On the road again

Here's a brief update on what my future schedule will be like, as I know you've been dying to hear from me...

Yesterday was my last day of work in London and I'm celebrating by taking a leg-numbing 11 hour coach ride to Amsterdam tonight (you better believe it's much cheaper than flying) where I'll spend 4 days then its another solid 7 hour journey to Paris where I'll be for 5 days.

I leave Paris and arrive back in London on the morning of September 3rd and fly to Madrid on the morning of September 5th.  Once in Madrid, I'll meet all the other students on my study abroad program and get acclimated until we depart for Toledo on the 7th and head off to meet our host families in Sevilla on the 8th, where my little EuroTour will stop for now, and then start the Fall Term on the 10th.

It feels really strange to be traveling right now when normally I'd be starting school back in Florida but if that means I get to look at where the nearest coffeeshop (uhh i mean educational museum) in the 'Dam is or try to pretend I'm a legit Parisian (possibly believable until I speak) rather than scan the inside of an eyes-bleeding textbook, then count me in!

I'm hoping and expecting to have some great, memorable experiences in these fascinating cities over these next few weeks and I can't wait to share all the pictures and stories with you all once I'm settled in Sevilla...who knows maybe the next post will be in Spanish??...ehhh probs not

Good luck to everyone in the start of a new school year!

A bromantic retreat to Italia

This past week I traveled to Italy and met up with my fellow Florida Gator/brother Kevin Dillman.  It was my first hostel-booking, train-catching experience abroad while on my own and it turned out to be a fantastically spontaneous trip of a lifetime.  Whether it was for the food, culture, people, language, or history, Italy was definitely near the top of my (and Kevin's) traveling to-do list and it happily did not disappoint.

Kevin and I found ourselves "winging it" from the start.  We both flew into Milan's Malpensa airport on Saturday the 4th, but he arrived around 9:30 am and I around 4:30 pm.  He got the chance for a solid airport nap but once I arrived, we couldn't find each other.  I didn't panic (we didn't have a way to contact each other so I knew it wasn't going to be the smoothest day ever) but as I found myself wandering every corridor of MXP (airport code) multiple times, I was just wondering if Kevin had made it safely or taken a shuttle bus into town already.  After about an hour of no success and gathering frustration, I went to the airport information desk (ready to embarrassingly display my lack of Italian language skill) to see if I could get them to loudspeaker Kevin to meet me at the same spot, or lend me a giant conch shell that would most likely point him in my direction.  However, once I started talking to the lady behind the desk I immediately heard Kevin's familiar voice from behind calling out my name.  After exchanging numerous bro-hugs we found out that Kevin had been pointed to the wrong terminal, by numerous airport peeps, to await my arrival and had to take a bus to get to my terminal.  We were just relieved to have found each other, laughed off our failure at this pre-tech age experience, and were excited to start our trip in such an alluring country that we had never been to before, without losing each other of course.

Our Milan hostel for the night was booked, but we had only vague clues of what we were going to do for the rest of the trip and where we were gonna go.  Names like Genoa, Turin, Como, Pisa, and the Cinque Terre popped into our heads as possible side-trips from Milan but we had no idea how much ground we would actually cover in 6 days, both on foot and on the map.  As a usually obsessive and organized planner freak, not having a plan proved to be most relaxing option and surprisingly more successful than I could've ever estimated beforehand.

To see the rest of the story, check out my upcoming Facebook picture album which will aim to capture the full spirit and scope of this enlightening experience.

Although it was really sad to leave Italy and Kevin, I know that this is just the start for both of us in an excitingly ambitious life of travels to follow.  This trip really enhanced my perspective on world traveling and has inspired many hopeful excursions in the near future.  As to where they'll be, you'll be the first to know!

Standing in the gorgeous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, one of the largest and most famous shopping centers in the world.

Another shot from the other side...we may have indulged in some Italian beverages beforehand so this picture's quality tells the story of our first night in Italy.

In front of the Arch of Peace in Milan on Day 2.

Finding water was one of the toughest tasks and major joys of our Italian adventures.  Kevin found this one while we were walking in Parco Sempione, Milan's main park, and we stopped for a good 15 minutes to cool off.  I definitely will never take water for granted again after our experiences on this trip.

Florida doesn't have many cool statues, so why not take a pic next to a random one here in Florence?

During the long climb up a few of the 400+ steps that make up Giotto's Campanile in Florence.  This pose summed up the the leg-burning ascension that followed.

On top of Giotto's Campanile.  Easily some of the most beautiful views my eyes have ever seen.  My Facebook album should show you how much I appreciated it. 

Ahh drink it in...

A refreshing Raspberry and Mandarin sorbet gelato during Day 3's activities in Florence.  

Action shot with this random landmark they call "Il Colosseo" in the background on Day 4.

BROS. 

BROS. In front of Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome.

One of the many pizzerias around the Vatican.  This particular one advertised "BIG PIZZA 6 EUROS" so naturally our curiosity and got the better of us.  

Finishing off Day 5 with some exhilarating cold Roman water straight from Fontana della Barcaccia which lies at the center of Piazza di Spagna, home to the famous Spanish Steps.  Yes this was safe to drink....When in Rome!