Pantheon; Rome, Italy
Venice Bridge; Venice, Italy
Villa Savoye; Paris, FranceSunday, August 30, 2009
Final Sketches
Final Sketches: Here are a few of my best sketches from my trip abroad! This trip was the greatest experience of my life and these sketches were just one of the ways that I was able to record those experiences. I hope you enjoy these and can get a feel for what I was able to see and to be a part of!
Pantheon; Rome, Italy
Venice Bridge; Venice, Italy
Villa Savoye; Paris, France
Pantheon; Rome, ItalyVenice Bridge; Venice, Italy Villa Savoye; Paris, France
Thursday, August 6, 2009
GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE: My Culture Observations
Here is a piece of some of my insights of what I learned and saw while I studied in Europe for five weeks. I hope it gives you a feel of what I got to see and be a part of. Enjoy!
ITALY
My beautiful Italia: Rome, Venice, Florence. Words can not describe this place. Italy was hot and sweltering, but there was always a gelatto shop around every corner to cool you down. The food was bland and kind of gross. American Italian tastes much better. The Italian people were loud and boisterous, and all smelled terrible, but they were very kind and were always willing to help you out.
Every city we visited was completely different. Rome held Italy's history. The Coliseum, the Forum, Vatican City, and much much more. These places seemed to just pop up out of nowhere. You would walk off a metro station, a pretty modern invention, and find the ancient Roman Coliseum staring back at you. Walk down a street filled with modern shops and restaurants and find the Pantheon tucked in behind some apartment buildings. It was all very strange to me, but at the same time a huge dream come true. The places that we saw in Rome were places that I had heard about since I was a little girl.
Florence. Florence was a giant tourist trap, but I loved it. The streets were all made of cobblestones and all of the buildings and houses were never a dull color. There was too much shopping to do and definitely not enough time to do it. Florence for me held some of the prettiest views I have ever seen.
Venice. Venice looked like a picture book. Something that belonged in Disneyland. Just imagine cobblestoned streets with water surrounding the city, boats and gondolas as means of transportation, with large ornately designed bridges connecting street to street. There was always an Italian playing an accordian or a guitar on the streets while you walked the city. It was all completely magical and enchanting and I loved every minute of it.
Italy was one of my favorite places that we visited on this grand tour adventure. I know that I will see it again. Ciao!
My beautiful Italia: Rome, Venice, Florence. Words can not describe this place. Italy was hot and sweltering, but there was always a gelatto shop around every corner to cool you down. The food was bland and kind of gross. American Italian tastes much better. The Italian people were loud and boisterous, and all smelled terrible, but they were very kind and were always willing to help you out.
Every city we visited was completely different. Rome held Italy's history. The Coliseum, the Forum, Vatican City, and much much more. These places seemed to just pop up out of nowhere. You would walk off a metro station, a pretty modern invention, and find the ancient Roman Coliseum staring back at you. Walk down a street filled with modern shops and restaurants and find the Pantheon tucked in behind some apartment buildings. It was all very strange to me, but at the same time a huge dream come true. The places that we saw in Rome were places that I had heard about since I was a little girl.
Florence. Florence was a giant tourist trap, but I loved it. The streets were all made of cobblestones and all of the buildings and houses were never a dull color. There was too much shopping to do and definitely not enough time to do it. Florence for me held some of the prettiest views I have ever seen.
Venice. Venice looked like a picture book. Something that belonged in Disneyland. Just imagine cobblestoned streets with water surrounding the city, boats and gondolas as means of transportation, with large ornately designed bridges connecting street to street. There was always an Italian playing an accordian or a guitar on the streets while you walked the city. It was all completely magical and enchanting and I loved every minute of it.
Italy was one of my favorite places that we visited on this grand tour adventure. I know that I will see it again. Ciao!
FRANCE
France was... well... stinky. Everywhere we went it smelled. That seems to be the memory that sticks out most in my mind. Urine, cigarette smoke, body odor the smell is something that I am trying to forget. The country of France itself is beautiful and enchanting . Paris is large and exciting. I discovered quickly that there was too much to see, and never enough time to see it all.
The French people were not the kindest people I have ever met. Their language is difficult to understand and impossible to speak, and it was extremely difficult to communicate and find your way around. The country is full of museums. Art, modern art, sculptures, statues, etc. etc. etc. You can either immerse yourself in it, or get completely lost in it. I found myself doing a little of both. It all could be a little overwhelming at times.
My favorite part of France was when we left the city. The countryside was beautiful. Versailles and some of the other palaces we visited were stunning. Although, the history behind it all was extremely sad. The French people have had some pretty horrible leaders in the past, and hard times because of it all. It was always very interesting to go these palaces and learn of the people that had once walked the same halls that we were walking. France may not be my first choice in a country to visit again, but I enjoyed my time there and it holds much more for me to see. Au Revoir!
France was... well... stinky. Everywhere we went it smelled. That seems to be the memory that sticks out most in my mind. Urine, cigarette smoke, body odor the smell is something that I am trying to forget. The country of France itself is beautiful and enchanting . Paris is large and exciting. I discovered quickly that there was too much to see, and never enough time to see it all.
The French people were not the kindest people I have ever met. Their language is difficult to understand and impossible to speak, and it was extremely difficult to communicate and find your way around. The country is full of museums. Art, modern art, sculptures, statues, etc. etc. etc. You can either immerse yourself in it, or get completely lost in it. I found myself doing a little of both. It all could be a little overwhelming at times.
My favorite part of France was when we left the city. The countryside was beautiful. Versailles and some of the other palaces we visited were stunning. Although, the history behind it all was extremely sad. The French people have had some pretty horrible leaders in the past, and hard times because of it all. It was always very interesting to go these palaces and learn of the people that had once walked the same halls that we were walking. France may not be my first choice in a country to visit again, but I enjoyed my time there and it holds much more for me to see. Au Revoir!
ENGLAND
Words honestly can not describe the wonder of this place. It is, to say the least, magical. London was fast paced and exciting, but at the same time calm and surreal. There was never a dull moment or a time where there was nothing to do. The last week there we spent the majority of our time in the English countryside. Now this was something that honestly took your breathaway. When you see the beautiful countryside, and the large beautiful palaces that lie on these lands, you completely forget about the vast city and craziness that lies just an hour away. For me it was always a moment to rest and contemplate.
The people in England are some of the kindest, most gentile people I have ever met. They are not loud and boistrous like the Italians, or snobbish like the French. I noticed this especially riding the metro or the train. The people were very quiet and introverted, some may take this as a sign of rudeness, but I found it more intriguing. As I studied the people around me I noticed that they were always reading. Always expounding their knowledge on whatever they could. I found this very interesting. At first I was nervous to ask the people for help, but I soon found that the English people didn't mind helping you and didn't mind sharing what their country has to offer. They have a pride about their country that is different than any other place that I have ever been.
The English history stretches back for thousands of years. Something, like our English tour guides always like to tell us, that we Americans could never comprehend. I admire the history, and the way that they as a country and people have learned and grown from it. They enjoy sharing their history and realize the impact that their people have had on the world. Although, they share and show their history in a way that makes you gain a total respect for the country as a whole. We Americans would not be here if it wasn't for the English. I feel that out of all of the countries we had the opportunity in visiting, I learned and grew the most here. I love England with all my heart and can not wait until I can return. Cheers!
Words honestly can not describe the wonder of this place. It is, to say the least, magical. London was fast paced and exciting, but at the same time calm and surreal. There was never a dull moment or a time where there was nothing to do. The last week there we spent the majority of our time in the English countryside. Now this was something that honestly took your breathaway. When you see the beautiful countryside, and the large beautiful palaces that lie on these lands, you completely forget about the vast city and craziness that lies just an hour away. For me it was always a moment to rest and contemplate.
The people in England are some of the kindest, most gentile people I have ever met. They are not loud and boistrous like the Italians, or snobbish like the French. I noticed this especially riding the metro or the train. The people were very quiet and introverted, some may take this as a sign of rudeness, but I found it more intriguing. As I studied the people around me I noticed that they were always reading. Always expounding their knowledge on whatever they could. I found this very interesting. At first I was nervous to ask the people for help, but I soon found that the English people didn't mind helping you and didn't mind sharing what their country has to offer. They have a pride about their country that is different than any other place that I have ever been.
The English history stretches back for thousands of years. Something, like our English tour guides always like to tell us, that we Americans could never comprehend. I admire the history, and the way that they as a country and people have learned and grown from it. They enjoy sharing their history and realize the impact that their people have had on the world. Although, they share and show their history in a way that makes you gain a total respect for the country as a whole. We Americans would not be here if it wasn't for the English. I feel that out of all of the countries we had the opportunity in visiting, I learned and grew the most here. I love England with all my heart and can not wait until I can return. Cheers!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
8/4/09 -- Finale!!: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Final Goodbyes
Today is the very last day of my trip, and I'm so so sad! It went by way too fast. Today was the last day as a group and we went to Buckingham Palace all together. It was such a great place to end. The palace is beautiful and is one of my favorite palaces and homes that we have visited this trip. There were so many times that I would just walk into and my mouth would drop completely open. They were breathtaking. My favorite room was the music room. It was so beautiful! There was a circular area that was just for the piano and I love that. I love when there is an emphasis on such a beautiful instrument as the piano. It was stunning.
After walking through the palace Julia and I went to the cafe for the treat of the day. They had these yummy chocolate tarts and ice cream. They were so cute! They had little crowns on top of the tart and the ice cream. We took pictures outside and then spent some time in the gift shop. It was so much fun.
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