I can't wait to share with you all of my new posts.  They will be coming later this week.  If you would like to take a little trip back to 2013, you can enjoy my old blog posts about Europe. See you soon.

Paris Take Two

As the semester is flashing by me I just can't seem to catch it.  This semester aboard has been one of the best decisions of my life.  I'm not sure if I am ready for it to be over just quite yet.  So here is some of the recaps from Paris & a few other wonderful cities in Europe...

The Musee d'Orsay could be my favorite museum that I have ever visited.  The museum is housed in a old railway station built in the 1848.  The d'Orsay houses the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world.  Some of my favorites Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir and Van Gogh.

Here are just a few of the wonderful paintings that I saw & loved.  These are by no means my photos or copies of the real deals.  Just some wonderful google images. 

claude monet coquelicots

vincent van gogh la nuit étoilée

paul signac entree duport

 edgar degas la classe de danse

We also made it over the to the Louvre where we saw the one and only, Mona Lisa by Leonardo de Vinci.  If you want to get close to the very small portrait you have to fight your way to the front amongst typical Asian tourist (rude, pushy & loud).  While attempting to fight my way to the front I saw a lady get pick pocketed by a small child.  I was too late in understanding what was going on.  The security guard came running over to the lady and asked her to check her purse and of course she had no clue that the small child had stolen her wallet.  Horrible that the world has to come down to this, but I firmly believe that each and everyone of us can make this a better world.

Other wonderful stops on our Paris trip:  Arch de Triumph, Moulin Rouge, The Famous Champs-Elysees with stopping into the store Louis Vuitton, Notre Dome, & the famous love lock bridge.

& don't forget tons of laughs 

:)

Paris

Can't believe that I have let my blog slip.  I guess this happens when you start traveling the world and forget about the small things like writing down your wonderful experiences.  Since I have last wrote I have been to Paris, Venice, Amalfi Coast which included Naples, Pompei, Sorrento, Capri and Positano.

Paris! Paris! Paris!  The iconic city.  The Eiffel Tower & Paris dominate the designs of Target to Hobby Lobby picture frames.  Besides being the city of Love I didn't know quite what to expect.   

We started off by walking to the train station in Florence at 3:30 pm, caught a bus to Pisa, plane to Beauvais France, then bus to Paris, and finally a few metro stops to our hostel at 11:45 pm.  By this time I was starving with the lack of good airport food, I was almost ready to pass out.  After a quick search of food (about 40 minutes) we finally found somewhere that would serve us food after 12 am.  Without food I am not Lindsy.  I get angry easily.  I can become as dangerous as a wild animal.

That burger and French fries saved me and it wasn't pasta! After pasta everyday, twice a day a burger was real nice :)

After a great nights sleep we had our hostel breakfast; bread, cereal and coffee out of a bowl.  We then set out for Versallies, which the underlined part is silent.  So you would pronounce it Ver-sigh.  I have never even came close to learning french and my phonics is not anywhere close to up to code.  Versallies is where the King and Queen of France once lived; the Famous Marie Antoinette even lived there and had her own side cottage and gardens.

My favorite thing about Ver-SIGH was the interior of the buildings and palaces.  The French had amazing patterns. Pastels, swirls, flowers, lilies, blues, pinks, gorgeous canopy beds, wonderful flowing curtains, doorways made of gold, every ceiling painted, and a room of mirrors. 

Waiting for the train back into Paris I met some ladies from North Dakota.  So nice to meet someone that is from the mid-west.  From the train we took a few metro stops to the Eiffel tower.  This is where I started jumping up and down with Kaitlyn.  We strung for a couple of extra euros and took the elevator to the top :)  Chelsea decided to stay on the second landing from fear of heights, so Kaitlyn and I shared a glass of Champagne on the top of the Eiffel tower while the sun was setting over Paris.  Cheers to P13 (Pairs 2013)!

More to come on Pairs... I can't even write because I am so excited for the arrival of my MOM & SISTER! 

Hope everyone is doing well back in the states! I am very blessed to be here traveling Europe.  Thank you all for your thoughts and payers.

Rome in Two Days

Make sure to check out the tips and tricks of traveling!  Okay, so Rome is a big city as I have said before with tons and tons of history.  But if your like me you don't have much time to spend there and need to see as much as possible in the time that you are there.  So here is a two day guide, my style :)

If you are staying close to the train station or the hotel that I suggested in tips and tricks, I would check in early afternoon and unload your luggage.  Ask the front desk for a map of the city and metro.  I would head straight for the Colosseum, it is about a 15 minute walk.  The Colosseum never fails to impress and one of my favorite sights.  The opening hours are from 9am to 1 hour before sunset.  Once inside the Colosseum I would suggest buying a guide or audio tour (for me has been worth the money every time)!  After a nice tour of the Colosseum settle in for a early dinner close by.  This way you can come back and gaze at the Colosseum all lit up at night, really breathtaking.

If you are not that tired head to the Trevi Fountian by the metro.  Take the Colosseo (line B) to Termini and switch to line A where you will head towards Battistini and get off at Barberini.  I know this all sounds really confusing if you have never used a metro before, but if you have the map in your hands and these directions you will do just fine :)  Or if you are beat from all the traveling head back to the hotel for a great nights rest. 

Getting up early will be essential to your success today. 

I would get to Vatican City first thing in the morning and by metro.  I would start with the Vatican Museums, the richest museum in the world.  It opens at different times year round and with special events.  I would check their website for exact times, but I would try to be there by 8am to wait in line for the opening.  When ending the tour in the Sistine Chapel (very very very amazing art work) make sure to exit the museum via the right rear door.  This will allow you to go directly to St. Peters Basilica, this could save you up to two hours.  However, on special events the exit is closed where you will just have to walk back out and around.  St. Peters is definitely worth the wait if you like seeing gold, bronze and marble.

After Vatican City it could be time for a lunch break after seeing all the amazing art work.  From there I would start walking towards the city center.  Along the way make sure to see Castel Sant' Angelo, Piazza Navona, Piazza Campo D. Fiori (great shopping and food), the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps. 

After this you are going to be ready for a nap on the train. :) If you have any questions don't be afaid to email me.  lindsy_gumb@hotmail.com

P.S.  Jorge Bergoflio of Argentina is the NEW POPE!

Hope all is well! Love from Italy

Tips, Tricks & Must Do's in Italy

Don't live by these suggestions but they could save your life ;)

• Don't bring large amounts of the US dollar.  Exchanging from US dollar to the euro will only get you about half of your money back.  For example $100 will get you 55 Euros.  The best way to get money changed to the Euro is by telling your bank ahead of time that you are traveling and you can also check the exchange rate they charge.  You will also need to tell them exactly where you are going and on what dates.  From there you can take a debt or credit card to any ATM and withdraw money.  Every ATM that I have used was capable of changing the language to English. 
• Buy a English/Italian dictornary before you leave the US.  Small enough that it will fit in a purse or bag.  Make sure it has a few basic phrases too. 
• Pickpockets are a terrible issue that you face when traveling in Europe.  Whenever I travel I use a waist money belt that I bought from Wal-Mart.  I would highly suggest putting your passport, train/plane tickets, cash and cards into your belt underneath your shirt.  I personal do not carry a purse.  I know 5 people in my program that have been pick-pocketed since we have been here.  They had no idea that it had happened until they tried to buy something later in the day. If you do bring a purse please have your hand on it and in front of you at all times. 
•  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Waist-Money-Belt/9107582 

•  Pack light!!!!  Advice that I have heard from tons of people as well as believe myself.  Bring twice the money and half the clothes.  You are going to want to take home all of the treasures of Italy and let me tell you there is so much that you are going to want to buy. 
• Think twice about bringing your iphone or expensive smart phone.  I brought my sisters old ipod touch and I am so glad I did.  Before you leave the US you can download texting apps that allow you to text other phones for free if you have WiFi.  Some café s and restaurants have free WiFi along with your hotel or hostel. 

 
The best way to get from city to city is most likely going to be the train.  The train website is:

Trenitalia Link

The link above is in English.  It can be tough to navigate through the website.  Keep patience and you will get your ticket.  

Rome

A great hotel at a great price is Aenea Superior Inn Rome.  It is not a usual hotel by American standards with it being located inside of a residential apartment building.  It is located on the 2nd floor with 15 rooms.  You have your own private bathroom and breakfast in the morning.  Along with a mini fridge, coffee pot and kettle. Very clean and well kept.  They also have free Wifi which is very important if you are traveling with only a ipod or computer. 

Aenea Superior Inn Rome Link


Tomorrow I will be posting: "How to see Rome in two day!" 

Rome Take Two

When in Rome...

The Rome Excursion was planned by our school, Richmond.  This was nice to have a planned out itinerary without having to plan or book a single thing.  This time around I went to so many more churches and museums, plus went back again to all the popular sites.  

Rome is a giant city.  For public transport they have buses, underground trains, and regular trains.  I am starting to get the hang of metro systems and how they work, however buses are harder for me to understand.  There are bus stations and stops all over the city and run at different spread out times.  So I generally take the metro.

But in the case of Rome the metro only runs around the outside of the city center because today's Rome is built over Ancient Rome and all of the ruins.  This leads to lots and lots of walking which I am so familiar with now.

The first day in Rome we visited Pizza di Spagna, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountian and about 5 churches with well known painters works.  Pizza di Spagna is known for it's Spanish Steps.  The monumental stairway has 135 steps.  We did not see the Spanish Steps as they usual are.  It is forbidden to eat or drink on the steps.  However, there had been a very important soccer game that day against a German team.  The Germans had taken over the steps and then the police came and kicked all of the Germans off.  The steps were littered with spilled beer and broken glass.  We were not allowed on the steps while they were cleaning up the mess.

The Trevi Fountian is such monumental fountain.  The fountain is actually just the face of a building.  The fountain is at the junction of three roads which marks the terminal point one of the ancient aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome.  The ancient story goes, throw one coin in and you will return to Rome, throw a second coin in and you will fall in love and if you throw a third coin in you will get married.  So guess how many coins I threw in?  Yep, that's right I threw THREE in!

On our second day in Rome we went to The Vatican Museums & St. Peter's Basilica.  I learned so much about the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo.  The Pope at the time commissioned him to come and build the sculptures for a tomb, but early in the project the Pope changed his mind and told Michelangelo that he was supposed to paint a fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Michelangelo at that time had never painted a fresco before.  He thought painting was dumb and for the weak.  Michelangelo was so mad at the Pope for making him change the project that he left Rome and went back to Florence.  The Pope then threatened war with Florence if Michelangelo did not come back to Rome and paint for him.  Michelangelo dragged his feet back to Rome where he created a masterpiece.

As I said before he had never done a fresco before, so halfway through painting the ceiling it began to rot.  He once again had to start from scratch.  The fresco only took him four years to complete.  Contrary to popular belief he never laid down to paint the ceiling.  He stood and painted from scaffolding that he created himself.  Can you image day and night standing, painting and looking up for four years of your life.  The pain would be unbearable.  Did you know that Michelangelo also wrote. 

Michelangelo: To Giovanni da Pistoia
"When the Author Was Painting the Vault of the Sistine Chapel" 1509

I've already grown a goiter from this torture,
hunched up here like a cat in Lombardy
(or anywhere else where the stagnant water's poison).
My stomach's squashed under my chin, my beard's
pointing at heaven, my brain's crushed in a casket,
my breast twists like a harpy's. My brush,
above me all the time, dribbles paint
so my face makes a fine floor for droppings!
My haunches are grinding into my guts,
my poor ass strains to work as a counterweight,
every gesture I make is blind and aimless.
My skin hangs loose below me, my spine's
all knotted from folding over itself.
I'm bent taut as a Syrian bow.
Because I'm stuck like this, my thoughts
are crazy, perfidious tripe:
anyone shoots badly through a crooked blowpipe.
My painting is dead.
Defend it for me, Giovanni, protect my honor.
I am not in the right place—I am not a painter.

Up until the 1980's everyone thought Michelangelo was a deep dark soul.  His fresco's were very dark and gory.  However, when the Japanese paid for the restoration of the Sistine Chapel everyone soon realized that the paintings were just dirty.  They came to life and are the colorful paintings that we see today.

Just in case you wanted to know how a fresco is made - you first apply plaster to a wall, then you let the plaster dry.  After the first layer of plaster you add more plaster but with pigments mixed into the plaster.  You only mix as much plaster as you can use in one day because it drys fast.  And the process continues until you have a painting.   

We also visited the Colosseo, Foro Romano, San Pietro in Vincoli, Campidoglio, and many more wonderful sites in the beautiful city of Rome.  

Next post will be on tips and things you have to do in Rome. :) 

Hope all is well!   

Barcelona Cont...

                     



                  
                  Barcelona, Spain

The six photos for my first photo journalism assignment.  Above, an egg stand.  You can't touch most of the products in the market unless you buy.  No Tocar.  
   







Strawberries are one of my favorites along with tons of other fruit. There was so much to pick from.

I am so behind on blog post.  I have been writing here and there, some on notebooks from class, random pieces of paper, and a few post in my journal.  The task of catching up begins, Barcelona, Rome and Pairs.

I am not sure how people actually backpack across Europe for a year or even years.  It wears you out.  I think the combo of school and trying to backpack on the weekends was very tough on my health.  Only one trip to the doctor, one case of stomach flu, one case of a cold virus, and now I am feeling much better.  Being sick in Florence, Rome or Barcelona just doesn't seem as bad so I can't complain :)

Anyways more sights from Barcelona:

Gaudi's architecture all over the city was amazing.  He had a beautiful eye for the designs of things.  One of the many houses he has designed was called La Pedrera.  The house is meant to replicate the movement of waves and splashes. 

We took a nice afternoon break on the Placa d'Espanya steps with a glass of sangria.  This was marked the gateway to the great park of Montjuic, which was made for the 1992 Olympic Games.

Switching from Italian to Spanish was a bit difficult and then switching back to Italian was crazy.  There are very similar but not really at all.  I was so fortunate to go and be a part of Spain for the weekend.  And I loved Barcelona.  Some of the many photos from the trip.

Placa d'Espanya

One tiny part of Sagrada Familia

Kayla, Kaitlin and I on the double decker bus, just cruising around Barca!

La Pedrera, see the waves!

Guell Park

Wanted to play some sand volleyball on the beach!

Inside Sagrada Familia

First meal in Barcelona, bacon, potatoes and sausage (and a Spanish beer)!

Sangria Toast to Spain