Italy thus far

Sorry, i forgot the pictures.......

When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie Thats Amore

we have reached Italy!! We have already been to Milan, Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Certaldo (Tuscany) and now today we have arrived in Rome!!! Italy has definitely been my favourite place so far. There have been so many wonderful sights and memories and we have met so many great people. In Milan I had the best calzone I think I have ever had, I bought one and then went back and bought three more!!! That was the only real great thing about Milan, but Venice, well I can understand why it is the most romantic place in Italy. The canals were amazing and it definitely captivated me, it was so cool. But when we got to Cinque Terre, the shock factor hit me. Hillside towns tucked away on the Mediterranean coast full of colour and culture and tourists (which kinda sucked) but we found quiet places and enjoyed the locals. Actually we were there when Italy played Spain and a group of older Italian men saw that I was pretty into the game, so they invited me to sit at there table and cheer with them. It was actually awesome, because I truly felt like a local. we went crazy when it went to shootout, but too bad it didnt end in a better way, but it was still really fun. It is sooooo hot here, that i am actually looking forward to BC weather. Everyday its around 40 degrees, so yeah i am sweating a lot, but when in Rome. We just left Tuscany and I swear magic happens in Tuscany, I jsut fell in love with it. Fields of sunflowers, and vineyards and we stayed at an old Tuscan guest house which was absolutley beautiful, life just couldnt get any better....well it could, if you were all here with me....... but I gues one day! Tomorrow we are off to see the Vatican and of course watch the Final Euro cup game, gooooo Deutschland!! and yeah we are staying at this campsite right now and it is actually awesome! so i miss you all and i hope you are all well. I will try and update you all a little quicker next time, but dont worry I will have tons of storied when i get back. love you all,
ciao

hopefully these pictures turn out ok......

Hola España

Well we have made it to Spain!! Sorry that it has been a while, but I have taken on the Spanish mentality where all they say is, manaña manaña, ¨tomorrow, tomorrow¨ everything will be done tomorrow, there is no rush to do anything. It has taken me a little while to get used to it, but I thought a lot about it, as I was laying on the beach bathing in the sun.... it was wonderful.



Today Julia and I went to the Aquarium and it was awesome, the dophin show puts our Vancouver one to shame!! Yesterday was a bit of a lazy day because we didn´t go to bed until 9 am because that is the time we got home from partying! i know CRAZY but that is how thay do it here in Spain. We also have done numberous walking tours and bike tours, the bike tour through Barcelona was my favourite. Barcelona was amazing, I now understand why people fall in love with it. So much history and its architechture and people are so vibrant, and I don´t think I have been to a busier city. Right now we are with Jen and Becky from my Softball team and they are awesome. We went and watched their game and I think Jen struck almost every batter and Becky hit a grand slam.....it was just like old times. Anyway Spain has been a bit of a whirlwind, so we are looking forward to Italy. We fly to Milan on Wednesday. I will let you all know the plan, once we get there..... I also cannot wait for the FOOD!!! Speaking of food, Valencia were the originators of Paella, so it has been very delicious here. but right now I am sitting in a sweaty, sticky internet cafe that stinks, so i am sorry for cutting it a little short, but i miss you all and talk to you soon,

hasta manaña

Carolyn



ps. here are a few pictures (a variety from the places we have been)

Tschüss Deutschland!!

Hello for the final time from Germany. It has been an absolute wonderful stay. Although I have not seen a lot of Germany and it has been quite the whirlwind trip, the people that I have seen and met here have made it unforgettable. We are in Ludwigsburg staying with my friend Tom for the night and we leave tomorrow out of Stuttgart for Barcelona. I am very excited for some warmer weather because almost everyday we have had some sort of rain....today was thunder storms! 

Anyway we traveled from Dortmund to Stuttgart a couple days ago and on our way down we made it to St. Sebastion where our Nana and Grandpa were married, it was really neat and a very quaint little town. We travelled down the Rhine, saw numerous castles and through the wine country it was beautiful. It was a very long day because the night before we went to a German disco with our cousin. I have never been in a place where there has been so much smoke. Man, I think if I lived in Germany I would have to smoke because I would die quicker from second hand smoke, it is so crazy here how much people smoke. anyway it was really fun, great dancing and a good time. When we got to Stuttgart we watched the Germany Poland game and Germany won!!! so it was very exciting. I bought a Deutschland jersey so I really fitted in. tonight Tom and his roomates made us a wonderful dinner and we ate outside and then had a few drinks and it was very relaxing and nice to catch up with old and new friends. 

Germany has been a great transition for me because I arrived and instantly knew people and felt right at home. I think now more of the adventure will begin and I am very excited for it. Sorry there isn't any pictures yet but I will post them when I get to Spain. So until then, I love you all and as they say here in Germany......

Tschüss

Carolyn   xox

Hello from Germany

Well I made it!! I am here in Dortmund now staying with my third cousins, but they are so fabulous!!! Before getting here, on my day of arrival it was probably the longest day of my life. 10 hours on the plane (but i had a whole row to myself because there was 120 empty seats...i know crazy!) so that was at least good. When i got to Frankfurt I met Julia we had breakfast and then we left for Dortmund, 4 hours on the train and then we finally arrived. That night we went and saw Sex and the City in German...hilarious, but for some reason I didn't get all the humour.... but anyway I have already learned so much..........speaking german not so much, but knowing that it cost money to go to the bathroom in train stations, that as crazy as it is the Japanese people here speak German not Japanese, it sounds so funny and that wiener schitzel is officially my favourite food. Today we are going to our aunt's school to talk about Canada and then we are going to visit this small village and go on a boat and I actually don't know what else, but it is just so great being here doing what the locals do and experiencing what other people do. I love it here and I have hardly seen anything yet. But I love you all and I will keep you all posted.
So don't worry, I haven't been robbed and I am safe:)
talk to you in a few
Carolyn xox