I'm leaving today to go back to Europe! Wooo! This has been a nice little vacation in the States, full of rest and free food and graduation and family. So I'm winging my way to Athens today. I'll go sailing around some Greek isles for a week with Esther and the gang. Then a couple days in/around Athens until I leave for the Netherlands. Then I get to live in a Dutch farmhouse, pretend to be an archaeologist, and hopefully maintain some sort of schedule. I will be returning to the U.S. on August 11. A week later I will make my way back to Iowa, exotic vacation spot.
Sorry to everyone for kind of disappearing for what will be 9 months come August. I've been lazy about keeping in touch and I apologize. However, I will probably continue to be bad about this because I won't have much internet access in Greece or the Netherlands. Also, I may or may not have a phone. It's not like I called anyone when I had one though so that's not much different. Still, I apologize and let's all be friends again when I get back. Also, one day I will eventually write about my travels in May around Turkey/Hungary/Switzerland/Germany. Hopefully I can get my act together and be a real-ish person again soon. So wish me luck with all this nonsense that is my summer. I miss everyone and please let me know how you're doing. I know I'm not really returning the favor but come on, I'm unreliable and you knew that.
13 June 2007
11 June 2007
Photos
I'm trying to get all my pictures from the past 6 months organized. This is just a start but I figured everyone should get to see what I have now. So enjoy.
http://picasaweb.google.com/gillian.l.grady/Rome
http://picasaweb.google.com/gillian.l.grady/OstiaPompeiiAssisiTuscany
http://picasaweb.google.com/gillian.l.grady/VeniceSpainMorocco
http://picasaweb.google.com/gillian.l.grady/Rome
http://picasaweb.google.com/gillian.l.grady/OstiaPompeiiAssisiTuscany
http://picasaweb.google.com/gillian.l.grady/VeniceSpainMorocco
08 June 2007
Where I was May 12 and onward
Ok, here's how it went. Finals were a breeze. May 12 we had to move out of our apartments so there was a frenzy of packing and cleaning. A long trek to school with my enormous and heavy suitcase so that it could be stored while I traveled. Rome was beautiful, our apartment looked almost spacious once it was completely empty. Roommates disappeared one by one, all off on different adventures or just home. Mike, Mike's friend Mark, and I checked into a hostel in Rome. The bossman there was funny, kind of wacked out or maybe just high. He had a nice cat though. We met some other students there and that night we all went out for gelato at Old Bridge. The next day we moved to another hostel, more utilitarian but still good because there were beds which is all I require. We went to Villa Borghese and hung out, went to the Galleria Borghese which has everything good in art, and of course had a lovely dinner followed by liters of beer. Mark left very early the next morning and then Mike and I headed to Ciampino airport to begin the adventure.
May 14 Our flight was delayed of course. Granted this seems to have been because the Pope's plane was arriving from Brazil. We saw it, papal flags and all. Finally we headed off. We flew into Basel and my image of Switzerland as the perfect country was shattered. It was raining! And cold! I couldn't believe this kind of weather existed there. No matter. We spent the day in Basel/the train station. I had a Whopper which made me feel sick and I realized why I don't eat that stuff. Also Swiss soda drink (I can't remember the name) is gross. That evening Mike and I were back on an airplane, this time winging our way to Istanbul!
May 15-18 We arrived in Istanbul at 1 or 2 in the morning. Caught a bus then taxi to the hostel, finally arriving there around 6 AM. We just crashed and slept til noon. Then we left the hostel, got kebaps which were delicious and proceeded to eat them outside the Blue Mosque while looking at the Hagia Sophia. Not too bad. Then we went into the Blue Mosque. It was beautiful; I had never been in a mosque before so this was a nice one for my first. Lots of tourists and screaming/running Turkish children on fieldtrips but still there were people in there praying. Lovely. We walked around some more, over the bridge to the main business/shopping district. The next day more walking, through a huge park called the Tea Gardens or some such thing. Got a good view of the Bosphorous! More kebaps, sesame bagels, anything I could buy off a food cart or boat. Nothing like catching some fish then pulling the boat up to the dock and selling fish sandwiches right off it. We went into the Hagia Sophia and stayed there for a good three hours. It's amazing; I never thought I'd be there but I'm glad I was. It's huge by the way and of course, there is scaffolding right in the middle of it because it is undergoing perpetual restoration. Took a ferry over to Asia and walked around there. We tried to walk over a giant bridge back to Europe but that isn't allowed. So we took a bus. Saw Spiderman 3. Awful and hilarious because it is so awful. Went down into the Basilica Cistern, setting of something James Bond. Had tea in there too. I cant even remember everything I did. All of it was cool though.
Then flew to Geneva, successfully sprinted to catch the last train out of the airport. Got to Mikes aunts house where we crashed. Hung out there for a day and then that evening back to the airport to go to Budapest.
Budapest. Another lovely city. Very European feeling too. It was hot. Went to Széchényi Spa, some Hungarian baths, which were nice. Kind of like a public pool because everyone is there but there are more pools. Like whirlpools, aerobics pools, hot tubs, lap swimming. Old men did play chess while wading in the water. The locker rooms were full of naked people. Lots of old people in general. I think that's what all the old men do, go to the baths everyday. I cant blame them. Walked around a lot as usual. Saw a cool cave church, more parks, St. Steven Cathedral. The best being the central park with an artsy wading pool thing that people put there feet in. Or if you are a larger Hungarian man, put in your Speedo and sunbathe. And be very active, climbing in and out of the pool, leaning against trees, drinking from the decorative water jets that shoot out of the ground. That man was everything good about Hungary but its hard to explain. Had a picnic by the Danube, walked over some bridges, saw the opera house. Visited the Terror House. Wikitravel all these things or ask me in person to elaborate. Ate a serious meal full of meat and felt ill afterwards but that's ok because I am a carnivore. Then after 3 days I think, we went back to Geneva to recover.
Geneva. Wonderful as always. Did laundry, biked around Lake Geneva, slept. General goodness. Then off to Berlin to meet Nikki and Andrew!
I love Germany and Germans. They are fun, funny, and friendly. Drank delicious beer, ate meat and spatzel and a pretzel.. Drank a beer while walking along the Wall, visited MUSEUM?ISLAND. Genius idea. Saw some awesome ancient things that I had learned about in my art history classes. Also ran into my Italian teacher from last summer outside one of the museums. Weird how that kind of stuff happens. Went to Potsdam and walked around some royal gardens and viewed some spectacular buildings, palaces, fountain, and such. Went to the Reichstag and climbed to the top to get a sweet view of Berlin. Saw the Siegessäule and then in the Tiergarten got caught in a huge thunderstorm. I was soaking wet but it was fun all the same. Also went to the Holocaust memorial...and proceeded to play tag in it. Maybe bad form but it was an intense game. I think I need to return to Germany. I was way jealous of Andrews German speaking abilities. I should learn it so I too can sound awesome. It was great seeing Nikki too because she is off to be a rockstar teacher in South Korea and I wont be seeing her for awhile. So after Berlin, I went back to Rome for a couple days to see my city one last time.
Rome. Walked around, just enjoying the place. It was overrun by tourists but I can understand why. Ate some delicious food and drank some wine. And then that was it. Ciao, Roma. I miss it. I am planning my return. There is still so much left for me to do there.
May 14 Our flight was delayed of course. Granted this seems to have been because the Pope's plane was arriving from Brazil. We saw it, papal flags and all. Finally we headed off. We flew into Basel and my image of Switzerland as the perfect country was shattered. It was raining! And cold! I couldn't believe this kind of weather existed there. No matter. We spent the day in Basel/the train station. I had a Whopper which made me feel sick and I realized why I don't eat that stuff. Also Swiss soda drink (I can't remember the name) is gross. That evening Mike and I were back on an airplane, this time winging our way to Istanbul!
May 15-18 We arrived in Istanbul at 1 or 2 in the morning. Caught a bus then taxi to the hostel, finally arriving there around 6 AM. We just crashed and slept til noon. Then we left the hostel, got kebaps which were delicious and proceeded to eat them outside the Blue Mosque while looking at the Hagia Sophia. Not too bad. Then we went into the Blue Mosque. It was beautiful; I had never been in a mosque before so this was a nice one for my first. Lots of tourists and screaming/running Turkish children on fieldtrips but still there were people in there praying. Lovely. We walked around some more, over the bridge to the main business/shopping district. The next day more walking, through a huge park called the Tea Gardens or some such thing. Got a good view of the Bosphorous! More kebaps, sesame bagels, anything I could buy off a food cart or boat. Nothing like catching some fish then pulling the boat up to the dock and selling fish sandwiches right off it. We went into the Hagia Sophia and stayed there for a good three hours. It's amazing; I never thought I'd be there but I'm glad I was. It's huge by the way and of course, there is scaffolding right in the middle of it because it is undergoing perpetual restoration. Took a ferry over to Asia and walked around there. We tried to walk over a giant bridge back to Europe but that isn't allowed. So we took a bus. Saw Spiderman 3. Awful and hilarious because it is so awful. Went down into the Basilica Cistern, setting of something James Bond. Had tea in there too. I cant even remember everything I did. All of it was cool though.
Then flew to Geneva, successfully sprinted to catch the last train out of the airport. Got to Mikes aunts house where we crashed. Hung out there for a day and then that evening back to the airport to go to Budapest.
Budapest. Another lovely city. Very European feeling too. It was hot. Went to Széchényi Spa, some Hungarian baths, which were nice. Kind of like a public pool because everyone is there but there are more pools. Like whirlpools, aerobics pools, hot tubs, lap swimming. Old men did play chess while wading in the water. The locker rooms were full of naked people. Lots of old people in general. I think that's what all the old men do, go to the baths everyday. I cant blame them. Walked around a lot as usual. Saw a cool cave church, more parks, St. Steven Cathedral. The best being the central park with an artsy wading pool thing that people put there feet in. Or if you are a larger Hungarian man, put in your Speedo and sunbathe. And be very active, climbing in and out of the pool, leaning against trees, drinking from the decorative water jets that shoot out of the ground. That man was everything good about Hungary but its hard to explain. Had a picnic by the Danube, walked over some bridges, saw the opera house. Visited the Terror House. Wikitravel all these things or ask me in person to elaborate. Ate a serious meal full of meat and felt ill afterwards but that's ok because I am a carnivore. Then after 3 days I think, we went back to Geneva to recover.
Geneva. Wonderful as always. Did laundry, biked around Lake Geneva, slept. General goodness. Then off to Berlin to meet Nikki and Andrew!
I love Germany and Germans. They are fun, funny, and friendly. Drank delicious beer, ate meat and spatzel and a pretzel.. Drank a beer while walking along the Wall, visited MUSEUM?ISLAND. Genius idea. Saw some awesome ancient things that I had learned about in my art history classes. Also ran into my Italian teacher from last summer outside one of the museums. Weird how that kind of stuff happens. Went to Potsdam and walked around some royal gardens and viewed some spectacular buildings, palaces, fountain, and such. Went to the Reichstag and climbed to the top to get a sweet view of Berlin. Saw the Siegessäule and then in the Tiergarten got caught in a huge thunderstorm. I was soaking wet but it was fun all the same. Also went to the Holocaust memorial...and proceeded to play tag in it. Maybe bad form but it was an intense game. I think I need to return to Germany. I was way jealous of Andrews German speaking abilities. I should learn it so I too can sound awesome. It was great seeing Nikki too because she is off to be a rockstar teacher in South Korea and I wont be seeing her for awhile. So after Berlin, I went back to Rome for a couple days to see my city one last time.
Rome. Walked around, just enjoying the place. It was overrun by tourists but I can understand why. Ate some delicious food and drank some wine. And then that was it. Ciao, Roma. I miss it. I am planning my return. There is still so much left for me to do there.
02 June 2007
European Adventure Over...For Now
Made it back home in one piece and with all my luggage. Outstanding, though of course it wasn't as easy as hoped. Mainly my flight into Frankfurt was late so I missed my connection and had to fly into Newark 4 hours later. Ahh, air travel. Anyway, I have lots to tell. 3 weeks of adventure. But not enough time or patience for it now. So later. But I'm home for two weeks! Let's hang out before I leave again.
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