Took the overnight train from Venice to Vienna. First thing, visted the Opera House and took a tour - amazing place. Unfortunately there are no operas during July and August so couldn't enjoy.
Then went to the Shönbrunn Palace and got amazing pictures from the Glorietta. This is definitely my favorite palace to have visited. Then changed and had a wonderful dinner at an Italian restaurant and then enjoyed a night of Mozart music at the Orangerie at the Shönbrunn Palace (including opera singers and dancers).
To bed as I have an early train to catch to Salzburg - can't wait!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Venice - My favorite town
So Venice has been my favorite town so far. Our hostel was in a old Palace (it's called A Venice Museum) with paintings on the wall and was fabulous. We got in late b7c of train delays so we ended up running through Venice with our bags to make it in time for the check in cut off of midnight.
First day in Venice, visited St. Mark's square, including the Basilic and walked around and took it all in. Went out with 2 Australian girls and ended up at a Discoteque where they played Brittnez Spears - so fun.
Second day, visited the Rialto Bridge + Venice Costume museum in another old palace on the Grand Canal. A big group from the hostel went out for drinks with a late night ensueing.
Last day, woke up late, went shopping and enjoyed laying out at the Grand Canal in front of the train station before Terri and I headed our separate directions.
Venice is amazing and if you haven't been there, then you must. Very sad to leave Terri and Venice but Vienna and Salzburg are calling my name.
First day in Venice, visited St. Mark's square, including the Basilic and walked around and took it all in. Went out with 2 Australian girls and ended up at a Discoteque where they played Brittnez Spears - so fun.
Second day, visited the Rialto Bridge + Venice Costume museum in another old palace on the Grand Canal. A big group from the hostel went out for drinks with a late night ensueing.
Last day, woke up late, went shopping and enjoyed laying out at the Grand Canal in front of the train station before Terri and I headed our separate directions.
Venice is amazing and if you haven't been there, then you must. Very sad to leave Terri and Venice but Vienna and Salzburg are calling my name.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Ironman 2009
Hey everyone from Nice, France.
Love this town - the past days have been so relaxing.
Got in yesterday and found a hotel to stay in - betzeen Louis Vitton and Armani and across the street from Benetton. Finding a place was difficult because the France Ironman 2009 occured this morning. Ze had an early dinner and then to bed.
Got up super early - 6am to see the Ironman athelets through their first round (ie szimming). Never seen anything like it - 2500 people were competing from 55 countries. Saw the sunrise and the athelets start and finish their swimming pôrtion and onto the bike portion.
We then went to the beach for a fez hours before taking a yatch cruise aournd Nice and the surrounding towns ( saw tina turner, elton john and the King of Egypt's houses). So great to be on the water - definitely coming back. More beach after and watched the Ironmen come in from biking for the marathon portion. Chinese dinner - best wonton soup so far of any city and back here to get ready to go out. Taking a nap and then off to the clubs.
We head to Venice tomorrow until Thursday. Nice has been more than expected and my hats off to the Ironman athelets. It makes me want to start riding when I get back - my new plan. Beaches on the Med. are my favorite and have been blessed to have visited!
Miss you all!
Lindsay
Love this town - the past days have been so relaxing.
Got in yesterday and found a hotel to stay in - betzeen Louis Vitton and Armani and across the street from Benetton. Finding a place was difficult because the France Ironman 2009 occured this morning. Ze had an early dinner and then to bed.
Got up super early - 6am to see the Ironman athelets through their first round (ie szimming). Never seen anything like it - 2500 people were competing from 55 countries. Saw the sunrise and the athelets start and finish their swimming pôrtion and onto the bike portion.
We then went to the beach for a fez hours before taking a yatch cruise aournd Nice and the surrounding towns ( saw tina turner, elton john and the King of Egypt's houses). So great to be on the water - definitely coming back. More beach after and watched the Ironmen come in from biking for the marathon portion. Chinese dinner - best wonton soup so far of any city and back here to get ready to go out. Taking a nap and then off to the clubs.
We head to Venice tomorrow until Thursday. Nice has been more than expected and my hats off to the Ironman athelets. It makes me want to start riding when I get back - my new plan. Beaches on the Med. are my favorite and have been blessed to have visited!
Miss you all!
Lindsay
La Sabranenque - a lifestyle of unknown proportions
2 weeks crammed into 1 blog - I will do my best but don't want to write forever so I will be brief b/c we are going out tonight in Nice and I need to take a nap before hand.
I had 2 roommates - one from australia and one from Chicago. We did stay in restored houses that were originally part of the "old city" of St. Victor La Coste. While I did not participate in breakfast - no surprise there, lunch and dinner were amazing and I got to help uin the kitchen for two meals. So I,ll talk about that first:
Marta, originally argentinian, has been in France for 20 years. The cook everything naturally, everything is fresh. We got to make salad dressing plus assist with the cooking/marinading of the meat. I'm so excited to bring back some of the tips/tecyhniques I've learned/ I'm going to start making my own salad dressing plus start using lore fresh products - no longer being intimidated. Plus there is a knife I will be getting when I get back to help with cutting (it is a shallow U shape that you roll back and forth to dice items. I'm in love with it!
As for the work, we would work for about 3 1/2 hours to 4 hours in the morning. I was on the crew working higher up on the path. My group - me plus 2 other guys - basically dug the path down to the bedrock and then rebuilt the wall, laying mortar and rocks layer by layer until we could add the pavement chips at the end. Took us about 7 days to do and then the other 2 were used to start a new section of the path. The path leads up to the medevial castle (10th/11th century) and 4 different groups were working on different parts of the path. It was great getting to see our small project through.
Afternoons were spent visiting local wineries, towns (Arles, Uzès, Avignon), reading or sleeping. After dinner, we would either hang out at the main house or head to the village bar, which was located in the village square. A lot of wine was drank in the last 2 weeks by the La Sab folks! Last Saturday night was particularly exciting. The town had a festival - the entire town came - with a DJ that played french music plus disco plus songs like "highway to hell" - très ecletic.
It was really a great experience and it was neet to be with people that were of like-mind regarding their prupose. I was ready to be back in the non-Provènce world at the end of it though. One of the girls is from Scotland (edinborough) and decided to join me on my next leg.
Of course, tons more happened but I can't wait to tell you all about it when I get back. Off to Nice, France with Terri and the beaches of the Meditteranean.
I had 2 roommates - one from australia and one from Chicago. We did stay in restored houses that were originally part of the "old city" of St. Victor La Coste. While I did not participate in breakfast - no surprise there, lunch and dinner were amazing and I got to help uin the kitchen for two meals. So I,ll talk about that first:
Marta, originally argentinian, has been in France for 20 years. The cook everything naturally, everything is fresh. We got to make salad dressing plus assist with the cooking/marinading of the meat. I'm so excited to bring back some of the tips/tecyhniques I've learned/ I'm going to start making my own salad dressing plus start using lore fresh products - no longer being intimidated. Plus there is a knife I will be getting when I get back to help with cutting (it is a shallow U shape that you roll back and forth to dice items. I'm in love with it!
As for the work, we would work for about 3 1/2 hours to 4 hours in the morning. I was on the crew working higher up on the path. My group - me plus 2 other guys - basically dug the path down to the bedrock and then rebuilt the wall, laying mortar and rocks layer by layer until we could add the pavement chips at the end. Took us about 7 days to do and then the other 2 were used to start a new section of the path. The path leads up to the medevial castle (10th/11th century) and 4 different groups were working on different parts of the path. It was great getting to see our small project through.
Afternoons were spent visiting local wineries, towns (Arles, Uzès, Avignon), reading or sleeping. After dinner, we would either hang out at the main house or head to the village bar, which was located in the village square. A lot of wine was drank in the last 2 weeks by the La Sab folks! Last Saturday night was particularly exciting. The town had a festival - the entire town came - with a DJ that played french music plus disco plus songs like "highway to hell" - très ecletic.
It was really a great experience and it was neet to be with people that were of like-mind regarding their prupose. I was ready to be back in the non-Provènce world at the end of it though. One of the girls is from Scotland (edinborough) and decided to join me on my next leg.
Of course, tons more happened but I can't wait to tell you all about it when I get back. Off to Nice, France with Terri and the beaches of the Meditteranean.
Barcelona - the Mediterranean
Hey all, sorry this is so late but I,ve not had email for a fez weeks:
Barcelona was amazing, Stayed ith my friend Kara and her family the first night - zent to the beach - it was finally warm in a city I was visiting. Mediterranean was beautiful.
Second night stayed at a hostel right off Plaza de Cataluyna. Super tired so I slept a bit and then visited the Gaudi Park and Casa Battlo (Gaudi was the architect) then a night of tapas and a Flaminco show. Meet a girl that went to school in New Orleans with a friend from Merri-Mac - small world. Flaminco show was not what I expected buty amazing none the less. Blair - I think this should be our next dance conquest! Since Bzarcelonians don't eat dinner until around 10pm and then go out, our dinner was at 9:30; flaminco show at 11:15pm and then the disco around 2:00am. A late night but so fun - meet some girls from Argentina who were amazing;
Again slept a lot that net day but did go see Sagrada Familia where Gaudi was commissioned as the architect. Dinner of Tapas and then to bed to head to the french program.
I could definitely get used to the Barcelonian lifestyle.
Barcelona was amazing, Stayed ith my friend Kara and her family the first night - zent to the beach - it was finally warm in a city I was visiting. Mediterranean was beautiful.
Second night stayed at a hostel right off Plaza de Cataluyna. Super tired so I slept a bit and then visited the Gaudi Park and Casa Battlo (Gaudi was the architect) then a night of tapas and a Flaminco show. Meet a girl that went to school in New Orleans with a friend from Merri-Mac - small world. Flaminco show was not what I expected buty amazing none the less. Blair - I think this should be our next dance conquest! Since Bzarcelonians don't eat dinner until around 10pm and then go out, our dinner was at 9:30; flaminco show at 11:15pm and then the disco around 2:00am. A late night but so fun - meet some girls from Argentina who were amazing;
Again slept a lot that net day but did go see Sagrada Familia where Gaudi was commissioned as the architect. Dinner of Tapas and then to bed to head to the french program.
I could definitely get used to the Barcelonian lifestyle.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Japanese as always
06/10/09
Today was a very long day but amazing and beat my expectations.
I honestly wasn't overly excited about the Louvre b/c art doesn't excite me that much. But, I went with Kerryn (from Australia) today and I began to understand why people love the Louvre. Luckily we both had a very similar taste in what we wanted to see which worked out perfectly. We were able to work together to make the Louvre exprience perfect for both of us and yes, working together is a good idea in that place b/c it is so big. and for everyone wanting to go, please buy the museum pass - you will not regret it. We started with the history of the Louvre and hey have actually excavated the medievial ruins of the first louvre for us to walk around - amazing. Plus there was an exhibit on how they preserved the art during WW II. We then heading to different exhibits to see what we wanted to see - Code of Hammarabi, Mona Lisa, enus de Milo, Napolean's Apartment, Ramses I and III sacrophagus's plus others. It was a wonderful experience - we thought we'd spend an hour and spent about 5. I do have to sa though, people are pushy a rude. It wasn't really bad until the end when the masses sarted pouring in. I definitely got knocked over by a 90 year old french lady.
We went to lunch near the Musee D'Orsay after that and had a dessert plate and baguette - still in love with french food.
We visited the Musee D'Orsay and did the 5th floor, impressionis (renior, monet, van gogh) and I have a new favorite artist - Alfred Sisley. Looking forward to finding out more about him when I get home.
From there we headed to Notre Dame and I acually got to hear a mass. It was an amazing experience to participate in a church service in Notre Dame - definitely a highlight so far. It was so rainy I didn't go on top though, another thing to do when I come back.
Went to the train station and bought my ticket to not barcelona but PortBou - I have to transfer on the morning of the 12th there to barcelona - should be a fun experience:-)
Dinner was japanese - definitely my favorite misso soup so far - of american and german and good conversation with Kerryn. Can't believe tomorrow is my last day in Paris, I have enjoyed it much more than I thought.
Taking the overnight train tomorrow night so should a busy day tomorrow before I leave. The eiffel tower is my last stop in paris, can't wait.
Pray that the weather holds out for the eiffel tower.
Many blessings today - things I've learned to appreciate and the reminder that God is constant with me during this trip and always.
Another day to explore - Paris est tres maginifique!
Today was a very long day but amazing and beat my expectations.
I honestly wasn't overly excited about the Louvre b/c art doesn't excite me that much. But, I went with Kerryn (from Australia) today and I began to understand why people love the Louvre. Luckily we both had a very similar taste in what we wanted to see which worked out perfectly. We were able to work together to make the Louvre exprience perfect for both of us and yes, working together is a good idea in that place b/c it is so big. and for everyone wanting to go, please buy the museum pass - you will not regret it. We started with the history of the Louvre and hey have actually excavated the medievial ruins of the first louvre for us to walk around - amazing. Plus there was an exhibit on how they preserved the art during WW II. We then heading to different exhibits to see what we wanted to see - Code of Hammarabi, Mona Lisa, enus de Milo, Napolean's Apartment, Ramses I and III sacrophagus's plus others. It was a wonderful experience - we thought we'd spend an hour and spent about 5. I do have to sa though, people are pushy a rude. It wasn't really bad until the end when the masses sarted pouring in. I definitely got knocked over by a 90 year old french lady.
We went to lunch near the Musee D'Orsay after that and had a dessert plate and baguette - still in love with french food.
We visited the Musee D'Orsay and did the 5th floor, impressionis (renior, monet, van gogh) and I have a new favorite artist - Alfred Sisley. Looking forward to finding out more about him when I get home.
From there we headed to Notre Dame and I acually got to hear a mass. It was an amazing experience to participate in a church service in Notre Dame - definitely a highlight so far. It was so rainy I didn't go on top though, another thing to do when I come back.
Went to the train station and bought my ticket to not barcelona but PortBou - I have to transfer on the morning of the 12th there to barcelona - should be a fun experience:-)
Dinner was japanese - definitely my favorite misso soup so far - of american and german and good conversation with Kerryn. Can't believe tomorrow is my last day in Paris, I have enjoyed it much more than I thought.
Taking the overnight train tomorrow night so should a busy day tomorrow before I leave. The eiffel tower is my last stop in paris, can't wait.
Pray that the weather holds out for the eiffel tower.
Many blessings today - things I've learned to appreciate and the reminder that God is constant with me during this trip and always.
Another day to explore - Paris est tres maginifique!
06/09/09
I went to Versailles today. Amazing place. Weather is in continuance with the Germany weather, cold and rainy. I broke down and finally bought an umbrella - first souvenir of the trip (from versailles) but also useful. I love how what I buy as a souvenir also serves a purpose (jacket and umbrella).
Loved Versailles - spent about 4 hours in the house. Can't wait to show pictures b/c I don't think an explanation can even do it justice. I was able to use my french to reach all of the item headings throughout the palace which was nice, so I didn't have to buy the headphones in english. Didn't make it to the gardens b/c it was so cold and rainy and windy - my umbrella wasn/t having any of it.
After versailles, went to the Eglise du Dome - where Napolean I and III are buried and did the Musee du l'armee (french military history from 1800s to the present). I only looked through the World War I and II exhibits - interesting how they viewed the wars. Ran out of time - want to come back some other time and see the entire museum.
Dinner was with the roomies at a french restaurant in the latin quarter. I had wine, french onion soup, steak with cheese and a cheese plate at the end - I love french food!!!! Such a treat. We walked around the latin quarter for a while and got to see he eiffel tower from a distance at night - breathtaking. THen headng back to the room for some sleep for a long day tomorrow a the Louvre.
Good food and wine and a good nigh sleep.
I went to Versailles today. Amazing place. Weather is in continuance with the Germany weather, cold and rainy. I broke down and finally bought an umbrella - first souvenir of the trip (from versailles) but also useful. I love how what I buy as a souvenir also serves a purpose (jacket and umbrella).
Loved Versailles - spent about 4 hours in the house. Can't wait to show pictures b/c I don't think an explanation can even do it justice. I was able to use my french to reach all of the item headings throughout the palace which was nice, so I didn't have to buy the headphones in english. Didn't make it to the gardens b/c it was so cold and rainy and windy - my umbrella wasn/t having any of it.
After versailles, went to the Eglise du Dome - where Napolean I and III are buried and did the Musee du l'armee (french military history from 1800s to the present). I only looked through the World War I and II exhibits - interesting how they viewed the wars. Ran out of time - want to come back some other time and see the entire museum.
Dinner was with the roomies at a french restaurant in the latin quarter. I had wine, french onion soup, steak with cheese and a cheese plate at the end - I love french food!!!! Such a treat. We walked around the latin quarter for a while and got to see he eiffel tower from a distance at night - breathtaking. THen headng back to the room for some sleep for a long day tomorrow a the Louvre.
Good food and wine and a good nigh sleep.
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