get on a huge water bus along the Grand Canal. We figured that would be a lot more fun than walking. Being in Venice during the day was entirely different than being there at night. For one, there were a lot more people, and for two somehow everything looked even more pretty. It did help that it was such a gorgeous day, the sky was a beautiful blue and it was sunny and warm, just how it should be. Our water bus ride took us down to St. Mark's Square, which is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Venice. While we were there we learned that you are not supposed to feed the pigeons because there were too many of them around. Venice is trying to get rid of the pigeon overload as they are ruining the old things in the city.
However, we saw a lady who had popcorn kernels, and she was feeding them with her daughter. It looked like so much fun the pigeons would eat right out of her hand and land on her, so we decided that we had to try it. The woman gave us all some kernels and the birds starting flocking towards us. I normally hate pigeons because they are dirt scavengers.. but for some reason it was the coolest thing in the world right then to be able to hold one. Some times even more than just one would land on you. Katie Beers had one on her head for a while, that was hilarious.
After playing with the birds for a bit we took a tour of St. Mark's Basilica, and then ventured down little streets shopping and enjoying Italy. We got some wine and sat along the Grand Canal with our feet dangling over the edge for quite a while. The boys sketched trying to capture the beauty of the buildings and the water.
Since we didn't really know how to get back to where the bus picked us up, we got on a water taxi rather than walking and trying to find our way. The water taxi was sooo fun. It had an open back to it so you could still see the water and everything, but it was only us in it. Not a big huge thing like the water bus we had ridden earlier.
Later on we all went out to a nice sit down dinner on the canal. A little pricey, but entirely worth it. After dinner we all walked around some more grabbing alcohol where we could find it, and just drinking along the streets. We never made it in to a bar, but somehow ended up pretty drunk. It got late and we decided to head back to get on the bus so we could head back to the hotel. By this time it was too late to take a water bus or taxi so we had to try to find our way to the bus station.. which presented a pretty big problem. We ended up walking along small streets getting more and more into the residential areas and got really lost. It took us over an hour to get back to where we get on the bus.
While we were lost trying to find our way I was actually enjoying it. I started to think about how weird it is that people actually live here. As we walked along the smaller canals we could see doorways that opened right up to the water. The people would have their little boats right out front. It is just funny to think that's probably how they get to work in the morning. It doesn't seem like a place that people would actually live, but it would be amazing. I wish that I could live there because it was so calm and beautiful.
When we eventually made it to the bus we got on no problem, but for some reason we ended up missing our stop ad getting up at some other random location. We couldn't find a taxi because it was so late so we just walked and walked like we had just barely done back in Venice. Again, that probably took us 45 minutes to get back to our hotel. By the time we got back we were all ready to go bed so that's what we did.

Saturday March 20, 2011
By the time we got up and checked out of our hotel we didn't really have enough time to venture back into Venice because we all had to catch our plane in a few hours to go back to Dublin. We didn't want to risk missing our flight so we stayed close by. We wandered around a few stores, had some lunch and before we knew it we were taking off headed home. We really did not get to spend enough time in Venice and for that I am sad because it probably was my favorite spot of the whole trip. I think that if I ever get the chance I would definitely go back. Hopefully I do.

Italia

When in Rome....

Monday March 14, 2011

As we got to the airport and were about to leave to Rome, I realized how sad I was to be leaving Barcelona. I really didn't think that we had spent enough time there. Looking back it didn't seem like we were able to do too much because we didn't have enough days. Also it was sad because our group was getting split up as Sean was going to Paris with some other friends, but he was going to meet up with us again in a few days.
When we landed in Rome all of us were in the worst moods. It was still really early, none of us had slept, and it was just a bad time. We were all cranky and sassy little bitches. haha. For the first few hours we were there we weren't able to check into our hotel because it was too early, which sucked. We were forced to go out to breakfast and walk around for 3 hours, when all we really wanted to do was sleep. We saw a few things that were close to us a fountain, a basilica, some guys dressed up like warriors, ya know typical Roman things.. Finally we were able to check into our hotel. After some confusion about sleeping arrangements.. aka no one wanting to sleep with or near Dawnsquad..we were able to get in some much needed sleep.
We finally got up and got ready and explored some more. It rained a bit and we almost called it quits.. then I saw my roommate, Sam, in the middle of Rome. She was traveling with her Dad and I had no idea she was even going there. It was very strange. After talking with her for a minute we got some gelatos and made our way to the Trevi Fountain.. where we all made some wishes. After that we called it a night and figured we would up for not doing much by getting up real early and doing a lot tomorrow.

Tuesday March 15, 2011
One thing about Rome that by this time I had already realized, is that everything is such a big tourist trap. You literally can't walk down a street without being asked by 5 different guys if you want to buy something an umbrella, sunglasses, flowers, you name it. It was actually kind of annoying, but we liked to make fun of them. They always tried to make it seem like you were getting such a good deal. "I give it to you for a sexy price" and we mock them because its never a good deal. "normally 5 euro, but for YOU, 5 euro"
Anyway, we spent the day doing only the most touristy things we could possibly do. We actually went on a hop on hop off bus and toured the city that way. First stop was the Colosseum. Me, Emily, Sarah, and Dawnsquad actually went inside and walked around, the others went their own way. We figured we HAD to do it because its only like the most talked about old item in Rome... It actually was pretty cool to walk around and see where all the crazy gladiator fights happened, but at the same time it was sad to think about all of the people and animals that died there. Not nice. Not nice at all.
After the Colosseum we hopped back on the bus, saw some more things, and got off at Vatican City. We went to to Popes house. and walked around St. Peters Basilica. Vatican City is serious, its so pretty but they are s protective of everything too. Some of the girls that went with us were not allowed inside of the Basilica because they were wearing dresses. Apparently that is against the rules, who knew. That was shitty for them, but the rest of us enjoyed it. The inside was beautiful and it really sucks that they didn't get to see it too.
Next stop: Musei Vaticani. I got a little pissed because most of the group basically ran though the entire thing just to get to the Sistine Chapel.. and I'm like guuyyysss other things are cool in here too! so I kind of took my time looking at other paintings and sculptures and eventually made my way to the Chapel.. Michelangelo knew that the hell he was doing when he painted that. It was fascinating. Everything on the ceiling looks like it is 3-D. but its all flat There literally looks like there are statues in the corners it is just unreal. That was really really cool to look at. We stayed in that one room for probably over a half hour it was just so amazing.
After all those adventures we got on the bus and went back to our hotel. Shortly after that we got some drinks and made our way to the Yellow Bar. Not everyone came out and basically me and Emily were on our own, well at least that's what it seemed like as I remember it. We got these really gross drinks that I'm pretty sure the bartender messed up. Got pretty drunk. Met some boys. Got asked to play a game with these other randos said yes, until we got over there and realized it was a stripping game. lol. so we had to decline. After that we went down to a different bar and tried to get a drink where big mishaps took place and ended up in Emily thinking that she paid with a 20 and not getting back the correct change. Lots of screaming happened and we left.. only to get a little bit down the street to turn around and go back to demand money. haha it was insane. We threatened to call the police and we got our money back. In the end Emily realized that she really didn't pay with a 20 haha.. so she made a little extra cash it was great.

Wednesday March 16, 2011
Even though a lot of people didn't go out the night before, half of the group didn't feel like doing anything so the adventures that happened today were only with me, Jordan, Ross and Katie which was fine. We walked around for a while, the first real thing we did was go to see the Spanish Steps. I didn't and still don't really understand the significance of the Spanish Steps, but they were really pretty and there was a good view of Rome from the top.
Following that we took a scenic walk along the Tiber River and made our way around to the Pantheon. This was a really cool place to be at the time we were there. There is a big hole in the center of the ceiling and while we were there it was raining. It looked really cool as we were standing inside watching the rain fall into the building. After leaving there the four of us explored a little bit more then went back to meet up with the rest of the group.
Later that night we all went out to a little dance club that was located in the basement of a restaurant. There were not that many people there but it was actually really fun. There was good music and we all danced with each other and had a good time.

Thursday March 17, 2011
St. Patrick's Day! And the only place in the world where everyone wants to be on that one day is Ireland.. and we all went and left and missed it. I was a little sad about that. I know that Dublin had some wild festivities going on that would have been wonderful to take part in.
This was also our last day in Rome. We were taking a train later on to get into Venice. When we got going and checked out of our hotel we still had like 5 hours to go around and see more things, so me, Katie, and Ross took advantage of that. Everyone else basically wanted to be lame and sit in the train station waiting for our train... ALL DAY.
We hopped on the metro and went over to the Colosseum part of town again. I wasn't that enthusiastic about going in the Colosseum again, but when we learned that it was free today to view the Colosseum & Ancient ruins we had to do it. The ruins was really cool, seeing how the whole city was formed years and years ago was interesting. Rome indeed was not built in a day.
We got to adventure and made it back in plenty of time to catch our train. 6 hour train ride, not so great. But with Venice waiting for us, we were all very very excited.

ROCK IT, BITCH

Sooo I haven't written in a very long time. I got too caught up in the Irish lifestyle.. too much Guinness. Anyway as I sit here procrastinating doing my science final paper I am going to attempt to recall all of my trips and dates that I missed posting about. Here it goes..

BAAARRRRcelona

Thursday March 10, 2011

Spring break begins! First stop Barcelona, Spain. A large group of crazy college friends doing spring break right. Except for one situation- DAWNSQUAD. The group consisted of good friends - Me, Kyle, Jordan, Katie, Ross, Emily, Bonnie, Sarah C, and Sean, and somehow Amber Dawn caught wind of our travel plans and decided to invite herself. She is very strange.. and it kind of put us all in difficult times having her there.. Anyway we landed and immediately were so excited to be in Spain that it didn't really matter. Bonnie and Sarah were the only ones that spoke any Spanish.. so it was little difficult getting around at first.. but we all caught on and picked up small phrases as they were needed. Since it was the first night, we all decided that we would take it rather easy. We hadn't been into the real city part yet.. our Hostel was out like 20 minutes from city center.. pretty quite, very cute, but not in a touristy location at all.. since we hadn't found out about the city yet we thought we should stay close to the hostel go get drinks at a local bar and take it easy. Half of the plan held up.. the taking it easy part definitely did not.

To start off our night, we all went out and bought bottles of whatever alcohol for dirt cheap. So nice coming from Dublin where everything is overpriced. Then we went up on the roof of our hostel and there was nice chilling place so we gathered around and had drinks. Then the wildness started. Many toasts were made, to spring break, to Spain, to bob saget. I don't know how it started exactly but the boys started taking their shirts off.. and things got really sloppy to say the least. Kyle ended up wearing his shirt like a dress-> and screaming.. "I'm a dainty lady, take me to a club!" We were very very loud and obnoxious.. at some point we left. Some of us.. me, Bonnie, Katie, Ross, Jordan and Sean adventured to the park and climbed to the top of this small mountain and found a Jesus cross. Weird things happened. then we met up with the others at a bar we had scoped out earlier in the day. We didn't realize how much these people do not speak English. It was fun and challenging ordering drinks and stuff like that. Jameson Y Ginge my fave. after many more drinks we were becoming more 'comfortable' with Spanish phrases and saying things that we would never say in English like "muchos muchos huevos senior" and singing "cuantos anos aqui" which is not how it really goes.... the best ones being "no mas" and "no se" they really stuck with us.. basically we made asses of ourselves.

Friday March 11, 2011

After a night like that we really didn't know what we were in for in the morning. We ended up getting spoken to by the manager who was not pleased with our actions. He was very nice and explained that they got NUMEROUS complains about us and that we were more then welcome to stay there but we had to control ourselves and take the party to the bars not the hostel. We apologized and told him that it was a one time thing. we were just really excited .. and it wouldn't happen again. That was a close one.

After the lecture we left and adventured around some parts of Barcelona. Everything was so friggen pretty. Literally everywhere you looked there was something beautiful. We went to Parc Guell which was very cool. From the top you could see for miles and miles. When we first got there we noticed all of these Hispanic men with items on blankets for sale.. whatever they were doing must have been illegal because a cop showed up and they all grabbed their blankets with stuff inside threw it over their shoulder and ran up the hill. It was hilarious. Then after about 3 minutes they were all back setting up shop again.

At the parc they have these two big buildings that are made to look like gingerbread houses. They looked so much like real gingerbread houses it was amazing. It looked like you could literally walk up to them and take a bite.

After the parc we hit up the metro and went to check out the the port. We walked around for a bit, and then found something fun to do. There was a big jumpy thing. They strap you in and you basically just jump on a trampoline, but its cool because you can do flips and jump really really high and don't have to worry about falling because you are strapped in. I didn't do it because I was scared, but some of the others did and they had a blast. I enjoyed just watching them.

That night we still didn't make it into the city to go out. We stayed around the Hostel area, starting early on the roof because it was so nice out. We were quieter this time, and promised ourselves that we would leave early so we didn't get yelled at again, since everyone there already hated us. While we were up there a lady came up and started talking to us about our time in Barcelona. She was also American, and she told us she had over heard some very interesting statements coming from us the night before like, "No one wants to see your balls again we have already seen them" and "We're in MEXICOOOO" when clearly we were not. haha. Turns out she was an art teacher and really cool. we talked with her for a while and then she left. After that we met a guy and his girlfriend who were from England.. They were also really nice, and I could have listened to Jason for hours.. loved his accent. After meeting friends we went out to the same bar as the night before. Right beside the bar Me and Katie saw this big fluffy black dog that looked scary.. it was like a guard dog for this parking lot and it was behind a fence but the guy told us she was really nice so we pet her for hours.. Hola Jackie..Adios Jackie.. we tried to speak to her in her own language.

Saturday March 12, 2011

Rain rain rain... lots and lots of rain. It was pretty shitty that it had to rain, but we expected it and it looked like it was going to be raining off and on throughout the rest of our spring break. Whatever. We went out with our umbrellas and tried to find something to do for the day. We ended up doing a little bit of shopping along the Portal De l'Angel and then some of us (me, Sean, Emily, Kyle, Bonnie, and Dawnsquad followed) went to the Aquarium. As we were running around checking out all the little fishies and sea creatures, we realized that DawnSquad was surely way behind us and we didn't care at all. We got onto the the little moving strip that brings you through the underwater tunnel and had to take a celebratory photo because she was not with us. Yes, we are mean. Anyway the tunnel was really really cool. There were a lot of different animals to look at and some big big sharks that looked like they just wanted to rip your face off.

After the aquarium we went back to the Hostel. I'm pretty sure this is when we had a group nap session, where me and Kyle were laying in one bed and just kept giggling about the old lady bent over weird bouncing a little asking for change. And singing "cuantos anos aqui". Everyone was getting mad, but we had serious giggles and could not control them. haha. Finally we did nap.

After sleeping a little we all got up and got ready to go out for REAL in Barcelona. It had cleared off and stopped raining so that was good. We went down by the water and found a nightclub to go to. We went to a place called Catwalk that was huge. The layout was really nice. It looked so promising, and yet no one was there. There were literally like 5 other people in the whole club. Apparently in Barcelona the clubbing does not start until after midnight. We were a little hasty in our 11 pm entrance. While we were there we met up with some other kids from our school who happened to be in Barcelona as well. The bad thing about this place was that the drinks were like 10 euros a piece, and none of us were very drunk. The boys had their Kanye night.. spending a shit ton of their money. Well, a shit ton of their daddys money. Only a few of us ended up sticking it out and waiting to see the place blow up. Which slowly but surely it did. A few of us stayed out until probably 5 am dancing and going crazy. I basically had to carry sean to the taxi when we were leaving, which was challenging because I probably was in need of some assistance as well. When we got in the cab Sean passed out on my shoulder and I had the difficulty of figuring out how to get home and how to talk to the driver. Sean knew a little bit of Spanish, but he was of no help. Finally we got going but I still wasn't convinced that the driver knew where we were trying to go. He didn't seem to understand what the metro was or anything so it was confusing.. after a while I made the driver pull over because I didn't think we were going to get there and I wanted a different cab, so we got out and flagged over a different one. This time Sean remembers that he has a card in his wallet with the address of the Hostel.. seriously? you couldn't have remember that beforeeee! haha but yeah we made it home safely in the end.

Sunday March 13, 2011

Last real day in Barcelona =( We still hadn't been to the beach or anything, so we made sure that we were going to do that.. and it just so happens it was a gorgeous day out. It was by far the best weather we had in Barcelona. First thing we did was go Le Segrada Familia, which is in the process of being built, but is very very pretty. So we took a tour of that, then walked along the port, and then headed for the Beach. The beach that we went to was really nice. Watch out for the picture <- photo bomb coming in 4th person from the left. We spent a little time laying in the sun there, but since it was our last day we wanted to walk around and see as much as we could.

That night we took it easy. Our flight to ROME was really early the next day, actually we had to be leaving our hostel at about 4 am just so that we were at the airport on time.. We figured it would be a good thing if got some sleep and were rested up. We all went out to a nice sit down family dinner at Margarita Blue which was sweet. We didn't make it back to the Hostel until after midnight, so that was a very very short nights sleep we all probably ended up with 2 and a half hours of rest. Not good when you have to fly RyanAir the next day.