A lazy beach day in Barcelona...in December!

So, today was one of my vacation days and I started the day at the beach! It was so warm and sunny and just breathtaking. I got my dose of vitamin D and just sat there watching the sailboats and people. It was wonderful! Afterwards, I just looked in some shops and went to do laundry. Tomorrow I am off to Gaie Paris! I am so excited!

Venta al Mayor -- a dirty phrase!

So, I have enjoyed my time in Barcelona. I took things slower here and the weather was warm and sunny. It was an actual vacation from the vacation.

I wanted to share with everyone the three most hated words in Spanish -- Venta al Mayor. During my many walks, I have come across this statement on the front of some very stylish, very cool stores. These shops also have signs that mention 50-75% off. The translation, however, is one that would make every woman highly depressed...wholesale only!!! It is very depressing to see these beautiful sweaters for 10 Euros and nothing you can do about it.

I should also just add a quick note that I have adopted a new fashion style. That is the infamous leggings and sweaters from the 80s! Almost every woman here is wearing long sweaters or dresses with leggings and boots and I finally adopted the craze. Anyone who knows me is aware that I love wearing dresses, so this seems like the perfect match for me.

Just thought I would give everyone the heads up in case you were shocked when I returned looking very European!

Warm and sunny...December in Barcelona

So, it has been a few days since I have written, but I really do like Barcelona a lot. There are three American girls and a French girl here at the hostel and we are all going out tonight. The city of Barcelona is beautiful and it has been hot and sunny. I have covered a lot of ground in the past few days and have learned all about Gaudi and the moderniste movement as well as the historic aspects, Olympic infrastructure and of course the marina and beach. It really is a lovely city. Also, the Christmas markets are really incredible. There are your standard Christmas crafts but also some really beautiful pieces that would rival anything found on West 4th or Granville Island, but for a cheaper price tag!

I changed my flight to Paris for Sunday. I was hoping to go on Saturday, but could not find accommodation. Tomorrow will be a vacation day and then on to the final stretch for my trip. I am very sad to not be going back to Florence as I really felt at home there. Believe it or not, I am pondering a move...

Barcelona -- a beautiful city!

So, thank you to everyone who sent me ideas about what to do about my travels after my miserable time in Valencia. I am happy to announce that I like Barcelona so much more. In fact, it is very high on my list of things I have seen! The streets of the Gothic Quarter are very picturesque (much like Florence actually) and the modernist area is very cool. It is a very metropolitan city and it is dressed up in its Christmas finest right now with lots of activity and lights in the evening time. I am going to go to a park tomorrow that Gaudi created and it is supposedly unreal. The weather has been okay -- overcast, but at least no rain. All in all, a great visit so far.

Missing everyone at home! See you soon!

Starbucks -- is it really the same everywhere?

So, I was pretty excited when I found Starbucks in Spain. I think the Italians are so proud of their coffee that they don`t let the giant into their country, but that is not the case in Spain. I found the Starbucks around the corner from my hostel this morning and while I was worried about how I would order, I quickly realized that all I needed to say is `grande skinny latte`. It is the same in both languagues! The interior of Starbucks also looks the same with one major exception -- how can Starbucks be exactly the same as in North America EXCEPT the washrooms. They are the same, European, not so clean washrooms as you find everywhere here. How is that possible? Someone may need to write a letter of complaint to Starbucks International.

What to do next...not liking Spain...

So, I arrived last night in Valencia, Spain and found my hostel pretty easily. It is a big place and not very personable. I left quite early this morning to go touring and by noon I think I had already seen most of what this city has to offer. It is a holiday here, so a lot of things are closed, but I saw mass in the main basilica and the various monuments etc. Had a great lunch of tapas, but now it is raining really hard and I am back at the hostel killing time. I have decided to go to Barcelona tomorrow instead of Wednesday, but am still not very excited about Spain. I have heard from others how much they love Valencia, but perhaps that is when it is sunny and the beaches are the place to be!

A piece of me wants to go back to Italy. I feel really ripped off for not having seen Venice and a girl I met in Florence has been emailing me about some of the small cities she has seen in Tuscany. A piece of me just wants to go back to the same place I stayed in Florence...what to do?

I think I am going to avoid Madrid all together. I just am not feeling it. I am looking into other flight options out of Barcelona and am thinking maybe Belgium or Munich if I can find a flight. I wish I had some clarity on the situation. The bottom line is that I am very unhappy right now and not sure what to do. Any advice anyone can offer would be great!

Pizza in Pisa and dancing Santa Claus'

Just a quick observation today and that was during my visit in Pisa (as the airport is here). First of all, that leaning tower is not all it is cracked up to be. But what made me smile today was the little boy dancing along to the dancing mechanical Santa Claus while the tune "Jingle Bell Rockl" played on. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Italian Food...they should have a tour for it...oh yeah, they do.

So, I wanted to share with everyone the best experience of my trip so far. I was so fortunate to have my aunt Anne and uncle Gord get me the 'Taste Florence' tour. Offered by a girl my age from North Carolina who moved here seven years ago, it takes you to wine tasting, cheese tasting and gelato tasting over a 5.5 hour period -- what better way to experience Florence, Tuscany.

So, I arrived on Thursday morning to the meeting point and met with a brother-sister from Los Angeles, the tour guide Tony and her Italian boyfriend Johnny. (Side note, Ashley the American girl works for So You Think You Can Dance and is coming to Vancouver in January to help kick off the Canadian tour). Our first stop (at 10 in the morning) was a heritage wine shop in the heart of the market district. It dates back to the 1840s but has been owned by the same family for the last sixty years. I should also mention that Johnny works at a vinyard and Tony is training to be a sommelier! We sample three wines and learn all about the history of wine making in Italy (if anyone is ever interested, it is a great story!). From there we head to the main market where we sample a variety of cheeses, spreads, relishes and sauces including cocoa, fig and chile! So good! We then went around the market sampling various prosciutto, roasted garlic, olives and olive oils (including the one that is recognized as the best in the world).

After a stroll past some of Florence's most noteworthy monuments, we found ourselves at a gelato shop, also a historic site. We had four, yes four bowls of gelato and they combined flavours like chocolate, parsimone and orange and ricotta, cinammon and pear. Amazing! We capped off the trip with some hot chocolate (read hot melted chocolate) and our day was complete. Five and a half hours of pure ecstacy! The day was sunny, the food was great and the company was uncomparable...a most memorable experie4nce.

A commentary on Italian Men...

So, on my last night in Italy, I thought it only fitting to offer a commentary on the Italian man. I have learned very quickly that blonde hair, blue eyes gets you very far in this country. It can get you a discount at the market or faster service in a trattoria, or even better service at a hostel! I have moved past the countless calls on the street to 'Ciao Bella' or 'Blondissima' (despite looking my worst in yoga pants and runners). Today I witnessed a whole new level! I had run out of clothing to wear so I wore a black dress and knee high boots to go do laundry! While you may think this is excessive, I was actually looking more like your average Italian than I have looked since I arrived. Well, the looks and the comments reached a whole new high. I must admit I like looking nice and the casual clothes have worn thin. The side effect of a boost of self esteem isn't so bad either.

What is interesting, however, is that the comments from the men are not reserved for the street. So far in the 2 hotels-hostels I have stayed in, I have had several requests for dates from the employees-owners. I awoke in Rome one morning to a note written from a staff member asking if he could escort me to Tivoli. Here in Florence the owner-manager (who is only 19) continues to be very smitten with me and is quite the amusement during my travels. I think they are just amazed with the fair complexion and I am not that naive to think that every girl with my colouring doesn't receive the same treatment.

All that aside, it is nice to be noticed and I can certainly say that the Italian man is very charming, forthcoming and speaks his mind. I'll let you decide if this is a virtue or a vice...

Trip detour..............

So, I am currently in an internet cafe with only 5 minutes left on my time, so I will update more later about my time in Florence.

Today is a 'vacation' day from my vacation. I just needed a day to relax and figure out where I am going to go next. You see, Venice picked this week of ALL WEEKS in the last 22 years to get flooded. Even if the water has subsided, I have heard it is really stinky and I don't want to risk the water coming back.

After looking at a few options, including going to Marseilles or Lyon in France on my way to Barcelona, I found a cheap(ish) flight from Pisa to Valencia, Spain. It will end up being so much cheaper (and faster!) than the train, as I was not too excited to be on a train for 18 hours total to Barcelona. So....I guess that is the reality of traveling...MUST BE FLEXIBLE.

I will write more later, but all is well with me and I miss everyone very much. Traveling is fantastic, but I do miss some of the comforts of home. Take care everyone!

Adventures on Roman transport and wet feet

So, today was an adventure day. I decided to do a day trip to Tivoli where there is Hadrian's Villa and Villa Este. My journey began on a Roman bus towards Tivoli where I asked an elderly Italian man for directions. Apparently the woman next to him didn't like the advice he was trying to give me (not that I could understand anyway), but they proceeded to get in a fight over the directions. A few others joined in and eventually I had about a dozen people speaking to me (in Italian) all at the same time, with me just sitting there not understanding a thing. I eventually made my way and walked for 2 kms to Hadrian's Villa. Let me also say that it was pouring! My feet got wet within the first 10 minutes and then I found out the Villa is like a big outdoor park with ruins from the massive palace that Hadrian built himself when he retired. It was beautiful and cold.

I decided to just head back to Rome. I happened to get on the bus right when the junior high school let out and had all the teenage boys offering me their best pick up lines in English. Let's just say that I think they got most of these lines from Hollywood movies because I know I have heard them before! I made it to the Metro and then had some Gypsies playing the accordion and asking for money.

The moral of the story -- don't go to Tivoli in the rain, bring extra socks and never look a Gypsy in the eye!

How can you claim it's Louis Vitton when there is no LV?

So...what has been really noteworthy to me is the number of street vendors in this city. They seem to emerge from the gallows when the rain starts and will peddle their umbrellas. They are dressed as gladiators and offer to take a picture with you then ask for 5 Euros (don't worry, I didn't fall for it). Most particularly are the number of vendors selling fake purses. I saw some great knock-offs on the weekend and I should have made my purchase then. They start at 50 euros, but you can quickly negotiate them down to 15 or 20. What I found odd today (probably because it was a Monday and not as busy) is this one peddler who kept telling me the great quality of his purses. However, how does a Louis Vitton not have the LV on it and still be considered good quality. I think that is one of life's great mysteries...at least the mystery of the day.

Saw the Pope, got punched and then hit on at St. Peters

What a day! So, it started off with some confusion where to go at the Vatican to get into the Museum. I was with a brother and sister from New Zealand and we eventually found the 2 hour line-up to the Vatican Museum. As we were waiting the POPE HIMSELF drove by in a motorcade and there were all of these helicopters and tv crews. As we were standing in line, a German lady just punched me on the hip for no reason! I turned around and as sweet as can be said... 'please don't do that, it isn't very nice'...while I don't think she knew what I was saying, she could tell my tone of voice. Seriously, who punches someone in line to the VATICAN!

The museum was unbelievable. So much wealth and beauty, it is really breath taking. Following that, we decided the line for St. Peter's was too long so we went on a walking tour of the Jewish Ghetto and over to Trastevere. It was pretty remarkable to see the contrast of the riches of the Vatican to the most run down area in the city. Trastevere is very medieval and was really beautifully lit up for the holidays. We had dinner there then headed back to St. Peters.

We were so fortunate to see a Sunday mass! I snuck into the parisheners' area and watched part of the sermon. From there I asked the guards who the Cardinal was performing the sermon and proceded to get hit on at St. Peter's -- the most holy Church in the world. I think it is a good story for the books! The three of us then left to return to the hostel to rest our tired feet. What a great day -- the Pope, a crazy German woman and a guard at the Vatican....something to write home about!

Scooters, gelato and stylistas

So, I landed down in Rome last night and made my way to the hostel. While not the most glamorous place in the world, it is much better than I expected and have already met a lot of great people-- including a girl from Vancouver -- random!

The weather today was a bit of everything -- rain, sun, take your pick. I made my start at 8.30 and covered a lot of ground for ten hours total! I saw a lot - many many churches, Plazza Navona, Campo di Fiore, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Via Condotti (high end shopping street) etc. Had some fabulous gelato and bought some pasta and wine to make at the hostel. It got back just before the rain set in again.

Tomorrow is the Vatican and Trastevere.............I will post pictures soon!

Rain, rain, go away.......

So, I thought I was going to be getting away from December in Vancouver -- translation, RAIN in Vancouver!  It is supposed to be NOTHING BUT RAIN for the next 10 days in Rome.  My aunt has been so wonderful and has found all these great evening walking tours, but who knows if I'll be in the middle of a downpour.  How frustrating.

One more sleep...can't wait!

Mix one part Expedia, one part Facebook...

So, I am very taken with www.hostelworld.com.  This is an unbelievable site.  Try combining a travel booking site with a social networking site and there you have it.  It allows you to make friends and find out where others are traveling.  It allows you to view recent reviews (like, from yesterday) and see what the hostel is like in the same month as your travel.  I love it.  While I am careful with my settings and do not have any of my information public, I am going to do a little test and see who I can find in my destined locations when I arrive.  Consider this a social networking travel experiment. 

Planning a solo trip

So, it has been six days since I decided that I would venture to Europe by myself.  I've had a lot of people tell me how proud they are of me and some sharing their concerns about my safety and happiness, but I know that this is something that I have to do for myself.  It will put closure on a postponed trip that is laced with a lot of heartache.  It will allow me to do some soul searching while exploring another culture and history.  More than anything it will let me prove to myself that I can do this...that I am a strong woman and one who can overcome anything.  I hope to meet people along the way, pick up some basic Italian/Spanish and just revel in the marvels of history. 

The only sad part of my planning is to read about all the romantic b&bs, sensational restaurants and places to see with a loved one.  Traveling by myself I also don't get to experience the nightlife and comfort of being with a friend.  Really this is just me fending for myself and learning along the way.  Where there is fear there is excitement; where there is trepidation there is wonder.  Europe...I am yours for the taking.