Being in Paris was really cool but it was definitely the most touristy city I have been to so far. My favorite part of Paris minus the Eiffel tower at night was the Musee d' Orsay. Great artist like Monet and Van Gogh were in this museum and it was just so cool to see their original works. I remember seeing all these painting in Art classes with Mrs. Noecker but to see the real thing just took my breath away. I could have stood there for hours just examining the colors and brushstrokes and things like that. I don't even think I could pick out a favorite painting because I loved so many of them. If I would ever go back to Paris I think I would just spend all my time at the museums and skip all the other touristy spots. Although I had so much fun on spring break I was so excited to see the Olomouc sign when I was pulling in on the train. I have missed my little home away from home and I will not miss living out of a suitcase. Now back to school and homework but I'm ok with that for now. I only have like 31 more days here. I can't believe it has gone this fast!! Below are the links to my pictures from spring break. I hope you all enjoy!
-Bernice
-Vienna
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37641&id=1317120081&l=ec08f01fdb
-Venice
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38538&id=1317120081&l=b38b076e05
-Rome
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38540&id=1317120081&l=a556a1bea4
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38547&id=1317120081&l=d6535c65b8
-Barcelona
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38561&id=1317120081&l=1cb058d234
-Paris
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38565&id=1317120081&l=821504f651
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Festa de Sant Jordi
So while in Spain on the 23 of April they had this festival called Festa de Sant Jordi. It is a festival celebrating the Patron Saint of Catalunya. On this day the men buy the women roses and the women buy the men books. There are rose and book stands everywhere along with thousands of people out on the streets. I saw roses of every color and even a rainbow rose. It was really cool to see a cities big cultural festival and how they celebrate that day. If your wondering no I didn't get any roses from a cute Spaniard. I know disappointing!
-Bernice
-Bernice
Friday, April 23, 2010
Ace at PT
Let's be honest, public transportation is pretty much nonexistent in Nebraska. What do we have, some buses? In the last week I have pretty much conquered every form of public transportation that there is. Buses, trams, taxis, trains.... and boats. Boat skills will only be handy if I go back to Venice. The fact that public transportation is just part of my life every day now is really strange when you think of how it doesn't even exist in my world usually. Clearly I'm going to have to continue traveling so I can use my newly developed skills.
I'm spending a few days in Prague right now. Exploring and buying things in a place that is CHEAP! I missed the Czech prices more than anything in our week and a half away on break. Tomorrow it's back to Olomouc!
-Jessica
I'm spending a few days in Prague right now. Exploring and buying things in a place that is CHEAP! I missed the Czech prices more than anything in our week and a half away on break. Tomorrow it's back to Olomouc!
-Jessica
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Rome/Barcelona
When I last updated you I had just got to Rome. Well Rome was amazing on Sunday we went and walked the tour we took the night before to take pictures in the light. That took most of the morning and then in the afternoon we went on a tour of Rome by the same people that gave us the night tour. It was really awesome we saw all these cool sites including the Colosseum, Mouth of Truth, Jewish Ghetto, site of Julius Caesar's assassination, Pantheon. Piazza Venezia, Mussolini's balcony, Roman Forums and more. It was really interesting the tour guide Justin really knew his information and was really cute too...total plus!!
The tour started at 2 and ended at 5:30 so it was a pretty long day. We came back and ate, packed, and went to bed hoping that we would be able to get on the plane to Barcelona the next day. The next morning we got up early to go to the Vatican. There I went to St. Peter's Square and the Sistine Chapel, which was breath taking by the way I could have stayed there and looked at it all day. After the Vatican and a quick cheap lunch the group went to the Colosseum to tour the inside, which because it was culture week was totally FREE!! The Colosseum was just amazing and interesting enough they don't know how this amazing building was constructed, which makes the building even cooler. We then went back to the hostel to get our bags so we could go to the airport!
We got there and were so excited because our plane was totally flying! Score! To Barcelona we went. We got to Barcelona really late, so we basically just got to our hostel and slept. The last two day here have been spent like all vacaciones should be (look some Espanol) on the playa (beach). Well that and napping....totally relaxing!! Its really really pretty here and the sea is gorgeous all though it is quite chilly. The first day I got a little burnt but today I was fine. Tomorrow we are hoping to explore downtown and do a little bit of shopping. Adios for now!!
-Bernice
The tour started at 2 and ended at 5:30 so it was a pretty long day. We came back and ate, packed, and went to bed hoping that we would be able to get on the plane to Barcelona the next day. The next morning we got up early to go to the Vatican. There I went to St. Peter's Square and the Sistine Chapel, which was breath taking by the way I could have stayed there and looked at it all day. After the Vatican and a quick cheap lunch the group went to the Colosseum to tour the inside, which because it was culture week was totally FREE!! The Colosseum was just amazing and interesting enough they don't know how this amazing building was constructed, which makes the building even cooler. We then went back to the hostel to get our bags so we could go to the airport!
We got there and were so excited because our plane was totally flying! Score! To Barcelona we went. We got to Barcelona really late, so we basically just got to our hostel and slept. The last two day here have been spent like all vacaciones should be (look some Espanol) on the playa (beach). Well that and napping....totally relaxing!! Its really really pretty here and the sea is gorgeous all though it is quite chilly. The first day I got a little burnt but today I was fine. Tomorrow we are hoping to explore downtown and do a little bit of shopping. Adios for now!!
-Bernice
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Silver Lining
Even in all the disappointment of our plans being canceled and all the stress of creating a new plan, a little bit of light peeked through today.A few of the students from our group found a hostel that is on the outskirts of Rome. It happens to have a beach. And they invited us for a visit. I spent most of the day laying in the sand next to the Mediterranean Sea. I also fully submerged myself in the salty, chilly waters. It was, by far, one of the most fun days I've had here so far. We turned Sam into a Mermaid.
The day was a success!-Jessica
Monday, April 19, 2010
Staying Positive!
In the words of Peter McKay, "The erupting Icelandic volcano achieved what world wars, terrorism, environment campaigns and even Britain's Got Talent all failed to do: it shut down European aviation".
So due to the shut down airlines EVERYONE is looking for a train. There are no longer any trains to Paris or Amsterdam, so those trips have been canceled for me. I have a ticket in my purse that will get me back to Vienna and from there I'm headed to Prague then Olomouc. It's too expensive and will take too long to get to the places we planned at this point. So we are nixing the rest of our trip and heading back to our dorms. Not exactly the most exciting Spring Break, but we are going to be making plans for our last free week and we will stop at a couple of the places we missed. Hopefully by then everything will be back to normal!
-Jessica
So due to the shut down airlines EVERYONE is looking for a train. There are no longer any trains to Paris or Amsterdam, so those trips have been canceled for me. I have a ticket in my purse that will get me back to Vienna and from there I'm headed to Prague then Olomouc. It's too expensive and will take too long to get to the places we planned at this point. So we are nixing the rest of our trip and heading back to our dorms. Not exactly the most exciting Spring Break, but we are going to be making plans for our last free week and we will stop at a couple of the places we missed. Hopefully by then everything will be back to normal!
-Jessica
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Eww Volcanoes!! LOVE VENICE!!
So I haven't written in a few days...I know so much for updating the blog everyday. Well its mostly because I didn't have free internet, so besides for a quick email to my mom that I had made it to Venice ok that was all my internet usage!
The last day of Vienna was actually pretty interesting because we went to this science museum with all these cool taxidermy animals...sounds kind of weird but it was actually really cool. We also went to this really cool local pub and the one guy that works there was from San Fransisco, it was a really awesome experience.
The next day we went on a SEVEN HOUR bus ride to Venice. It was a long ride but it was totally worth it to be in Venice! Venice was beautiful, gorgeous, fantastic and every other good adjective you can think of! I just want to live there!! Its soo pretty and as soon as we went to the main island on a train I knew I was going to love it! The first day we went to San Marco, the main square there and then went and ate the best spaghetti and lasagna I have ever had!!
The next day we got up nice and early to tour the old palace and church in San Marco square. After that the day got even better we rode a gondola, which even for 15 euros was totally worth it...only bad thing is that we had an old man as our gondola driver...but later in the afternoon it was made up for when this really cute gondola driver totally blew us a kiss and winked at us! He might have to be my new boyfriend! We sat at the pier for a long time and even saw this girl get pooped on by a bird. It was a relaxing/entertaining afternoon!
Today was the most interesting day maybe of all. We got to the airport only to find out that no flights were flying in Europe! Awesome! Stupid volcano in Iceland! So instead we hoped on a train in Venice and got to Rome in about three and a half hours. It has been an interesting day to say the least. We got here relaxed for a while then went on this really awesome night tour of Rome that included the Trevi Fountain which was really pretty at night. Also our tour guide Tad was so much fun and told us all kinds of behind the scenes information. Now its time for a shower and bed. Its been a really really long day for real! Hopefully this volcano ash will settle down so we can fly to Barcelona on Monday but for now I will just enjoy Rome and Italy. My favorite country on this trip so far!!
The last day of Vienna was actually pretty interesting because we went to this science museum with all these cool taxidermy animals...sounds kind of weird but it was actually really cool. We also went to this really cool local pub and the one guy that works there was from San Fransisco, it was a really awesome experience.
The next day we went on a SEVEN HOUR bus ride to Venice. It was a long ride but it was totally worth it to be in Venice! Venice was beautiful, gorgeous, fantastic and every other good adjective you can think of! I just want to live there!! Its soo pretty and as soon as we went to the main island on a train I knew I was going to love it! The first day we went to San Marco, the main square there and then went and ate the best spaghetti and lasagna I have ever had!!
The next day we got up nice and early to tour the old palace and church in San Marco square. After that the day got even better we rode a gondola, which even for 15 euros was totally worth it...only bad thing is that we had an old man as our gondola driver...but later in the afternoon it was made up for when this really cute gondola driver totally blew us a kiss and winked at us! He might have to be my new boyfriend! We sat at the pier for a long time and even saw this girl get pooped on by a bird. It was a relaxing/entertaining afternoon!
Today was the most interesting day maybe of all. We got to the airport only to find out that no flights were flying in Europe! Awesome! Stupid volcano in Iceland! So instead we hoped on a train in Venice and got to Rome in about three and a half hours. It has been an interesting day to say the least. We got here relaxed for a while then went on this really awesome night tour of Rome that included the Trevi Fountain which was really pretty at night. Also our tour guide Tad was so much fun and told us all kinds of behind the scenes information. Now its time for a shower and bed. Its been a really really long day for real! Hopefully this volcano ash will settle down so we can fly to Barcelona on Monday but for now I will just enjoy Rome and Italy. My favorite country on this trip so far!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
