V-Love’s Lonely Planet

Caroline and I got along so well that we decided to travel for a few days together. After taking a boat tour of Venice we headed to Verona for a night. To be honest, we did not see or do much other than walk around and take pictures with the Juliet statue. It is said that if you rub her arm you will have good luck in the love department. Seeing and Carline and I have had no luck lately, we rubbed and rubbed. [read on]

So as soon as I stepped off the train into Venice I knew right away it was going to be one of my most favorite places. Despite the dreary weather I had been encountering, I decided to make the best of it and enjoy the city and all it had to offer. I never knew there were entirely no cars in Venice. Everything is taken care of via boat! Taxis, police, ambulance, garbage, mail…etc. They call the public-transit system boats “Vaporttos”. They work like buses but they never get a flat. Maybe that is why this place is so unique. [read on]

Where did I last leave off? Somewhere in Sienna or leaving Sienna I think. So after Sienna I was headed to Cinque Terra. 5 villages on the Northwest coast of Italy. Colorful homes falling over eachother like drunken sailors as ... [Continue reading this entry]

Last night I ate at a lovely restaurant and ran into some of Davids classmates from Rome who were just taking a weekend trip to Florence. Small world. They both are from Montana and spending a semester abroad; smart kids. ... [Continue reading this entry]

Yesterday morning I arrived in Florence. I was not sure what to expect of this city but I think I expected more. Maybe something more picturesque, or less immigrants on the street trying to sell me junk, or friendlier Italians, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Rome is all a world of its own. It was huge, filthy dirty, pushy, yet I still loved it. Another one of those cities that challenged me a bit. It seems Italy is much different than the other European countries ... [Continue reading this entry]

Yesterday I was blessed by THE Pope! I arrived around 8:30 am for the 10:30 general audience and there was already a long line outside. Fortunately, I still ended up in the 3rd row once inside St. Peter's Basilica. We ... [Continue reading this entry]

Yesterday I realized how big Rome really was.  Imagine New York City only three times as big, that is what it feels like anyway.  I began my day with an amazingly tasty pastry filled with Nutella.  David, the friend who I am ... [Continue reading this entry]

Written a few days ago and just now posting... I seem to have misplaced my reliable ear plugs that I have used very often throughout my adventures.  Last night I took my second night train from Basel to Rome.  This time ... [Continue reading this entry]