Entry 6: June 22, 2008

We have had a wonderful time in Lugano; the weather finally straightened out for us and has been beautiful. On Wednesday we went on the boat tour and went to a little town near Lugano called Morcote. We climbed a bunch of stairs to get to a church and cemetery. The cemetery was really weird; it was terraced so there were a lot of levels of it. I guess if you're going to build a cemetery on a hill that’s what you have to do! We did get some great gelato that day too. Thursday we went to another church and cemetery. I feel like I have seen so many churches in both Switzerland and Italy, but they are so interesting. A lot of them are very modest on the outside but incredible on the inside, and far from modest. I feel like our time in Lugano was rushed but I think that was because it rained for two days so we didn't have a chance to get out and really explore.

Well this is the last day of being in Lugano. We leave tomorrow for our last travel break and I couldn't be more sad! I'm really looking forward to seeing Germany and going home; but, I've made some incredible friends on this trip and can't imagine leaving them, especially the girls that are going on to London! I just can't believe that the last five weeks have gone by so quickly. I will be home in less than a week! I'm really glad I did this trip. I can already tell that I have grown more during the last five weeks than any other summer thus far. What an incredible experience.

Entry 5: June 19, 2008

Stechlberg was incredible! We were staying in the cutest bed and breakfast with the greatest people. They were a couple and Marc was from Great Britain and Diane was from Australia. They had the cutest little baby. Their B&B was situated in between huge mountains, it was a beautiful view. We went up to Gimmelwald on Friday. It was beautiful but we had to take the gondola up and if you are scared of heights then this is a scary experience! I didn't look down and did fine; some of the other girls took pictures for me! We left Stechlberg on Saturday and stayed in Interlaken for the night. We stayed in the Tent Village. It is exactly as it sounds, a tent! We did have a heater though, thank goodness, because it was freezing at night!

Well we have now been in Lugano since Sunday. It rained for the first couple of days but yesterday the sun came out. I didn't know how beautiful Lugano really was until the sun came out. We took the boat tour of Lugano and that was so neat. It was about a 45 minute ride to Morcote and then got off the boat and went to look at a cemetery and a church. Both were up so many stairs, I swear this country is actually just a large stairmaster! The cool thing about Lugano is that it is really close to Italy. A couple of the stops on the boat tour were actually in Italy. I did get a little burnt on the boat, but it was worth it to be able to enjoy that trip.

We leave Monday for our last travel break. Renata and I are going to Germany and staying in Munich the whole time. We'll be taking some day trips to other places though. I'm really looking forward to the travel break but I can't believe the trip is almost over. Even if I am looking forward to going home, I'm going to miss all the places I have been.

Entry 4: June 11, 2008

The week started out in Cinque Terra. It was so beautiful and after doing so much school work lately we really needed the beach vacation! We got into Monterossa on Monday and had dinner with Kelly and her family, who are all fantastic! On Tuesday we slept in, the first time since I've been here that we never set an alarm in the morning, it was incredible. We got some lunch and lay out on the beautiful beach all day. We actually got to swim too, however the water is not nearly as warm as it is back home. It kind of took your breath away in fact! Our hotel had a fantastic view of the water but it was up 124 steps. Did I forget to mention that we have our huge packs with us?

Today we traveled all day but we finally made it to Switzerland! The scenery is amazing here. I just can't get over all the mountains that still have snow on them, and it's June! We were all exhausted when we got to our hotel because we had our huge packs on our back and our little book bags on our front. I was ready to just leave my bag in the middle of the street after the hike to our hotel, but we made it. We actually ate at this Mexican restaurant tonight. We saw it in one of the guidebooks and all of us had talked earlier about how much we missed Mexican food, so it was a must. We'll be back in Interlaken on Saturday so we'll have time to really explore it more but for tonight it is more just a place to crash.

We leave tomorrow to go to Stechlberg and Gimmewald so that should be really fun. I'm looking forward to that hike up the Swiss Alps!

Entry 3: June 5, 2008

Well we just returned from Venice. What a city! It is easily my favorite city in the world. I was traveling with Renata, Manda, Phylicia and Katie Clark. We had the best time. The first night we got there we just wondered around and went to see St. Mark's Square at night. It was so beautiful, minus the construction! We also did a little bit of shopping, but only with our eyes. You really have to compare prices with all that jewelry so you don't spend more than necessary.

Tuesday we got up early and went took a Vaporetto to Murano. We saw a glass factory and they were making some sort of Christmas decorations. It was so hot in there; it was unbelievable! The island is actually pretty small. Fun fact: the glassmakers were kicked out of Venice and sent to their own island because the people of Venice were tired of them burning down the city! We also went over to the cemetery island. I know that sounds morbid, but since the late 80s and early 90s nobody is allowed to be buried there for more than 10 years because land is so limited, and expensive. That afternoon we just shopped around. There are so many stores and so much jewelry!

Wednesday we got up super early and went to St. Mark's Basilica. We were actually the first people in line we were so early. We heard that the line to get into the church was forever long so we wanted to make sure we got in early. I guess we were really early! The church is so beautiful though. I couldn't believe all the gold on the ceiling and the altar, it's hard to describe a church when you have been in so many, but take my word for it, if you go to Venice you have to go in St. Mark's!

We also went to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum after the basilica. She collected lots of modern art over the years and this is where her collection is displayed. She had four or five Picassos and a couple other paintings from famous painters. It was really neat but I have to admit I don't really understand a lot of modern art, but I can appreciate it.

I had such a good time in Venice; it is an incredible city. I do wish we had taken a gondola ride but at 90 Euro we just couldn't get ourselves to do it. I mean, why spend money on a boat ride when you can spend it on beautiful glass jewelry!

Entry 2: May 29, 2008

Wow, I have so much to tell you guys! We just got back from our first travel break, which went amazing! I was traveling with Ashley, Shayna and Katie H. We went to Rome for two nights and then to Pompeii and Sorrento. Rome was so much fun and there was just so much to see we had to limit ourselves.

On Monday night we went to the Pantheon, Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. The Pantheon was just amazing; I can't believe that they had the technology to actually build the dome so that it would stay up, and for all these years! The Spanish Steps were a bit disappointing because there was construction going on, so it really just looked like a glorified set of stairs. However, the Trevi Fountain was absolutely amazing. We went at night so it was lit up and beautiful. If you throw a coin in the fountain it means that you will return to Italy one day, so of course we all threw in coins.

On Tuesday we got up bright and early and walked to the Vatican. By the way, I don't recommend this! It took us an hour and a half to get there on foot. The Vatican is so pretty though and the Sistine Chapel is unbelievable. It was not what I expected; in fact it exceeded my expectations. We also went to St. Peter's and saw the Pieta Sculpture. It makes me sad that this church is used more for tourists than for an actual church, but that fact doesn't take away from its beauty. We also went to the Colosseum that afternoon. I can't believe I was actually at all the places in Rome that we have learned about in our History books for years. It just amazes me.

We went to Pompeii on Wednesday and it just blew me away. This city was covered in volcanic ash in 79 A.D. Can you believe it? I can hardly fathom something that old. I was really surprised at how much of the city was still standing. The only problem with Pompeii was that it was 95°F. I was not prepared for that kind of heat; we have been cold in Sansepolcro! After we saw Pompeii we went and stayed in this little seaside town called Sorrento. We could see the Isle of Capri off our balcony. It was so relaxing, especially after being in such a hurry the whole week.

I'm really glad to be back in Sansepolcro for a couple days, but there is no time to waste, we leave again on Monday!

Entry 1: May 20, 2008

So far this has been an incredible experience. I might never come home I love Italy so much!

Yesterday we went to the Casa Buitoni and I have never seen a house so beautiful. We took a tour of the house, and now it is used as a meeting place for different representatives from Nestle and their companions. The house is up on a hill outside of the walls in Sansepolcro. Let me tell you it was a hike! We were all sweating by the time we got up there, but the view was so worth it. It over looks all of Sansepolcro and it is amazing. You can see for miles and the view is just breathtaking. The sad thing is that my camera just couldn't capture the full beauty of the view. We saw the experimental kitchen at the Casa and that was so cool. I would love to go and experiment with food; that sounds like a great job!

The other night for dinner we went out to this great pizza place right up from where we are staying. I know people told me before I left that Italian pizza was different, but I had a hard time imagining how different pizza could really be. Let me tell you though, this pizza is incredible. It is thin crust and less sauce, which sounds like it wouldn't be that good but it is. We ordered individual pizzas and all of us pretty much finished our pizzas. They were so good. I just can't get over the food here; everything is so fresh and tastes richer than it does at home. The woman who cooks our food here is incredible, she can cook the best food and in bulk for everyone. Italy is just incredible, I still can't believe I am here and experiencing all of this.