Holy Italia

Wow, as per Sandra's comment, it has been awhile since I have posted. It really sucks that my photos won't come on here properly, especially since I have roughly 1500 by now (and there are a lot more people who have a lot more than I do).

italy was great, but not France! We spent the first couple nights in Venice. It is a great city, and I spent lots of time just wandering about by myself. I even got on one of those water buses! I can really say that I have been on public transit in most cities that we have been in! There wasn't really anything huge to see there, but just walk around and soak in the ambiance. And eat the pizza and gelato (Italy wasn't good for my waistline).

Following Venice, we made our way into Florence. I wasn't expecting big things from there, but holy crap! the city is the heart of teh renaissance it seems. I got to see the fake statue of David, then paid the 10 euro to see the real one (real one is totally epic. fake doesn't even compare). I wanted to see where Machiavelli was tombed, but it was shut to the public. we really lucked out in florence, because it was a monday and everything is closed, but it was a national holiday, so it was all open!

my bank card didn't work in most of italy until we tried some random bank in Rome. Fuck you Scotiabank. Yeah, you heard me.

After Florence, we headed to Rome. Saw the forum, the colliseum, and the pantheaon. Our whole day there I decided to try the catholic way of things, and we made it to mass with the pope. We also happened to be within 15 feet of the pope when he did his little pope-mobile around. it was too cool! Then we were off to the vatican museum (which apparently doesn't have lines anymore) and spent the better part of an hour under the Sistine Chapel. Once you have seen that roof, any of the millions of art pieces in the museum don't even compare. it's like you can't tell what is real and what is not - he painted it in perfect 3D.

We went back into Rome at night for some pictures (took the ghetto train - yay public transit!) only thing is we thought the last train was at 11:30, it was at 10:40 and suddenly we were lost in Rome. Not cool. But Tram 2, and bus 200 later, and we were back in the ghetto where we were staying. Rome stinks like garbage. Not my favourite city at all.

The ruins at pompeii were really cool. I got a bunch of pictures of Mt. Vesuivius, and the brothels (which ironically are the best preserved buildings there.)

We then took an overnight, greek ferry to Greece. I had never spent the night on a boat before. I fared well, but our room smelled like diesel fuel.

We are staying on the Island of corfu right now. It is gorgeous. I love Europe because I can be out in the sun all day, yet not burn! I am pretty brown though.

Today we were out on George's boat (a vulgar, fat greek man who can cook up a storm!). I went paragliding on a whim - somethign I have always wanted to do.

And tomorrow - we are off to Athens. The next day ( I guess Monday) we fly out to Cairo. I don't expect to be online much for the next week or so - but keep commenting! I like to hear how everyone is doing, even if i don't have teh chance to respond right away!

smile!