Pictures

So I've uploaded some of the pictures from my trip into folders by country on picasa web. Here's the link for anyone curious enough to check them out: picasaweb.google.com/ginanoe

So, here I am again. "Here" being a very relative term. I am in Heidelberg for a little bit, but we are staying in Frankfurt tonight. I am sitting in an internet cafe because it was only 1 Euro for an hour, so I couldn't help myself. I haven't seen much of Heidelberg, but I have been to the grocery store and it gets two thumbs up. I was surprised at how cheap it was. I got a few goodies to bring back home (hopefully I won't eat them all before I get back).

After the amazing, relaxing Mountain Hostel, we headed to Geneva for about 45 minutes or so to snap some quick photos and look around very quickly. Then we hopped back on a train (gotta use our Eurail passes) to Zurich where we stayed on Friday night. We were winging it, as is our customary style, and the hostel we went to gave away THE last bed right before our very eyes. They called over to another place and told us we were in luck. Two girls hadn't shown and they delete the reservation at 6 p.m. It was about 5:58 and the guy had just deleted it so we swooped. We hurried our behinds there and checked in. Did some exploring of Zurich, shopping at the Co-op store I came to love (yes, I am minorly obsessed with grocery stores, so?). We got a nice early start because breakfast started at 6:30 and the place was really close to the train station so we had time to get the 7 something a.m. train to Munich.

Now what just happened to be going on in Munich on Saturday, September 22, 2007? Oktoberfest. We checked it out and enjoyed people watching and seeing all the outfits and the gigantic festival grounds. I was surprised: so much more than just beer guzzling in tents. I enjoyed some of what the fair had to offer. No, not beer. Not at all. I had some crepes and a sugar covered bread thing and chocolate covered strawberries. Delicious. Then we hopped on a train to Salzburg to make Saturday a three country day. Then back to Munich because our night train left at 11 for Berlin. We got back with time to spare, checeked out the disappointing, scaffolding-covered Glockenspiel and witnessed the most ridiculous site of people hanging from a crane with wings above them, slowly....ever so slowly rotating around. Wow. Then back to Oktoberfest to witness the further mayhem the 6 or so hours we had been gone facilitated. And to take a picture by the sign. With a random, drunk Italian guy who hopped in our picture. Good times. Oh the drunk people everywhere were so special. It was absolutely insane.

We made it back to the station safe and sound and early. Killed some time in (wait for it...wait for it...) the grocery store there and took the night train to Berlin. It went well despite the smelly, kinda off guy behind me who seemed to talk to himself which creeped me out when I was in and out of sleep and had my head between the seats and it sounded like he was right behind me. I seem to have lost my ear plugs that Shelley gave me AND my eye mask. Come on! I slept okay but was still quite tired when we got to Berlin. We walked to a hostel, left our bags and hit the city. The sleeping city with not much going on Sunday morning at 8 or 9 a.m. We went on a free walking tour at 11 and I cannot express how glad I am that we did. The amount of history that city contains is incredible. There is no way just wandering around could do it justice. I learned so much and felt the history of the place coming to life as we walked from site to site with our knowledgeable and funny guide.

After the tour we went to this museum there that has the Ishtar Gates. As in the gates of Babylon. It was incredible. I did not know those were anywhere to be seen. I was speechless. Yes, me, speechless. Clearly that speechlessness has passed... There was a bunch of other amazing stuff, but the gates, and part of the wall at that, took the cake for me. We also went to the museum beneath the Memorial for the Murdered Jews. There the stories of different murdered Jews is told through their own words, photographs and more. Then we went to the top of this very important building that I forgot the name of that has a giant dome with a spiral staircase inside it to see a view of the city. I was more intrigued by the dome and the relevant architecture, but it was still amazing. Oh, and free. I like this free stuff...

Well, I believe we are headed up to Amsterdam next. I cannot believe I leave on Friday. Time flies.

Mountain Hostel

Yup, Switzerland is the most beautiful country I have ever been to. We are staying at a mountain hostel in Gimmelwald, part way up a mountain (hence the name of the hostel, I guess...) with gorgeous views up and down of the mountains and valley. There are beautiful flowers, snow-capped mountains and cows complete with cowbells. It is the most relaxing, beautiful place I have stayed. Fun, too; we had a rousing game of Spoons last night with up to 10 people playing at one point. All in all, this has been the best hostelling experience of this trip and all others for that matter. Fantastic. Now, because I was the first person to grab the one giant spoon on the table last night in the game, I am going to go take some pictures of it. Tootles. What, that saying is out? Doh.

Ciao Italia

We left Italy this morning. We are in Switzerlaand now, and the train ride here to Luzern just might be the most beautiful train ride I have ever been on. The majestic mountains and gorgeous lakes. The green of the grass is like none I have ever seen. I am a fan of Switzerland already. Tomorrow we are off to Interlaken and Gimmelwald or something of the like. We just have to get used to a new language and currency now. That and these keyboards...the z and y are switched. That is all for now.

Gelato Galore

Given that I have been to quite a few places in Italy in the last couple of days, I picked a title that goes with the theme of this trip for me. I have enjoyed gelato in Cinque Terre, Pisa, Venice and Milan. I also went to Florence for a quick bit, but did not partake of any delicious gelato due to the exorbitant prices where we wandered around the city...by the duomo and the river. Tourist traps.

I have to say that Cinque Terre was invigorating and beautiful; Pisa was tinier than expected; Venice was the most magical and romantical; and Milan...well, it is interesting. I did get an amazingly decadent pastry here that was worth coming to the city. It was a pear and nutella concoction (sp.?) that was just delicious.

We hiked through a large portion of Cinque Terre. We left Roma bright and early, struggling to find enough light to open the locker with our stuff in it. Shelley had a beautiful fall due to this random step in the giant room near the windows. It was pretty hilarious because it got me the first night, another girl the next night and Shelley that morning. I was trying to figure out where I got a bruise on my ankle when Shelley showed me hers from her fall, and it all made sense.

Anyhow, we got to Cinque Terre and hiked up a hill, on a road, to the hostel, dropped off our stuff and got to the trails between the towns by noon or one. We hiked a lot. Some of those trails are a little longer than expected. One was about 4 km. That one was a beast. We did not eat or drink much either so we were feeling it. We had some gnochi for dinner at the last town though. One of our view sit down meals. And they charge ya a euro or two just to sit. Hmph.

The next day we went to Florence, via Pisa. Pisa was a quick stop. Well, a bit of a walk to the tower, but not much time needed in the city. Back to the train, and on to Florence, where we had a bit of a lodging scare. We almost had to pay a ton for a room (think over 100 euro total), but were able to get to the hostel a bit out of town for a much better price.

Venice was incredible. I will transcribe what I put in my journal about it later, but I better relinquish the internet as someone is waiting. More to follow...

Roma

I have been slacking lately. Actually, on the contrary, I have not been sitting at a computer lately. We had some big travel days. From Athens to Napoli via Patra and Bari. I am quite upset by the residual vertigo I appear to be facing after the 3 ferry rides I have been on since the trip began. I am not playing. I will be standing, walking, even sitting and get a touch of the dizzies. It is upsetting to continue to experience this days after I have been on the water. I am a little concerned that the condition is here to stay, but I am sure it will pass. It better.

Well, we enjoyed a day or so on Santorini. It was beautiful and very dry. I highly recommended oversize sunglasses or other protective eye wear for any trip to Santorini. We rented an ATV and went to Oia from Perissa. Given the lack of power of our mode of transportation, it took quite some time. All the dirt and grime from the entire island seemed to find its way to my face, my eyes in particular. Oh, and my helmet, while incredibly oversized, did not have an actual visor. Nice.

After that we stayed in Athens for the night and headed to Patra to get a ferry to Bari and then a train to Napoli (Naples). For anyone who might be remotely jealous and wish they were with me on this trip, you should be glad you are not if for only being spared being around my nasty self after 2 to 3 days without a shower. I reached an all time low. It was a record. A filthy record.

We hit up Pompei yesterday. It was a lot larger than I had anticipated. We also explored some potentially unchartered territory within Pompei right before it started to pour. And I mean pour. We got pretty drenched. Then it ended up being a hot, humid day later. We wandered around the ancient city for hours. Seriously, there is a lot in there. I felt so fooled.

After getting a Margherita pizza in Napoli, we took a train up and got situated into our hostel in Roma. We were fortunate enough to find another hosteler at our bus stop who helped guide us there in exchange for some of our massive stash of Toblerone we got on the ferry.

Today we got an earlyish start and headed to the Vatican to see the Sistine Chapel, followed by some exploring of the city. We went into the Colloseum, which I had not planned on originally but figured we might as well since we are here. We could not get the youth discount because we are Americans. Boo. Oh well. We also barely got to take pictures at the Mouth of Truth (think Roman Holiday). It has been quite fast paced which works for us both. Except, poor Shelley got sick, but she is a trooper. She keeps on trucking. And putting up with any impatience on my part. Good kid, that one is. Great travel buddy. I am very blessed.

She even had to watch me devour about 3 cones of gelato before she felt safe enough to join in on the gelato tour. I seriously had about 10 scoops of gelato today. Do not worry...they are not that big scoops. They are absolutely delicious, though. I just might get another few today. Sadly, I am not joking.

Athens

After an hour or maybe two of sleep on the plane, we arrived in Athens. We took the metro in and learning from yesterday, went straight to the hostel instead of wandering around the city with our bags. We then headed to the Acropolis, stopping at Crepes of the World to enjoy lunch (and later, after a dehydrating walk about the Acropolis, dessert). Other than being parched and willing to spend an insane amount of money on cold water, it was very interesting. With all the scaffolding and what not around, it can be a little hard to fully appreciate the history associated with the place. However, it's too great to be entirely quieted by the distracting metal and wood.

We are going to head in to Santorini by ferry tomorrow, or at least that's the plan. Oh, we finally found an alarm clock today. That was a highlight. No more sleepless nights out of fear of not waking early for a flight or ferry. It was quite an adventure just finding a place that sold one. Of course, once we stopped looking is when it just appeared. Same thing with the much talked about roasted corn my friends told me about. Which, by the way, was the best corn I've ever had. I might have to get some more before I leave. It was 2 euros, but well worth it in my mind. My very food-oriented mind. Great, now I'm kinda hungry.