Tour de Italy

Italy was one of the countries that I knew I wanted to experience during my travels. The food alone is enough of a reason to go there. So back in mid-October when I hatched this crazy plan to go on a self-organized tour through Italy I never thought it would really come to be. Due to reading week in almost all of my classes (the week when your lectures are canceled so that you can work on upcoming reports and essays) I only had one lecture scheduled. I could skip it. I couldn't let this entire week of travel go to waste. I remembered a friend from Mizzou is studying in Rome this semester, and then through a friend here I met someone studying in Florence who offered to show me around. The tour was starting to take shape. But then I couldn't find a travel buddy. I asked all my friends, and no luck. So what was I going to do? I was going to go. I said before that I wasn't going to let anyone keep me from experiencing what I want to while I'm here, right? So I booked my ticket. I kept holding out hope that someone would change their mind and join me, but five days before the trip I knew it was time to give up. I was going to conquer Italy solo. 

Verona

My first Italian meal.

When I arrived in Verona I got a little turned around. After a bit of wandering through the streets I found my accommodation, and it was worth the wait. Since I couldn't find a hostel in Verona that didn't look sketchy the cheapest option had been a B&B. The place was absolutely lovely! I had the most beautiful room that was immaculately decorated, complete with my own balcony. Everything in the building looked that it had been renovated within the last couple of years, but it still had the old Italian charm the area is known for. After dropping my bags I went to dinner at a little pizzeria. The pizza was amazing! And so was the wine. At first I felt awkward by myself, but then I decided, who cares? I'm obviously a tourist, all someone needs to do is look at me, and when they hear that unmistakable American accent there is no question. So I stopped caring what the other people in the restaurant thought. Maybe it was courage, maybe it was confidence, maybe it was the wine, I'm not sure. But I pulled out my travel book and my map and began planning for the next day. 

Statue of Juliet

The next day was muggy and wet, but I only had one day in Verona so I was going to make the best of it. I didn't waste any time, going directly to the Arena. The Arena di Verona is a Roman Amphitheater famous for the large opera performances that have been given there since it was built around AD 30. It's one of the most well preserved ancient structures and is still used for performances today. After the Arena I went to Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet's House. The tourist attraction is the fictional home of the character Juliet from Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. In the courtyard there was the infamous balcony, of course, as well as a bronze statue of Juliet. There was also a graffiti wall covered in messages to Juliet and love notes from thousands of tourists. Anyone who visits can't help but get swept away in the romance of the place. I even stopped to write a little note of my own.  

Graffiti Wall at Juliet's House

I don't known Italian other than the greetings I learned during my time in Italy, but I did recognize the word "photography" when I was looking at my card and deciding where to go next. So I gave Fotografia Scavi Sealigeri a chance. The International Center of Photography Scaligeri, as it's known in English, is an archaeological site that hosts themed exhibitions. As I'm learning more about photography I could appreciate and really enjoy the contrast between the photography of urban Berlin skyscrapers that were being featured and the ruins of ancient Verona were it was being shown. My next stop was Teatro Romano, or the ruins of the Roman Theater that also houses a Roman artifacts museum. On my way there I stumbled upon the river. What a sight! (see below) After taking it all in, as well as tons of pictures, I went across the bridge to the theater. It was interesting, because the museum was at the top of the theater built into the cliffs. I enjoyed the artifacts, but the view at the top was best part. It was a picturesque scene of the entire city and the small towns beyond. 

Above: Views by the river and from the top of the theater.

By this time I was starving, so I went to a little restaurant I had noticed along the way. It was pretty much empty so I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere at a table for one. I ordered the lasagna, which was wonderful! Then worked out my plans for the rest of the day. I decided I wanted to go to the top of the tallest tower in Verona, Torre di Lamberti, located in the Piazze Errbe. It had a breathtaking view of the entire city. At the very top by the bell I decided to write the date and my name, as previous visitors had done. My final stop was Museo di Castelvecchio. It was a museum located in the ancient castle in Verona. As beautiful as the art was, tt had been a long day filled with lots of art and history, so I didn't spend very much time there. As it was starting to get dark it was time to say goodbye to Verona and catch a train to my next stop. Florence! 

View from the top of Torre di Lamberti. 

Florence

Since I had never taken a train, especially one in Italy, I went to the ticket booth to purchase my ticket to Florence. I explained to the man what I needed, but somehow he sold me a ticket to the wrong station. I didn't realize it until it was too late. I arrived in Florence, with no idea where I was. Talk about an awful feeling when you're traveling alone! I managed to find some Italians who spoke English and finally, after over an hour of being lost in the city, found my hostel. It was like my little refuge in that moment. I've never been so happy to see a youth hostel in my life! 

Michelangelo's David

The next day started off much better than the previous one ended. I met up with Anne, who I was introduced to through a mutual friend who's also studying in London. We went to the Galleria dell' Accademia first. There was a lot of wonderful art there. However, when i rounded the corner and saw Michelangelo's David at the end of the long gallery I was in awe. It was ten times bigger than I imagined and, like so many others, I lost interest in the other art in the room. I couldn't keep my eyes off the sculpture, and for those of you with your minds in the gutter, it wasn't for that reason. It was just that he was almost...majestic. And the stance of humility, yet the powerful and commanding presence that Michelangelo was going for is obvious. I couldn't help but sneak a picture. Oops! :) 

Next Anne and I headed to the market for lunch. After a quick bit we decided we were going to climb the dome of the Duomo. Over 400 steps later, we reached the top! It was worth it. The view was everything you could imagine. And we were so high! The view on the inside of the dome from that high up was amazing as well. We felt that such a workout deserved a reward, which in Italy means gelato. We walked across the Bridge of Gold, the most beautiful bridge in Florence where the gold merchants are located, to a less touristy area and found a cute shop there. I got the carmel flavored gelato, which was a good choice. 

At the top of the Duomo!

The Duomo

Our amazing pizza.

That night Anne and one of her friends I had previously met, also named Ann, and I went to dinner. They had heard of a pizzeria that was supposed to be absolutely amazing. It definitely lived up to the hype. I ordered the mozzarella with spicy salami and I will forever refer to that as the pizza that changed my life. You might think this is over-exaggerating, but I eat pizza at least once a week, and I have never had anything as wonderful as the real-deal in Italy. I'm pretty sure it just served to further my love affair with food. Actually, who am I kidding? My entire time in Italy did that, but this pizza was the best of the best. Ok, so now that I have you thinking about food and your mouth is probably watering I'll continue :)

New friends!
Me, Anne and Ann at dinner.

The next morning I went to the Galleria degli Uffizi by myself. The Uffizi is home to some of the most famous art in the world, including da Vinci's The Adoration of the Maggi and Botticelli's The Birth of Venus. There was so much to see that I got a bit overwhelmed after awhile. It was time to do something completely different--leather shopping! Florence is known for its handmade leatherwear, so of course I had to have a look and maybe even buy a thing or two while I was there. When I had spent all the money I could afford to, I took a bus a short ride outside of the city to visit Anne and Ann at the villa where they live and are taking classes while abroad. It was the stuff of fairy tales. We all agreed that it's like the Secret Garden, which was one of my favorite movies growing up, so I obviously enjoyed my time there. Plus it was fun to see a part of Florence outside of the city center. But it was time to go on to a much bigger city. Rome was waiting.

The garden behind the girls' villa.

Rome

Rome, the last leg of my journey. My sorority sister Lucinda offered a place to stay if I ever wanted to visit and I decided to take her up on that offer. On the first day there we tackled the sites together. Our first stop was a cliff that overlooked the city. It was an amazing panoramic view of Rome. (I realized going somewhere with a view seemed to be a theme to this trip, but it made for some awesome pictures!) I didn't realize it, but I guess I picked to visit Italy during the rainy season, so it was another muggy day. We still managed to see and do a lot, despite the weather. 

Overlooking Rome

We went to the Pantheon first. It was completed in 126 AD and is still in use today, making it one of the most well preserved Roman structures. It definitely is a beautiful structure. After spending some time there we went to get gelato at a place Lucinda recommended. I like to think I eat about as much ice cream as pizza, but this gelato didn't even compare to any ice cream I've had before. It was delicious! I ordered the Bailey's and tiramisu flavors and they put whipped cream on top. So yummy! 

The Pantheon

Lucinda and I on the Spanish Steps.

But there was so much more to see. We headed to the Spanish Steps next. It was starting to get dark and they were really pretty with all the lights. Next we headed to the Trevi Fountain, which was beautiful at night! Of course we had to make our wishes and throw a coin in the fountain. Then we met up with Alyssa, another Sigma who's studying in Rome for the semester. It was so great to get to spend time with Mizzou friends. 

Making my wish at the Trevi Fountain

The next morning I got ready to see Rome on my own, as Lucinda had class. My first stop was the Vatican. I went on a guided tour of Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano, or St. Peter's Basilica. The basilica had me in awe! Everything was gold and marble and so large and grand. And I learned a ton about the Biblical history and architecture of the place through the tour. It was fascinating to learn about stories from the Bible in this way. It was just a different perspective that I really liked. 

Next I went to the Musei Vaticani, or the Vatican Museum. I took my time enjoying the art with my little audio guide, which was incredibly helpful. There was so much to take in that I did have to start skipping some things after awhile. Plus, I was ready to see the Sistine Chapel. And it was amazing! I found a seat, which were hard to come by, and listened to what the guide had to tell me about the chapel. I think the added context helped me to appreciate it more. It's amazing how much Michelangelo understood and revered the Bible. The way he told its stories and spread its message, he was a bit of a theologian in a way. I might have snuck a picture of the David but I wasn't brave enough to try to sneak a picture of the Sistine Chapel. 

Exit of the Vatican Museum

St. Peter's Basilica

The Colosseum at dusk.

After the museum I found a little restaurant and got some tortellini for lunch. By this time it was pouring, but I decided my trip to Rome wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Colosseum. Unfortunately, I arrived a little too late and the gates were closed so I didn't get to go inside. It was an absolute downpour, but I still had to take some pictures of the beautiful building that holds so much history. I couldn't help but be a little disappointed, but then I thought of all the wonderful things I did get to see during my time in Italy and it put things in perspective. That night Lucinda and I had dinner, more pizza, which was a great way to end a fantastic trip. 

The end of an amazing adventure!

Looking Back

Part of why it took me so long to blog about my Tour de Italy is partly because it was a marathon of a blog post (you've almost made it to the end!), but mainly because I've still be reflecting on it a little bit. A full week of traveling by myself in a country where the primary language is not English is something I would have thought impossible before. I know I joked in a previous post that I might be the one planning a solo trip in the future, but to be honest I never really thought I would. In retrospect though, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

I learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of during my Italian adventures. I feel like traveling alone forced me to grow up in a big way and see myself as an independent young woman. I'm twenty-two, with graduation and the real world staring me in the face; there is no better time to learn how to step out of my comfy, safe-zone and stand on my own two feet. Traveling alone increased my confidence and helped me to gain some street smarts, something I've probably been lacking. 

It also taught me that I'm not ever truly alone. It's important that I'm sure of myself, but it's more important that I realize I have the ultimate Protecter by my side. At times I know I'm guilty of relying on myself and my friends and family too much. I think that's why traveling alone scared me in the first place. But I faced my fears head-on and I was reminded that there's no need to be afraid because 

God's got me every step of the way. I gained a lot of memories and amazing stories from my travels in Italy; but even better than that, I learned how to be a strong single traveler and a strong single woman. 

A Day with the Stars

As my course workload picks up I've gotten worse about keeping up with the blog. I apologize to those of you who regularly check it for my lack of posts lately.

The day after I returned from Scotland a group of friends and I went to Madam Tussaud's. For those of you who aren't familiar with Madam Tussaud's, it's a museum featuring wax figures of celebrities, famous politicians, athletes, etc. There are ones all over the world, but I must say, the London location is quite impressive! You might not think posing with wax figures for cheesy photos would be a good time, but you'd be surprised. They are so realistic looking, and it's easy to get into it, be a little silly and have fun! So I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures of the day. Hope you enjoy!

Look, it's RPatz! 

Hmm, Daniel Radcliff is slightly shorter in "real life."

Trying to keep it classy with Marilyn.

Ready to fight like Ali.

It's still possible to marry a prince. Harry's single :)

Gotta love Princess Di.

Just hanging out with two of my heroes: MLK...

...and Obama!

Scotland: An Unexpected Adventure

I got a lot of advice before I came to London. One such piece of wise instruction was to not turn down any opportunities that come my way. Last time I blogged I mentioned that my friend Sam invited me on a bit of a spontaneous trip to Scotland. Well she and her friends Kelly and Brian decided that they wanted to go see Edinburgh, but on a budget...just my kind of trip! So when she invited me those words came to mind. Don't turn down an opportunity.

Edinburgh Castle 

Last Wednesday night the four of us boarded a night bus to Edinburgh, Scotland. We arrived in the city bright and early at 7 a.m. The bus ride was a little rough, but totally worth it! After dropping our bags we didn't waste any time. Our first stop was a tour of Edinburgh Castle. It was fascinating to learn about how far the Scottish history stretches back. It reminded me how young of a country the United States is. I have discovered during my time abroad that I'm a bit of a history nerd. I find the past captivating and have developed a new appreciation for it through my travels.

The Café where JK Rowling wrote much of the first Harry Potter. 

After the castle we got some lunch and then joined a free walking tour of the city. It was run by a company that gives walking tours based solely on a tip system all over Europe. I was skeptical at first about a free tour, but it was great. I definitely discovered things about Edinburgh that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. We explored the history of the Royal Mile, the Grassmarket area, and we even learned some things about the castle that we hadn't been told on the tour. We even heard a bit about the writing of Harry Potter and got to walk past some of the areas J.K. Rowling used for inspiration for the series. It was three hours chock-full of the history of the city and surrounding areas, so I obviously enjoyed it.

After the tour we attempted to hike up to Arthur's Seat, the highest point in Edinburgh with a view of the entire city. I definitely wore the wrong shoes for that, so less than halfway up my knees and ankles were not happy with me. It turns out we went the wrong way up the mountain anyway. I tried to encourage the others to continue up the right way and I would just wait, but they felt bad leaving me. I felt bad being a Debbie Downer, but when we took in the view from where we were none of us could complain. It was beautiful!

Hiking to the top.

What a view! 

Yummy! 

After we finished that we found a nice pub and got a traditional Scottish meal. I had beef stew with a flaky pastry on top served with mash and veggies. Yum! I wasn't feeling adventurous enough to order haggis, but I did try a bite. It was surprisingly pretty good. After dinner we checked into the hostel, got freshened up, and decided to go on a pub crawl led by the same company as the free tours. It was a good time and we got to see a lot more of the city.

We woke up early the next morning and went on a tour of the Highlands and Loch Ness. It was easily the best 41 pounds I've spent since September. It was absolutely stunning! I've been blessed enough to see a lot of really amazing sites, but the Scottish Highlands is definitely the most breathtaking place I've been. The mountains are massive and majestic, the water is stunningly blue, the sky is gray but somehow still perfect in its gloominess. As Brian said, there were a lot of God moments to witness there.

The Highlands

Our tour guide told us so many stories about the Scottish clans and the battles in the Highlands. Unfortunately I don't remember much of it, it was almost information overload. But I did still learn a great deal and really enjoyed myself. The tour took basically all day, so we had time to get back, grab our bags, eat dinner and get on the night bus back.

MORE of the Highlands

In the remains of a castle in the Highlands.

It was a whirlwind of a trip, but we accomplished everything we could have possibly wanted to in that amount of it. Needless to say, I'm very thankful for those wise words to go, say yes, take every opportunity that comes your way. I will definitely be passing that advice onto future travelers.