tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75199588407024524802024-03-05T19:49:14.548-08:00Share it or lose it.Josie's AdventuresJosie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-39562155820374384582009-08-06T03:43:00.000-07:002009-08-06T03:44:10.748-07:00Paris: July 17<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 17- Versailles<br /></span><p style="text-align: left;">Happy Birthday Jen! Miss you. :)</p><p style="text-align: left;">Okay, we went to Versailles today and it was everything and more than I had imagined. I took AP European History from Mr. Markworth when I was in 10th grade and have ever since longed for the chance to see it in the flesh. (Cup of chocolate? Inside joke that nobody will understand...)</p><p style="text-align: left;">Our tourguide, I kid you not, had a rattail. It was the best thing ever. We were all less than subtle with our attempts at capturing it with our cameras. He took us through the palace where I learned about the 7 salons/apartment for the royal family, which is meant to represent the 7 known planets at the time. I walked down the beautiful hall of mirrors, I meandered through the gardens, I ate a picnic in front of the grand canal, and literally melted when I saw Marie Antoinette's Hamlet! I WANT TO LIVE THERE. I have always dreamed to live in a European cottage over a mansion, so why not dream about the queen's cottages? :)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP2avQE1Bch9Vwiue2PpixdJ07i2eB-wSyCNVM6G3UNZuUzJISicuhhthaAeRgVgeHB9kFhFChZ1roTBdIuzPw3MMrv9S9AHvRgk78iwfK3UsGW2NkuA1_oJA7DuV8He_sPokkgi_lX4/s1600-h/IMG_5802.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP2avQE1Bch9Vwiue2PpixdJ07i2eB-wSyCNVM6G3UNZuUzJISicuhhthaAeRgVgeHB9kFhFChZ1roTBdIuzPw3MMrv9S9AHvRgk78iwfK3UsGW2NkuA1_oJA7DuV8He_sPokkgi_lX4/s320/IMG_5802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359492772145372082" border="0" /></a>Rat tailing tourguide!<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc66l1poZ8bSZLOK6rQiSE2Tp67JcY5t6P9fD7qR-t-44EwSkjoVr7ddnpP-mH8dSR2_S1dIF8hYY9i1Skd1xjAkspqg09uzYMLkWsAIj05CeYOY2M3mgRMyi6lJITe_x5hrLwo2noxE/s1600-h/IMG_5941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc66l1poZ8bSZLOK6rQiSE2Tp67JcY5t6P9fD7qR-t-44EwSkjoVr7ddnpP-mH8dSR2_S1dIF8hYY9i1Skd1xjAkspqg09uzYMLkWsAIj05CeYOY2M3mgRMyi6lJITe_x5hrLwo2noxE/s320/IMG_5941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359492761538260402" border="0" /></a>Perfect little cottage<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsaTsbptf0BxuTE7XwdnoN0xqgkAlZWJknbkj3R56obyA-zAh0isve3gOiya4CC1qQHLKSAyKTzV2puHLL_i5N1djfv0o5am8Uij-GNPJYhAo54U3cuttLuTFqmB7LKXlDKqVJTbam7Q/s1600-h/IMG_5767.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsaTsbptf0BxuTE7XwdnoN0xqgkAlZWJknbkj3R56obyA-zAh0isve3gOiya4CC1qQHLKSAyKTzV2puHLL_i5N1djfv0o5am8Uij-GNPJYhAo54U3cuttLuTFqmB7LKXlDKqVJTbam7Q/s320/IMG_5767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359492791805325010" border="0" /></a>FREEZING OUR TAILS OFF with the wind/light rain<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh-dWunrQYJBKcq6P7xhx78WwDxeNVioAWFVe9XjW2cNkhAoYAAFGVXfMrjaTtD8ECcTEg9sHIlQngN8G8z_3o_EPuUZIzJDAj-wVYLFB1Pmb5kQABMPqhgZEOkRWmdI5YoNt-a-_f9w/s1600-h/IMG_5891.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh-dWunrQYJBKcq6P7xhx78WwDxeNVioAWFVe9XjW2cNkhAoYAAFGVXfMrjaTtD8ECcTEg9sHIlQngN8G8z_3o_EPuUZIzJDAj-wVYLFB1Pmb5kQABMPqhgZEOkRWmdI5YoNt-a-_f9w/s320/IMG_5891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359492786127194034" border="0" /></a><br />Pretty flower in gardens<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4jYZCPFnrbvrcUjKT3Qf88Yqi1EUNlKDnBV80Ma-eQQe-Hduy7P6sQuZB9vGuin5xZkxFSdkTRjVyAQbRWHXptuwH-U05Fh-oNUvZVYY7bvWgQx7I_PwJTd37007k_7GYK5ewpvAs90/s1600-h/IMG_5806.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4jYZCPFnrbvrcUjKT3Qf88Yqi1EUNlKDnBV80Ma-eQQe-Hduy7P6sQuZB9vGuin5xZkxFSdkTRjVyAQbRWHXptuwH-U05Fh-oNUvZVYY7bvWgQx7I_PwJTd37007k_7GYK5ewpvAs90/s320/IMG_5806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359492781352085522" border="0" /></a><br />Hall of Mirrors with Laura (roomie)</div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-75502984734290795212009-08-06T03:30:00.001-07:002009-08-06T03:42:22.945-07:00Paris: July 16<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 16</span><p style="text-align: left;">We went to Villa Savoy this morning, a famous house designed by Corbusier. I was impressed by the architecture, but not the interior. And I'm not talking so about decoration, because there was none. I'm talking about the floorplan. It just seems clear it was designed by a man, but I guess you'd have to see it for yourself. Haha. Sketching it was really fun. It's such a famous house and it rests in a perfectly manicured property enclosed with tall trees and shrubs and a large wall.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vy8wcyazD22i2lMZh5BTCqT9VqprJ8nukYpjvD16lFO_2RzTAezAu3NZm23rv45qYteezbCqlLSgnGHiHX_anpM_JLzmiQ5IBFmhMnfljnIp7s33m9mYZ81sraJwRUfkP-83XjmK2kg/s1600-h/IMG_5565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vy8wcyazD22i2lMZh5BTCqT9VqprJ8nukYpjvD16lFO_2RzTAezAu3NZm23rv45qYteezbCqlLSgnGHiHX_anpM_JLzmiQ5IBFmhMnfljnIp7s33m9mYZ81sraJwRUfkP-83XjmK2kg/s400/IMG_5565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366797504696986274" border="0" /></a>Villa Savoy<br />(great on the outside, impractical on the inside)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAve0xeX4mC8x6KnHu7U4echzUcK75Wl_bpcROjodJtJSCWaNPPSFqukqOUH8U4Dat-lf4Xzr1giYo_JizuclheEj0eNF4x-AA09t6PMOW3-JJC-mkQERqfq9DOlQAf7EgIyB7-gwB9s/s1600-h/IMG_5602.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAve0xeX4mC8x6KnHu7U4echzUcK75Wl_bpcROjodJtJSCWaNPPSFqukqOUH8U4Dat-lf4Xzr1giYo_JizuclheEj0eNF4x-AA09t6PMOW3-JJC-mkQERqfq9DOlQAf7EgIyB7-gwB9s/s400/IMG_5602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366797514453270706" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Afterward we ate at a pricey little restaurant called Kong (a Phillipe Starke creation). There was a ballerina tu-tu light fixture, a giant geisha on the ceiling, and see through chairs (ghost chairs, officially) with pictures of female Asian faces on them. So strange! I got a cheeseburger and fries were 17 Euro (without tip). But it was cool. I found my favorite bathrooms so far (Oh, so on this study abroad I have been checking out bathrooms EVERYWHERE I go for my research. It's been pretty fun because they are all so different and quirky). These bathrooms were rad though- a blown up child sumo wrestler on the wall, naturally. The floors were made of rocks with a clear goop around them. Hard to explain...</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJixyuw64i08y5FCXHcu1mKIxLR3oDapU6pyYij4IWcUgXhUwhiSlNzh4TobRYOIAOTrgskdzRFGi9808SW4LN3x0Uz8sayWdxe1_3BQYsYv5huyBFMQLe7VVPcNHRvreT3VZIKjINbXw/s1600-h/IMG_5622.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJixyuw64i08y5FCXHcu1mKIxLR3oDapU6pyYij4IWcUgXhUwhiSlNzh4TobRYOIAOTrgskdzRFGi9808SW4LN3x0Uz8sayWdxe1_3BQYsYv5huyBFMQLe7VVPcNHRvreT3VZIKjINbXw/s400/IMG_5622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366797520218453010" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">We then headed off to the Museum de Orsay, which had impressionist paintings and such. I loved seeing all the paintings I'd seen in textbooks my entire life. I saw work by Renoir, Monet, Manet, Degas, etc. Very nice.</p>Finally Laura, Scott, and I ended our day by going to the Arch de Triumph. It was one ginormous arch, that's undisputed. We climbed roughly 6 thousand stairs to get to the top, which was beautiful. The city splits out like a sun from the Arch de Triumph, so everywhere you turn is full cityscape. It was sunset, so even more gorgeous. I love love love Paris. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60tn__arfoRxl5v3dGCp1wZ9T2eZYti1Na7K6i9Ytz0LSP0c5e7ztGyaAYHiy1HPvwb5lLeTts5W0FOXg20mBaCQzJ6wmECe_6BbdEIT7tg9odN58-BovQfzLVuEgSg-wGUz55IvxFZQ/s1600-h/IMG_5732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60tn__arfoRxl5v3dGCp1wZ9T2eZYti1Na7K6i9Ytz0LSP0c5e7ztGyaAYHiy1HPvwb5lLeTts5W0FOXg20mBaCQzJ6wmECe_6BbdEIT7tg9odN58-BovQfzLVuEgSg-wGUz55IvxFZQ/s400/IMG_5732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366797511590793698" border="0" /></a>Arch de Triumph<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YDZ9pgal-e5BC0TLykFPQI1ag0BbTobPFbLrvCkugbMffxweR0NHHtQEjW7TeOKG5ooPGQC3F96myj4Yxu6_kpqYAklQqlPbL79-mROjA2DBxdscvfLozMPqCq3FuFvp_tCnlfKRDdk/s1600-h/IMG_5561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YDZ9pgal-e5BC0TLykFPQI1ag0BbTobPFbLrvCkugbMffxweR0NHHtQEjW7TeOKG5ooPGQC3F96myj4Yxu6_kpqYAklQqlPbL79-mROjA2DBxdscvfLozMPqCq3FuFvp_tCnlfKRDdk/s400/IMG_5561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366797502311934786" border="0" /></a>Nancy performing surgery on my pink chaco<br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-50249753210778775512009-08-06T03:26:00.000-07:002009-08-06T03:27:19.991-07:00Paris: July 15<strong>July 15</strong><div align="left">How fun fun fun! We started at St. Chapelle's Cathedral, where they have the coolest stain glass. Then we went to the Pompidou (sp?) which is a modern art museum. We saw a dress made of meat, a naked woman hula hooping with barbed wire, and a big pile of garbage. UH? It was strange. But the building was SO cool! Sparkly signage, bright colored walls and lettering, and all these exterior escalators that have the most incredible view of Paris- equivolent to the Sacred Heart (which sucks because we put so much effort into all those stairs!). And some of the art was really cool. I liked the furniture and this one totally feminist exhibit by the Guerilla Girls. :)</div><div align="left">The Louvre was not at all how I expected. After wading through the fountains (probably not allowed, but lots of people were doing in this hot summer day and nobody stopped them) we headed inside. It was TOO BIG! Like, not cool how big it was. Just thinking about how the royalty kept adding on to this enormous structure is baffling to me. Why? One of them even brought in livestock and filled a wing with water so he could HUNT INDOORS. What a dissillusioned joke. Anyway, the Mona Lisa was practically the size of a post card (honestly, the copies with arrows beneath which were signs leading you TO the Mona Lisa were larger than the actual Mona Lisa). I also saw the Venus, the Winged Victory, and many more famous pieces. I enjoyed them all, but the Louvre itself was a bit overwhelming. Too big with too many people. </div><div align="left">Then Julia, Amanda, and I headed off on a ridiculous adventure to see the French National Library, a modern structure. It was huge, but not as great as we'd hoped considering the effort exherted. Effort which even cost me my shoe! My cute pink chacos died in a revolving door! I was so so so sad. I think Europe is out to get me. I have the worst luck. Could be worse though- so I'm enjoying the journey. :)</div><div align="left"><br /><br /></div><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358806066388070834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1F-KWAjp94ax310gi1kVK51kAsD7qgdDTBcEplO3gY37jCq8MthuRLY0UWqkRcciT5eF3rw7jG8n6D0RrDDTgLb2NskTBi5jRKNrFCAbEXi4c3dltiTp-Orc1Dq7skdcdtDYltsepsc/s320/IMG_5520.JPG" border="0" />The Palace Marie Antoinette spent her last days in.</p><p align="left"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358806046700577666" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sNqCzqbvZ-fg5ZKCF_eXZmCq-hG3Q-UseazPyrGDRHoej0qRX6O6U9Jf2qqOPvYpce1u0CApBAcgNwHnZMNlxl5k8SFPzwTXW6zvNzTNt_rd1QKFJQ26v_NraXzj-R6a9B-SKJeV2ps/s320/IMG_5539.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Random little toilettes</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358806024573998578" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMNcQ8RKc9QyqY4Pq9HCH1VCyzWBx5L3pjovaj9BzS3sLPAqtOL4ODI8FLpYG-C-9jGxeKjQYRnzRyupvC7_h76xo9zwnSG0jGkbfVGfSxvae5XF4w3gUezQdNNlepbhnHClGtj7iTWA/s320/IMG_5499.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">St. Chapelle's<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358806036130047042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt1ham_gELRAvdtiPPPn_Nk1Qm-cACWAT0uRWIL9AO4-XesyWlG1RvXOJs9HqyVjC0K5dXZTbfR6be-yVgzsGKw5a2gn1vgG-c7elzQ6Hne1T4ZzWXMPoBjEERTrT4T45O9nmxVU8FYk/s320/IMG_5549.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The Pompidou</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358806010076422770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9iUk4fNwwe46ycT1yNraIfPxr8eA8zresiFzfblVpeIKmBvAkGV3fiInX1baixyKZX4E7MiYR8wi-B-U_4S-eVppW_3hbEdtDXet89Ob6E_s7xbdoGcBY8ZhONxCWNRnZBo1i22xx78/s320/IMG_5427.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">No Holding Hands, I'm afraid.</p>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-71671380546496448412009-08-06T03:00:00.001-07:002009-08-06T03:17:10.664-07:00Paris: July 14<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 14</span><br /><div align="left">BASTILLE DAY (and free day)<br />Today was full of sites. It was our free day and Laura, Jeanette and I got started (after stealing some extra cheese and bread from our continental breakfast, naturally) by trying to see the parade. All we saw was a bunch of middle age Johnny Hannyville fans camping out for the concert tonight. We decided to make our way to Notre Dame instead. We rode on a funny two-story metro, which I had never seen before. Notre Dame is very detailed on the exterior. Much like how I would have pictured it to be. Inside had beautiful stained glass windows. I really liked a chandelier they had on display which was symbolic of the crown they put on Christ.<br />Basilique Du Sacre Ceur was next. I had never heard of it. It is a church on a hill that overlooks all of Paris. It's not just any church either- it's white and reminds me of Gondor in LOR. GORGEOUS! It was a highlight. And looking out on Paris is just so surreal, because it's such a light-pallette of a city. I've never seen anything like it.<br />We lost part of our group while trying to find the Moulin Rouge. It was fun to see- although it looked a little more plastic-y than authentic. Does that make sense? It looks like it's still used though, so that was cool. We were creeped out by an older man staring at all the photos of can-can dancers. Oh well.<br />I was hesitant to go back to the Opera House since there is just so much to see in Paris and such little time. Since we had already seen the outside I didn't see a need to go back-- but I was WRONG (That's right Mom, I can admit it)! Inside was incredible! So fancy. I would love to see a show there. I'm happy to report that although it won't hold a charge and has a monochromatic screen now, my ipod works enough to salvage material on it. In fact, it allowed me to play one song (Masquerade) while I was inside to help me connect to the Phantom of the Opera motif! :)<br />The chandelier hall was unexpected and words just don't describe the feeling I got as I turned the corner into it.<br />Somebody had the bright idea of walking home (about 4 miles) which after walking all day just about killed me. I didn't leave the hotel again until 11:00 pm to watch the most amazing firework display off the Eiffel Tower I could have ever imagined! I think today was my favorite day of the trip. :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimK1EhTBBeiLQn1c6YIhgzykOWilo7EvdQu3aLDQnxnbZA_OQzrs49S9atCKVPbJLsg2vcaLFND4xix33VnNGDKjMgdpqVeeDGRANhsJqcGYgQHgIAfyv4luX56OKnRk8yhPwSxI_ZWdU/s1600-h/IMG_5297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358436552806168354" style="width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimK1EhTBBeiLQn1c6YIhgzykOWilo7EvdQu3aLDQnxnbZA_OQzrs49S9atCKVPbJLsg2vcaLFND4xix33VnNGDKjMgdpqVeeDGRANhsJqcGYgQHgIAfyv4luX56OKnRk8yhPwSxI_ZWdU/s320/IMG_5297.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On the stairs in the Opera House where Phantom was filmed<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybTOo6aVNar-aG0ioER0i6-KsuZ0E9KwqzwvrY6DcJNHPIo8WdNI30ts1aGhmk0-gqlfU_JCdHgUvOhndeespFUhOgPw9lMRKmpfUdMYxKTqPIKOvgFVxVvUXawIsgX_SK7I0Kgny7cU/s1600-h/IMG_5333.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358436546320900434" style="width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybTOo6aVNar-aG0ioER0i6-KsuZ0E9KwqzwvrY6DcJNHPIo8WdNI30ts1aGhmk0-gqlfU_JCdHgUvOhndeespFUhOgPw9lMRKmpfUdMYxKTqPIKOvgFVxVvUXawIsgX_SK7I0Kgny7cU/s320/IMG_5333.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Most amazing chandelier room ever!! (In opera house)<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPXxvaZ7xxIbIuYn7lykIZkLbV5E00ajaH9T-qjvdOdBKRPtH-LElLQqgajaCnxqbcW2YkfzlJXty5y1vlo9HtPOOwCOiPX-ko0QVim_3utEHjRVU6jl6OmbsjU4kNc97WNfBZPg6ZGk/s1600-h/IMG_5421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPXxvaZ7xxIbIuYn7lykIZkLbV5E00ajaH9T-qjvdOdBKRPtH-LElLQqgajaCnxqbcW2YkfzlJXty5y1vlo9HtPOOwCOiPX-ko0QVim_3utEHjRVU6jl6OmbsjU4kNc97WNfBZPg6ZGk/s400/IMG_5421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366791113711999618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1cavJeFKvaKyqoxAL-ukNELZRx3sCYecw6gvfYGZ6SSVluSGCUeNjW7g6Ki0XNk-i16KlWnpje05UvTgUVABxj5K_cNNbYoOY9h30cbD-06VDY22KpZpBtRUuQEDAB9SVCV3N7gEZcs/s1600-h/IMG_5225.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1cavJeFKvaKyqoxAL-ukNELZRx3sCYecw6gvfYGZ6SSVluSGCUeNjW7g6Ki0XNk-i16KlWnpje05UvTgUVABxj5K_cNNbYoOY9h30cbD-06VDY22KpZpBtRUuQEDAB9SVCV3N7gEZcs/s400/IMG_5225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366791108523918322" border="0" /></a>Sacred Heart (my favorite "site)<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFr98nc_DsUQkuKAN_-YzQ3DTCK7OSqmJxp3GYPJnecm3rZnNY1wfgA4r2CyTdD7C51Fxpx4gk3wcZtQeg3JVmZCOUFuijyv0gHrtp4nsTy9r_47vyxEMEpo8oyFS68gp8Th4AtzctIQ/s1600-h/IMG_5154.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFr98nc_DsUQkuKAN_-YzQ3DTCK7OSqmJxp3GYPJnecm3rZnNY1wfgA4r2CyTdD7C51Fxpx4gk3wcZtQeg3JVmZCOUFuijyv0gHrtp4nsTy9r_47vyxEMEpo8oyFS68gp8Th4AtzctIQ/s400/IMG_5154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366791107268993858" border="0" /></a>Laura snapped this shot of me doing an interview for my research<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-L1x3-jjOWMIfd6E3mLwYnNS2ftkz6Q2FP4ntonKGSDBSbkAyfSvZtpKj-NQXKPXDFRisHMOGeeZgBbTxHqeB1ZqjrL4O_28SEBjQiEHlZ06eWB7upNfPjj3iG7M-YbTDN3L1Es-SK8/s1600-h/IMG_5146.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-L1x3-jjOWMIfd6E3mLwYnNS2ftkz6Q2FP4ntonKGSDBSbkAyfSvZtpKj-NQXKPXDFRisHMOGeeZgBbTxHqeB1ZqjrL4O_28SEBjQiEHlZ06eWB7upNfPjj3iG7M-YbTDN3L1Es-SK8/s400/IMG_5146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366791092528302066" border="0" /></a>Notre Dame<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDSI0cgUO0CENf2qxR0DXlHxsmOQKyK9GEU8DmkuOA2Wj51nQYrw9Sc4X9mUtUU8bLY-O4F3biV4RMNvew8tUTjyt9pUEPixG0i9Wjew37fWBj4w3iWA2moEobFpv7nIlv0MOXx1VMm0/s1600-h/IMG_5256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDSI0cgUO0CENf2qxR0DXlHxsmOQKyK9GEU8DmkuOA2Wj51nQYrw9Sc4X9mUtUU8bLY-O4F3biV4RMNvew8tUTjyt9pUEPixG0i9Wjew37fWBj4w3iWA2moEobFpv7nIlv0MOXx1VMm0/s400/IMG_5256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366792565585405074" border="0" /></a>Moulin Rouge!<br /></div><br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-19064184657365674782009-08-06T02:33:00.001-07:002009-08-06T03:25:46.060-07:00Paris: July 13<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 13 </span>- Paris!<br /><div align="left"><br />I think I wanted to hate Paris. I think I wanted it to be snobby and gross and totally overrated. Wrong, so wrong. It is like a clean NYC. Lots of white buildings with cute little balconies. The subway is even pretty clean! I like this city the best so far. It has a gorgeous city scape. When we arrived we passed a lot of the great sites and I felt so giddy. We got to the hotel, freshened up, and then went to the Opera House (the one from Phantom of the Opera) before grabbing dinner (Food here is WAY better than Italian Food. In fact, I think American Italian food is better than Italian food!) and heading off to a boat tour at night of Paris. The Eiffel tower is lovely. Especially at night. Tomorrow is Bastille Day so I can't wait to see the fireworks and lights they use on it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1-GO3gI57zGWPRERM10TKA4x1y6nrkXCdYtjOOEmvJUr9RrpD-qEkIfnCATPzfV4vBELp2yHJHp6l80zakcqjoRSp6b58Y8HN69o7nkmISBE1ZiDVjdjMt4hUXTMlA8PYBVTs4p0v6M/s1600-h/IMG_5108.JPG"><br /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdrwGasifFi0BRmRKrlL7ua2YjoWkR3-UMSN8tWpN9xQHq25yD34jIiUxWFBs3I6MBdsfZdxA1Ct25bvqH926zp7fek9SxpbBezWzmA3C0v4OdhYsQxwH6cbBKvrYgRMbizX4E1ik39A/s1600-h/IMG_5135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358798470204988626" style="width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdrwGasifFi0BRmRKrlL7ua2YjoWkR3-UMSN8tWpN9xQHq25yD34jIiUxWFBs3I6MBdsfZdxA1Ct25bvqH926zp7fek9SxpbBezWzmA3C0v4OdhYsQxwH6cbBKvrYgRMbizX4E1ik39A/s320/IMG_5135.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span>Cool building at a museum</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbxkYLQ8jjK0SYQe4cDTRM5k_CMEV1wwRGQ4jAy6Ma5J80wDJfY9miceBVklBeXa2kqj3hs2zF0S6oxRaLi46GfI7xS02jjsPGQESQ-Aiyd9mRhazzdv6yL2ec2DFVo5pSVqwb3wwTLU/s1600-h/IMG_5031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbxkYLQ8jjK0SYQe4cDTRM5k_CMEV1wwRGQ4jAy6Ma5J80wDJfY9miceBVklBeXa2kqj3hs2zF0S6oxRaLi46GfI7xS02jjsPGQESQ-Aiyd9mRhazzdv6yL2ec2DFVo5pSVqwb3wwTLU/s400/IMG_5031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366794218456155074" border="0" /></a>My favorite pic of Darrin (my teacher)<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9XtzmmKbO6hWZesK3J5Bqler-fIabKgvaK1nzN541QCQFq8pyXbkejRu64nnME0IBM9xfeXhzpt6wTk6_2hlZfsMFLT2Kbtrmh0Ux1YubNCGO5D6PS2DAjWDt7FyKUJAmnUqz7l4lnw/s1600-h/IMG_5097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9XtzmmKbO6hWZesK3J5Bqler-fIabKgvaK1nzN541QCQFq8pyXbkejRu64nnME0IBM9xfeXhzpt6wTk6_2hlZfsMFLT2Kbtrmh0Ux1YubNCGO5D6PS2DAjWDt7FyKUJAmnUqz7l4lnw/s400/IMG_5097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366794208871824722" border="0" /></a>Pretty at night<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCkncl6lBwV6U7e3MeqhQl0bqPyZeHVay5XukIWfLI8xC4ru_qSP-SK10U_HpKsOWYChnCehXesl7VHEJKh_5VEswhhxRGJrAoqvbcqYFO6rOYy9zMbcMdaBFXNIHpd15ORA9CEIXJZw/s1600-h/IMG_5102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCkncl6lBwV6U7e3MeqhQl0bqPyZeHVay5XukIWfLI8xC4ru_qSP-SK10U_HpKsOWYChnCehXesl7VHEJKh_5VEswhhxRGJrAoqvbcqYFO6rOYy9zMbcMdaBFXNIHpd15ORA9CEIXJZw/s400/IMG_5102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366794205414402130" border="0" /></a>Susie, Josie, and Laura on boat tour<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-6dV3hAL5iUt7QWr6llX8vlIm8HvMyjwEoRkBzB0VDsF_bOdt8TJI6sA9AQHTfQq6HGwnuzrM3lfaT5TEAG4I2Xp18F4XBXRQLbDF0ZTFwzz7fqDHr5hXspxZZbkT9VrxVDnKA5_qo0/s1600-h/IMG_5022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-6dV3hAL5iUt7QWr6llX8vlIm8HvMyjwEoRkBzB0VDsF_bOdt8TJI6sA9AQHTfQq6HGwnuzrM3lfaT5TEAG4I2Xp18F4XBXRQLbDF0ZTFwzz7fqDHr5hXspxZZbkT9VrxVDnKA5_qo0/s400/IMG_5022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366794196179410418" border="0" /></a>Eiffel Tower!<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28DzNVaP9A6tsrMxp4Nc3sMB5iImEVPeN_Lpk6ew9GRrnmyqe0cHr_7dlUp1BcbXL_7pZvl524x_dgJ593qp7O-fxIMov2KwMk8-IcnvnHpqqK8pDHllkAi3J_rRIjqYb2c0WOIqdb74/s1600-h/IMG_5073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28DzNVaP9A6tsrMxp4Nc3sMB5iImEVPeN_Lpk6ew9GRrnmyqe0cHr_7dlUp1BcbXL_7pZvl524x_dgJ593qp7O-fxIMov2KwMk8-IcnvnHpqqK8pDHllkAi3J_rRIjqYb2c0WOIqdb74/s400/IMG_5073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366794194072094850" border="0" /></a>Amanda and Josie at the famous sign</div><br /></div></div><div align="left"><br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-69342448038826361192009-08-06T02:25:00.001-07:002009-08-06T02:58:16.490-07:00Venice: July 12<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 12</span><br />Cockadoodle doo! 6:00 am shower and pack so I could check out and get to church. I am sorry to say I had to leave a handful of clothes and food because my suitcase wouldn't shut. After a swift hotel breakfast, Megan, Malory, Whitney, Laura, Beccah, Kylie, and I made our way with one water-taxi, two bus transfers, and about a mile of walking to the branch in Venice. We attended S.S. and Sacrament mtg. and I LOVED it (not like I'm really surprised or anything). The people were so nice! We met the missionaries and I thought of all my friends. I donated some of my American Ramen to0 them- haha.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvPTnmALiPRlgXBs2WXPntCSJFxmudb1rRYO419LNgz2zPcX0QBFj3R89YXH3DdlUM63bkkSylq8AUi-tWEdat7rJg5F_TtoFF2vQkhXqgofgCY31Oh7t6xhd0bs-oV6G3tGjGmmBBQQ/s1600-h/IMG_4947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvPTnmALiPRlgXBs2WXPntCSJFxmudb1rRYO419LNgz2zPcX0QBFj3R89YXH3DdlUM63bkkSylq8AUi-tWEdat7rJg5F_TtoFF2vQkhXqgofgCY31Oh7t6xhd0bs-oV6G3tGjGmmBBQQ/s400/IMG_4947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366780814034307922" border="0" /></a>Making it to the church!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYttRlNDXzBNzcdufno4yp14vXS0VdywaWo_jXu_6kCc_AVEt4pltNAYZe-rAnj1QbF5xTtAg5_ffE7T7FhRsdmxpXQPiZyFV11T9YTjPMPud0m_hjlYVQmATvJATY9aBpgDt7dkGbR8E/s1600-h/IMG_4943.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYttRlNDXzBNzcdufno4yp14vXS0VdywaWo_jXu_6kCc_AVEt4pltNAYZe-rAnj1QbF5xTtAg5_ffE7T7FhRsdmxpXQPiZyFV11T9YTjPMPud0m_hjlYVQmATvJATY9aBpgDt7dkGbR8E/s400/IMG_4943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366780807158923954" border="0" /></a>The group that made it to church (plus we found missionaries!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuK6z-8UHhjwCYt4X_5NrYXexyRpl_XVeN9q7-VhTIJxoa0gM0kyAxOlbFc55RlOqCciQiemnQySMSe_StEGuggy9SqigKJ5qahyso44v1Vw16Ic2AYDyRdpe5TSCX-gvGAQftOdw3nOk/s1600-h/IMG_4939.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuK6z-8UHhjwCYt4X_5NrYXexyRpl_XVeN9q7-VhTIJxoa0gM0kyAxOlbFc55RlOqCciQiemnQySMSe_StEGuggy9SqigKJ5qahyso44v1Vw16Ic2AYDyRdpe5TSCX-gvGAQftOdw3nOk/s400/IMG_4939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366780802736581602" border="0" /></a>Megan brought stuff to her brother who is finishing his last month of his mission. I contributed some Cup O' Noodles to the package. What every missionary wants, right?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Laura and I spent the rest of our day wandering about near the train station. We ate pizza, gelato, we sketched a bridge, and relaxed inside a few beautiful catholic churches. The we wated around for a few more hours until the group got onto the train. Wht a joke. Tensions were high because it is a stressful process. I felt like I was in Harry Potter. Im rooming with Allie, Erica, Laura, Jeanette, and Becky.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQ8_4NG7_iCNkXIIkCzXSK4qFfDP1Ez_1hjZAolZGRRy6ntdxYoOUCmI4nNW5KLtiRyjUOe8w2i2ojNssawzIMBf2S7CJ4EqsaswyPCJ-zYacV1hxl0FWhUiVQ-bSVWiCWeG6rhdAlZ0/s1600-h/IMG_4971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQ8_4NG7_iCNkXIIkCzXSK4qFfDP1Ez_1hjZAolZGRRy6ntdxYoOUCmI4nNW5KLtiRyjUOe8w2i2ojNssawzIMBf2S7CJ4EqsaswyPCJ-zYacV1hxl0FWhUiVQ-bSVWiCWeG6rhdAlZ0/s400/IMG_4971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366780822758158322" border="0" /></a>A real confessional box. We saw several people go in and come out. I don't know what the draw is, really- but it seemed pretty exciting at the time.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv8N5qSmU9t1NnSz4z6vr0aWJ-SpWNQZHP622suIQY7vGbG4c_wHngOWcqxcijS-WB5TzJ7UAQicp2-3ijaw962bsjOgRLKbvg_ndGLjR2wg1hrwnFM7ZVCwZDhLVbNrbNyiy3hIXw14/s1600-h/IMG_4998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv8N5qSmU9t1NnSz4z6vr0aWJ-SpWNQZHP622suIQY7vGbG4c_wHngOWcqxcijS-WB5TzJ7UAQicp2-3ijaw962bsjOgRLKbvg_ndGLjR2wg1hrwnFM7ZVCwZDhLVbNrbNyiy3hIXw14/s400/IMG_4998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366780818941496946" border="0" /></a>A big group of Thai people I met at the train station!<br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-75163790879651973802009-08-06T02:09:00.000-07:002009-08-06T02:59:25.612-07:00Venice: July 11<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 11</span> -Venice<br />We woke up on our free day only to find we were not-so-free. But it was a good thing, because I like the structure. And we go to great places. This morning a speed boat picked us up and took us to the Murano Massego Glass Factory. We watched a man with no voice make a stallion ouit of glass in just one minute! We toured their inventory which consisted of vases, figurines, dishes, wall hangings, jewelry, but more than anything, chandeliers. My favorite were teh black and white ones. Some pieces scared me. They looked like they belonged at a circus- but overall it was very intersting. Watching the man actually make the stuff helped me to appreciate the art of it. It's not like they stick the glass into a mold and whip out twenty. It's all hand done, and it is what Venice is famous for.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX0IcSAZkfIR3q5XU6HC-ROLAq8CwEdHZDnG5OIv3Q5qJwfj7nV8dHteG2I4_QsnoyKm4kvATyKZ80x9Y7amIsPZJJh_1K_fnvhyGf5CfiPHecnfqjSz3aFeWchBCKFWATrXZUALFjjk/s1600-h/IMG_4750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX0IcSAZkfIR3q5XU6HC-ROLAq8CwEdHZDnG5OIv3Q5qJwfj7nV8dHteG2I4_QsnoyKm4kvATyKZ80x9Y7amIsPZJJh_1K_fnvhyGf5CfiPHecnfqjSz3aFeWchBCKFWATrXZUALFjjk/s400/IMG_4750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776256820978242" border="0" /></a>On speedboat<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyclkRasXZOM0aiAj9Bl7W8REm1dBbjiyKbeAdWEV_EMia4gMXtg8dsfvLmpRj_0Qi9vhHoA_qnptmJafoTvH4i4NBIXP-IHeYiQz1_Wxp2mCmVUuIczhiLH0foZkeZDUxS455oudADk/s1600-h/IMG_4773.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyclkRasXZOM0aiAj9Bl7W8REm1dBbjiyKbeAdWEV_EMia4gMXtg8dsfvLmpRj_0Qi9vhHoA_qnptmJafoTvH4i4NBIXP-IHeYiQz1_Wxp2mCmVUuIczhiLH0foZkeZDUxS455oudADk/s400/IMG_4773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776277124846802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKIc0ndh6_6x1gFP2dagdtrS5b5wMJG64F-AXv6FtzVwPieCHEzDHfqO7a5QqlmJFu5_piT78PyAqo4SQLcrDWQcSG-q7nhgfLhrff_SdZImjOHuoDciDEL0kzUVUr4u2MeiB0wF8LCg/s1600-h/IMG_4755.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKIc0ndh6_6x1gFP2dagdtrS5b5wMJG64F-AXv6FtzVwPieCHEzDHfqO7a5QqlmJFu5_piT78PyAqo4SQLcrDWQcSG-q7nhgfLhrff_SdZImjOHuoDciDEL0kzUVUr4u2MeiB0wF8LCg/s400/IMG_4755.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776271656066546" border="0" /></a>Real oven with molten lava fire where they make the glass<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-eklNmnx2wMib9X5o3IodVOl1Got8LD19wdaugVW-EqUIMnQI7EIlg6EaB9XJcLJwsYTbwd5fPb9bc4TWOVbTnIFRvZdZ6gJYuLr6KswjGiMIyeivwKFFXTRp_2es89_vrr75p5nnjg/s1600-h/IMG_4751.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-eklNmnx2wMib9X5o3IodVOl1Got8LD19wdaugVW-EqUIMnQI7EIlg6EaB9XJcLJwsYTbwd5fPb9bc4TWOVbTnIFRvZdZ6gJYuLr6KswjGiMIyeivwKFFXTRp_2es89_vrr75p5nnjg/s400/IMG_4751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776261411063202" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Afterwards many of us went to St. Mark's Cathedral. There are probably no greater modaics in all the world. Full ceiling and wall gold mosaics. Wow. But words I sawy simply don't do it justice.<br />We were scared to find our way back to the hotel because it's just understood that you WILL get lost in Venice and that you should just embrace it and enjoy it. But we've been lucky I guess. Not lost once!<br />One of the best parts of our entire trip came at 7 pm when we met up with Ksenia Choate! I arranged via email to meet her at the Rialto Bridge, after which we (Laura, Scott, Ksenia, and I)foujnnd a little resaurant in a hidden little courtyardI'm certain I'd never be able to find again. 2 musicians played our entire meal, making the evening quite enjoyable. I ordered Gnocci 4-cheese pasta and water. I got about 17 pieces of small pasta and a glass of water with no ice, and all for the price of just 14 Euro + a tip! Oi, my plate had so much blank space on it, it was pathetic. They added a leaf to make me feel better, I'm sure.<br />We left the restaurant to go get a gondola.It just doesn't seem right to leave Venice without riding in one. Granted, it would be much nicer witha significant other, but then what wounln't? Our gondolier was handsome. He talked about the city and sang to us. Ahh, heaven. And we did it at dusk, so the day hyad cooled off and the reflections were fabulous. I desperatley tried to take pictures and video footage in my head.<br />We saw where Casanova's house was, we learned that all gondolas are black and asymmetrical so the gondolier can row just on one side. Our guy has been rowing since he was six year old and is a 3rd generation gondolier and even wins many races here, including one last week!<br />The ride was pleasant. It honestly felt like a ride in Disneyland though, as if all the buildings were just a swet, built for tourist pleasure.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDzhPvxTmdwfi0V6wwz7uo8MXeCZo8OdKQUuk0SN1jQkVfjvUxd7JJF1pvVQidA_mLjZfGhmuXlC9Q6kOYQOhBz7veN1iv4vgqGknH1xP8l6f6FhZBW-1M0fGaOGgClnoPUYB8TI0RcA/s1600-h/IMG_4887.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDzhPvxTmdwfi0V6wwz7uo8MXeCZo8OdKQUuk0SN1jQkVfjvUxd7JJF1pvVQidA_mLjZfGhmuXlC9Q6kOYQOhBz7veN1iv4vgqGknH1xP8l6f6FhZBW-1M0fGaOGgClnoPUYB8TI0RcA/s400/IMG_4887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366777056103308754" border="0" /></a>Jeanette looking at St. Mark's<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVh_8cukOWhGxp1osjeHZEUnnrqIbrTeG8KEXgXSAIGDj4SzVEM7pjcOPhSZ_R6ur-5UX2uRI2vHnH9zjxZqDxm9e4EL-QKqrY5GKLvwblSyJqk0ge9ObULOcds7D74I9CybpDomt_KM/s1600-h/IMG_4900.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVh_8cukOWhGxp1osjeHZEUnnrqIbrTeG8KEXgXSAIGDj4SzVEM7pjcOPhSZ_R6ur-5UX2uRI2vHnH9zjxZqDxm9e4EL-QKqrY5GKLvwblSyJqk0ge9ObULOcds7D74I9CybpDomt_KM/s400/IMG_4900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366777052088309250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCif4xZAWUYpWcgEscNl2PqLgXgm9MHO2mVLmV6TJaeWG2Jeus24W-GXB4YWXNr8xZR1FUpmOfbp0drnS9oXggLfWc9vBToM8nxU3nDCCZgbdwhPx1v14Aa8EvHNGnP3orzAqfO05OTI/s1600-h/IMG_4839.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCif4xZAWUYpWcgEscNl2PqLgXgm9MHO2mVLmV6TJaeWG2Jeus24W-GXB4YWXNr8xZR1FUpmOfbp0drnS9oXggLfWc9vBToM8nxU3nDCCZgbdwhPx1v14Aa8EvHNGnP3orzAqfO05OTI/s400/IMG_4839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776283039518882" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-56701911751991378872009-08-06T01:54:00.000-07:002009-08-06T02:07:51.694-07:00Venice: July 10<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 10</span><br /><br />Love/hate relationship with Venice today. I had this humiliating fall into the river because I guess sandals and moss create a slippery union... A union which cost me my camera, I'm sorry to tell you. *Poof*- gone in an instant! It had photos from Rubelli's and some architectural details I'm very sad to have lost. I also hurt my ankle, arm, and rump :(. I didn't even notice the blood- I was so focused on my camera sinking to the bottome of the canal and how the fish simply won't appreciate it as much as I did... I also felt pretty bad about getting Jeanette's dress dirty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YgQsq0DKT8SUt8daXJLxtV8mBo09CTIPK6gFN8Zmy9l2gWBDBDjd2jzw1_kFbNT0t31oAI6hF1IHeryWSJ98jHYTgESoDL_RHBey5Uk9foqjQYJdWC-Wq-B06eMVBnTfg-j1-pYxF-M/s1600-h/IMG_1673.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YgQsq0DKT8SUt8daXJLxtV8mBo09CTIPK6gFN8Zmy9l2gWBDBDjd2jzw1_kFbNT0t31oAI6hF1IHeryWSJ98jHYTgESoDL_RHBey5Uk9foqjQYJdWC-Wq-B06eMVBnTfg-j1-pYxF-M/s400/IMG_1673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366773327815016786" border="0" /></a>Spot that I fell. I know the river looks calm now, but it's a mysterious beast!! Haha. Also I am just very clumsy...<br /><br /></div><br />Both Rubelli's and Fortuny's textiles were AMAZING! Wow! They have fabrics for extremely high-end clients. Rubelli's showed us the palace, their five collections, and a small section of their archives. I saw fabric from the 1400's! I also loved their five collections. I am learning that I like traditional stylings more than I ever thought. The colors were so vivid. Pity I didn't have my camera for Fortuny's. They have secret methods for their fabrics. Fancy non-woven patterns on soft, light materials. They were deceiving too! Some totally looked like cut velvet.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-0hlo3XDhIWAXt8nfGIxAd0cDzQzUnIajh4AFTMcKpxpWX8qhVuc9RhHqPGBKV9eUWqWJigfle0R9m4qv4ms0LTPGMRCI5MLY2L5vKeoPkxKtQqfkEohXZrla3Egh8Hpn9lkSJIuRTw/s1600-h/IMG_1619.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-0hlo3XDhIWAXt8nfGIxAd0cDzQzUnIajh4AFTMcKpxpWX8qhVuc9RhHqPGBKV9eUWqWJigfle0R9m4qv4ms0LTPGMRCI5MLY2L5vKeoPkxKtQqfkEohXZrla3Egh8Hpn9lkSJIuRTw/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366773338048351650" border="0" /></a>Pre-fall at Rubelli's (taken on someone else's camera)<br /><br /></div>At night I had severe computer problems. When Susie couldn't figure them out either she was kind enough to share hers. I used skype to call 7 different family members. Nobody answered! I was so depressed. And apparently my ipod and voice recorder got soaked earlier in the fall and won't work. Booooo.<br /><br />Fresh berries<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL88bIAHCmxql990up_03P_VX7riIqje6k7uEW9zwTtvnNHh1A96vH9VdijUcnCZQgtBcvzcPlakN4NBBSkqnbNteQkjmfC1dylzvQGcXopMkD7EX1AA0YwZdOA9t_tT7X2ddlFJ6mnU/s1600-h/IMG_4741.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL88bIAHCmxql990up_03P_VX7riIqje6k7uEW9zwTtvnNHh1A96vH9VdijUcnCZQgtBcvzcPlakN4NBBSkqnbNteQkjmfC1dylzvQGcXopMkD7EX1AA0YwZdOA9t_tT7X2ddlFJ6mnU/s320/IMG_4741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358405805524764082" border="0" /></a><br />Street of people, not cars<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-b5QPSRannrzNp7n0eAt84qSpe2Gc-ijnmcbyeYj4sshLX8JgO2-S__YZnFelRe8lx5ZiE6nXLGs-YIoJXoM638D5VJHl5TouXfTzAjBeL3BAtw5bJqSuPG0a5UTAokEsy7YKp2D8SE/s1600-h/IMG_4745.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-b5QPSRannrzNp7n0eAt84qSpe2Gc-ijnmcbyeYj4sshLX8JgO2-S__YZnFelRe8lx5ZiE6nXLGs-YIoJXoM638D5VJHl5TouXfTzAjBeL3BAtw5bJqSuPG0a5UTAokEsy7YKp2D8SE/s320/IMG_4745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358405791289897746" border="0" /></a><br />Blueberries at a market (don't know why this was picture worthy... I was desperate to get any pics after losing my camera since 5 are required every day for my grade)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei4NOi9vzDqN71VCPr6V1midRngOGReYUUdZOkBCmbwyg9JhGlkFmV5zHcx01zNaubW-fBuYNs0VBHpX8nYhdPsg7U_4L6fjoagEg46OFK3LRqxBWLOy6FqD-KRPrVrWecqJgeVKzvGw/s1600-h/IMG_1636.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei4NOi9vzDqN71VCPr6V1midRngOGReYUUdZOkBCmbwyg9JhGlkFmV5zHcx01zNaubW-fBuYNs0VBHpX8nYhdPsg7U_4L6fjoagEg46OFK3LRqxBWLOy6FqD-KRPrVrWecqJgeVKzvGw/s400/IMG_1636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366773348191569890" border="0" /></a>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-64911089297340658842009-08-06T01:30:00.001-07:002009-08-06T01:53:27.138-07:00Venice: July 9<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 9</span><br />This morning we ate (L and I), napped, and walked around our little neighborhood one last time in Florence before taking the train (3 hours) to Venice. Venice = Paradise! Prettiest City I have EVER been to in my entire life. I feel like I say that or at least think it about every site on this trip, but in all honesty this takes the cake. Out of the train station we hopped onto a river taxi, dropping us off near our hotel. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ72RYL-Bj2n-3Xtclu1-ksPQTKCNuLyMZ0vtDZP0DHdQUlPlz7_Uxn_n0HI-9A7jxyV-CQbq6bec87R4tgVoFioGAIQC74pAWNjOfXuKpmyMRBynsLlVbCEd7hoxHFPAraIOHiaRKxlg/s1600-h/IMG_4951.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ72RYL-Bj2n-3Xtclu1-ksPQTKCNuLyMZ0vtDZP0DHdQUlPlz7_Uxn_n0HI-9A7jxyV-CQbq6bec87R4tgVoFioGAIQC74pAWNjOfXuKpmyMRBynsLlVbCEd7hoxHFPAraIOHiaRKxlg/s400/IMG_4951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366769426768642818" border="0" /></a><br />The hotel doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is a little slice of heaven! Upholstered 2-tone cream damask walls, 30 inch plasma flat screen tv, brown embellished carpet, Venician glass light fixtures, large gold framed mirror, round nightstand covered in 2-tone striped fabric overlain with a brown velvet square, which coincide w2ith the window treatments-- WHICH by the way house windows that overlook our own little moat-like canal!! How adorable! I love it. :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobU6FZBf3cJIx2yV3o26W2VDmunZM0LCYt6Yo_VUk7zVHGWVTci5vcDEehzENbqmZLl0NziOqPVJ288dEj4Vu1mdfiNKqd0V1HwRLW_YPbIgtUKHSEVSDYsfEuE3iYJ1Z4RZMMy0wAmU/s1600-h/IMG_4734.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobU6FZBf3cJIx2yV3o26W2VDmunZM0LCYt6Yo_VUk7zVHGWVTci5vcDEehzENbqmZLl0NziOqPVJ288dEj4Vu1mdfiNKqd0V1HwRLW_YPbIgtUKHSEVSDYsfEuE3iYJ1Z4RZMMy0wAmU/s320/IMG_4734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366767864531222786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWycjiCPHCQR2NPLETq9zbSqkaULwTIPKqP5GUj9infXa7Jbng7ZZO6pI74vOoA4thaWRpB0DmlOP-qz1mv-lpfYcdSeMtp7UXtYf94kaBybLYF8RsX8DX87W-WW9zd5OiA2JNEkOOCg/s1600-h/IMG_4732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWycjiCPHCQR2NPLETq9zbSqkaULwTIPKqP5GUj9infXa7Jbng7ZZO6pI74vOoA4thaWRpB0DmlOP-qz1mv-lpfYcdSeMtp7UXtYf94kaBybLYF8RsX8DX87W-WW9zd5OiA2JNEkOOCg/s320/IMG_4732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366767860032639922" border="0" /></a>This isn't my room, but it someone else's that I took a pic of. Mine was brown and cream. So fancy!<br /></div><br />We took a walk and saw the Rialto Bridge, ate some disappointing wraps, and then looked for a dress for me to wear tomorrow in all the little shops. With my luck we fo8und a dress (that I had originally pointed out, mind you) for Laura almost instantly. For me? Not so much. I have one extra foot of leg coincidentally. Oh well. Jeanette is letting me borrow one of hers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPqoX5HOZQiNoGImubiKSqLWdH3oWZEB3_TFFB6i6jNcNkwRj2m9gx8EexhOduQJRLeAjYJF6r97qiyDpjQQ5TQtS_6dsyyiLaGkeNliM9M2IHxVfV1K-Z-5NrRBoVG75pJs6f9ejNSY/s1600-h/IMG_4857.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPqoX5HOZQiNoGImubiKSqLWdH3oWZEB3_TFFB6i6jNcNkwRj2m9gx8EexhOduQJRLeAjYJF6r97qiyDpjQQ5TQtS_6dsyyiLaGkeNliM9M2IHxVfV1K-Z-5NrRBoVG75pJs6f9ejNSY/s320/IMG_4857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366767884639115058" border="0" /></a>Cute multi-colored homes and buildings<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho29yH462Vy95xxEL52ItZLB7n9Y6fjYa13Av7_JEEERrWATXMezLb8uLaSedjc0aAEsoy-OKaYRjiWkpcg_uL3Ip0gP62YaEbHDxzaZrdfPL7hAdAZY1_SkNwVqQmRR8u7MHzWBIHl-0/s1600-h/IMG_4737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho29yH462Vy95xxEL52ItZLB7n9Y6fjYa13Av7_JEEERrWATXMezLb8uLaSedjc0aAEsoy-OKaYRjiWkpcg_uL3Ip0gP62YaEbHDxzaZrdfPL7hAdAZY1_SkNwVqQmRR8u7MHzWBIHl-0/s320/IMG_4737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366767872427702466" border="0" /></a>Bread Faces<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6ZhttWHTNO5PZ6VSfspP-4X0wVi-bBmh5GQCXG3bQFmPbzohtiVlakgp8r-dQjAVCbP_T1AVokRUBdBGlpJ7ZbtKgn_B2GHA127jznBq0DOHO9Ko7TwHsPeZTNVrqRCDQQ1s7Y0_Ogc/s1600-h/IMG_4932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6ZhttWHTNO5PZ6VSfspP-4X0wVi-bBmh5GQCXG3bQFmPbzohtiVlakgp8r-dQjAVCbP_T1AVokRUBdBGlpJ7ZbtKgn_B2GHA127jznBq0DOHO9Ko7TwHsPeZTNVrqRCDQQ1s7Y0_Ogc/s400/IMG_4932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366769421505246162" border="0" /></a>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-59138485138620943332009-08-06T01:27:00.000-07:002009-08-06T01:29:05.069-07:00Florence: July 8<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 8</span><br />Free day: Erica and Allie tackled the train again to hike on some islands. Laura kand I simply lacked the energy and will to leave. The only think that would have pulled us away was to go see Tuscany. Well, that was the case until Ermand informed us that we already are in Tuscany. Score! That sealed the deal that we would spend our free day resting in Florence.<br />Scott and Jeanette joined us. I spent the day sketching, shopping, and packing. So far I've tried lemon, raspberry, strawberry, crema de grom, milk and mint, chocolatte extrordinare, nutella, pistachio, hazelnut, and melon flavors of gelato. Yummmm.<br />Buying all my souvenirs made it difficult to re-pack. Laura gets a kick out of it every knight. Totally sucks for me. I should have packed the bigger piece of luggage! I chose the smallest size: a regrettable decision...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnj216UQ8a0anBNcfSFIneX6dljbGBBEOp44ZqAdnRM5MtQ6oWddhT1NpCQ82XaD-_m0Y5AhALaglqm-TApPMbyWwTL3NR_rQPo5_qXdiF2SgtEutUKtPsagcUJGbJnmzTSoJfMJ5Omck/s1600-h/P1010099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnj216UQ8a0anBNcfSFIneX6dljbGBBEOp44ZqAdnRM5MtQ6oWddhT1NpCQ82XaD-_m0Y5AhALaglqm-TApPMbyWwTL3NR_rQPo5_qXdiF2SgtEutUKtPsagcUJGbJnmzTSoJfMJ5Omck/s320/P1010099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359532039559124850" border="0" /></a>my sketch<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACxGOMALLIdBnTvjTU5v8tKGRO7O2Ibab6SPUWeAZ4JPWfjan1kbedZnpzuHqstSMnWVz8wk0x-b2LxbFc8AfKfJASokEaokNJDsjumwvKWuUgpBLKcA7p9zLti1e42SmnOYBUok5x50/s1600-h/P1010045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACxGOMALLIdBnTvjTU5v8tKGRO7O2Ibab6SPUWeAZ4JPWfjan1kbedZnpzuHqstSMnWVz8wk0x-b2LxbFc8AfKfJASokEaokNJDsjumwvKWuUgpBLKcA7p9zLti1e42SmnOYBUok5x50/s320/P1010045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359532027950549138" border="0" /></a>Beautiful bridges were all over<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbXRipidlEBIwgXw3YoognuwCiwX87dbrfq2fFa5hKp4ZyqiA-gHelZ4KgxDaYBeXm_j5esOYiwD9H8xDlLyeMI6bwj5I9KH0KwvdMvai2kbE2RhvQiTvn1JwQhYiKv-WcvlmELnpe6A/s1600-h/P1010030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbXRipidlEBIwgXw3YoognuwCiwX87dbrfq2fFa5hKp4ZyqiA-gHelZ4KgxDaYBeXm_j5esOYiwD9H8xDlLyeMI6bwj5I9KH0KwvdMvai2kbE2RhvQiTvn1JwQhYiKv-WcvlmELnpe6A/s320/P1010030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359532010661054306" border="0" /></a>Never seen so many statues in my entire life. I just thought this was a beautiful view.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21-hr2pBB33oDYIekC5lBAVs_roMJc7f1xskD-OUNeKXHRsCpns1Jz0wM4dNKBOc0QdcydpTDGb6EpMuSk6YRjDErVUYQsG3_7lemJBFR3PlIOKLpvq1i1isebV2S59FIMotrmRoYfJI/s1600-h/P1010022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21-hr2pBB33oDYIekC5lBAVs_roMJc7f1xskD-OUNeKXHRsCpns1Jz0wM4dNKBOc0QdcydpTDGb6EpMuSk6YRjDErVUYQsG3_7lemJBFR3PlIOKLpvq1i1isebV2S59FIMotrmRoYfJI/s320/P1010022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359531994635347042" border="0" /></a>Cool street players at the Republica Square<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkLCvSH49lJSJ3ZMm16sm1ztUR7z_zNL0-ByFJqnIuS3SAf-FfespSURRf5bhDJ77NOehOS5i7t_LcudShwqQ4JQlBQGM8uC27jGTjYy6UadZPuDQX2vaDak0yoxCGYv2Wf_jZj9XZic/s1600-h/P1010001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkLCvSH49lJSJ3ZMm16sm1ztUR7z_zNL0-ByFJqnIuS3SAf-FfespSURRf5bhDJ77NOehOS5i7t_LcudShwqQ4JQlBQGM8uC27jGTjYy6UadZPuDQX2vaDak0yoxCGYv2Wf_jZj9XZic/s320/P1010001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359531977242185410" border="0" /> </a>Medici Chapel (right by our hotel)<br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-51434675454589715502009-08-06T01:23:00.000-07:002009-08-06T01:25:31.149-07:00Florence: July 7July 7<br />More touring. This time we got to go in most of the buildings. I was surprised at the Duomo (which is gothic-style with outta-control detailing on the exterior) because of the simplicity of the interior. Not what I expected at all. Almost refreshing, actually. Same with the baptistry. I didn't even see a font! Maybe it was more of a sprinkling ritual. But the mosaics were gorgeous. I found one that looks like a bull. Go Big Blue!<br />So we saw the DAVID! I sketched him twice. He's magnificent. I'd always sort of wondered what the big deal was, but I don't feel that way anymore. He was chiseled from a 40 ton piece of marble. How they even transported it to come to Michelangelo is dumbfounding. I'm starting to appreciate art more, I think.<br />We also saw Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" which I LOVED! I learned that the story says roses were created from her birth, she was ashamed of her nudity so the woman to her right is cloaking her, and there is wind, all of which is depicted in the painting.I enjoyed the "Birth of Spring" painting as well. All the women in the painting appear to be pregnant, and it is said to have taken place in March, which is 9 months away from December 25- signifying the birth of Christ.<br />We also saw da Vinci paintings, Donatello sculptures, and Raphael's works. It made me want to watch the Ninja Turtles.<br /><br />I learned that Mary is always holding a book even though she couldn't ever read to symbolizes the foretelling of Christ and her submission to the prophesy. If she has a wall with a garden behind her it symbolizes her fertility, which is much too private for us to see.<br /><br />We ate at Aqua's Ristorante, where we had the sampler for pasta and dessert. We tried 5 pastas and 3 desserts! It was our favorite spot to eat in all of Florence, so if you go I highly recommend the spinach pasta and fruit pizza. Let me know and I'll tell you how to get there. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QErHGNlC1b_Zgpgg0a4mDM9Lsyi3mMgpbL_v_KjJQGVg-7z1qrSO32tMzwPb2MGES0Vn03LuDQkNbx3UTikbZvok4oCEYkRtx0wbJ6uJz5mrIe2uHdKC9E8cBJSXOqYnH_wXuK2qK-U/s1600-h/P1010118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QErHGNlC1b_Zgpgg0a4mDM9Lsyi3mMgpbL_v_KjJQGVg-7z1qrSO32tMzwPb2MGES0Vn03LuDQkNbx3UTikbZvok4oCEYkRtx0wbJ6uJz5mrIe2uHdKC9E8cBJSXOqYnH_wXuK2qK-U/s320/P1010118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528976139030130" border="0" /></a>This pic is faded, but it was a purple nun!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1i2ZwbE76pXOtHkGOm3KcNq7dZraHOmCGwZ7lWEsd_5bwYHUZIM6-ytyfq2nK6KvuCzaT9Qss_WyTn4GJ26GyjwM4fQVJBgoUVhe06U97YjV18oFL_lNkgzPxC_82ymO7-MrPg5JqUw/s1600-h/P1010110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1i2ZwbE76pXOtHkGOm3KcNq7dZraHOmCGwZ7lWEsd_5bwYHUZIM6-ytyfq2nK6KvuCzaT9Qss_WyTn4GJ26GyjwM4fQVJBgoUVhe06U97YjV18oFL_lNkgzPxC_82ymO7-MrPg5JqUw/s320/P1010110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528967091474994" border="0" /></a>Ash, Scott, Megan, Jeanette, Josie, Laura, Erica, and Allie<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3kTk8h29j9Q6Gyjb9myuYZQPSCNg17dKJgaUUgiGweU5reKcXLocfz2xFWk1ziIDqC2heSlI51fbRel1BCNPEwP_cQVTQW4ucx8ifoLX4_5P4SZvF7WOJZSdTmdtImCnvXmtg7twkV8/s1600-h/P1010108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3kTk8h29j9Q6Gyjb9myuYZQPSCNg17dKJgaUUgiGweU5reKcXLocfz2xFWk1ziIDqC2heSlI51fbRel1BCNPEwP_cQVTQW4ucx8ifoLX4_5P4SZvF7WOJZSdTmdtImCnvXmtg7twkV8/s320/P1010108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528960171223698" border="0" /></a>View of Florence<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iSEh2q32NIbGprxseC6pBu6PXV48DJwkysvO8HFlXA0lWU9cOnZoP4wr2Y7QW1tdGQ4hcIZAoYZtWo7XPWNx8c1pzuPdwuqRdwsi9L0dblKZXfUbuCanOlaR6aF8Ehy2co5FGLuzLC0/s1600-h/P1010061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iSEh2q32NIbGprxseC6pBu6PXV48DJwkysvO8HFlXA0lWU9cOnZoP4wr2Y7QW1tdGQ4hcIZAoYZtWo7XPWNx8c1pzuPdwuqRdwsi9L0dblKZXfUbuCanOlaR6aF8Ehy2co5FGLuzLC0/s320/P1010061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528953354466114" border="0" /></a>Creature in the middle sort of looks like Big Blue, no?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwF8iLxfTwsxp5GamK1zhcuxHA_NZRMkSVGHGbXmeqvlJ7wSa5df0lb54hgh6mTTTOIya-bTc7x5pdiKkXTV1CZD2rtMGCrvz1NpJ_P6XFlckqNicW9xdAsnBU3t4GDf0x4zp3GSviv0/s1600-h/P1010015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwF8iLxfTwsxp5GamK1zhcuxHA_NZRMkSVGHGbXmeqvlJ7wSa5df0lb54hgh6mTTTOIya-bTc7x5pdiKkXTV1CZD2rtMGCrvz1NpJ_P6XFlckqNicW9xdAsnBU3t4GDf0x4zp3GSviv0/s320/P1010015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528945261275314" border="0" /></a>David replica outside of museum with the real one in it!<br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-81904809156862461682009-08-06T01:21:00.000-07:002009-08-06T01:22:47.363-07:00Florence: July 6<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 6</span><br />Transfer day to Florence! The train ride was beautiful! We saw fields of sunflowers, rolling green hills, and old stone homes. Hard to sleep when you want to look out the window the entire time! Getting off was a bit of a joke. Luggage is a pain- especially on uneven cobblestone.<br />I knew next to nothing of it prior to arrival. Our hotel is in the city center and everything is about five minutes away. I did all my laundry in our sink before we hit the town for our tour. The bridges are picturesque and the streets are tall and narrow. Very quaint. Warmer than Rome (and I don't mean temperature). We saw the Duomo, the Baptistry, Grom's Gelato shop (best gelato in Italy! Made with melons the man grows himself for the love of Pete), the Ponte Vechio, the Library, Dante's Museum, and the Medici Spirito Church with the most amazing thing: it was Michelangelo's first sculpture. A naked portrayal of the crucifex, made by looking at a body in the morgue (which was very illegal at the time). Wow.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheucQApUuM6ZGqIYDdXRCeykJRkNomIEjnSXw8UmUkIBS8jx9uybyt7PS-VK0tMlviNVHeJ8lm86g1GmlROTZfi0YBEQBvxd1FKRrq5BUGgnIAbIKRPkch4UnyPGoelvm7T2fRvK-sfjM/s1600-h/P1010173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheucQApUuM6ZGqIYDdXRCeykJRkNomIEjnSXw8UmUkIBS8jx9uybyt7PS-VK0tMlviNVHeJ8lm86g1GmlROTZfi0YBEQBvxd1FKRrq5BUGgnIAbIKRPkch4UnyPGoelvm7T2fRvK-sfjM/s320/P1010173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359524753267723762" border="0" /></a>Ponte Veccio (sp?)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qtCcLT2L3yWeamFDBhwaaXxD3R6p3A_XHBV-jETBQCr9wappX6g9q6liCk0Tjo8JJ5yAgaCqWodSMsI-ufq-rssJ5lK_vCN99ZHmj9HdaavdxYZkPUS4nvDxdZdbDfL1l9zh1Emard0/s1600-h/P1010215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qtCcLT2L3yWeamFDBhwaaXxD3R6p3A_XHBV-jETBQCr9wappX6g9q6liCk0Tjo8JJ5yAgaCqWodSMsI-ufq-rssJ5lK_vCN99ZHmj9HdaavdxYZkPUS4nvDxdZdbDfL1l9zh1Emard0/s320/P1010215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359524744623119154" border="0" /></a>Duomo<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJl0b3yzFv5SVC4vUWg8NGx22SsTdGjN7BwjbRfB8U671zK8B-DGuvlgCN35B3LGNORvoToDL-_vn2V6H5biDudQRJzrlg_-AaA0S7oRntUUzaq4i9HKs5lKE3EIUL4B-4o5jwsK4zuw/s1600-h/P1010117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJl0b3yzFv5SVC4vUWg8NGx22SsTdGjN7BwjbRfB8U671zK8B-DGuvlgCN35B3LGNORvoToDL-_vn2V6H5biDudQRJzrlg_-AaA0S7oRntUUzaq4i9HKs5lKE3EIUL4B-4o5jwsK4zuw/s320/P1010117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359524740082921954" border="0" /></a>Laundry in my sink<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uV2PUpeTyzxDFKpxgh1UWjdYKzMz8PU7F8NpniVko-yS5lsjuh0DC2z7s0n9gtirKqGFxfDMqglGlySEybiGYTfOjgoTVqnuzLY8FSprRa-xK5a6WT3yVSS-xcEN8-inYGa-Wuog2Dw/s1600-h/P1010113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uV2PUpeTyzxDFKpxgh1UWjdYKzMz8PU7F8NpniVko-yS5lsjuh0DC2z7s0n9gtirKqGFxfDMqglGlySEybiGYTfOjgoTVqnuzLY8FSprRa-xK5a6WT3yVSS-xcEN8-inYGa-Wuog2Dw/s320/P1010113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359524725404528050" border="0" /></a>Tuscany (pretty sunflower field)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt_W83adh81HexUKFklD8ck3hirNxx3aov61T7hjgB4w90_6p2b43kOfBdi4h-fw4j_NgkSN1io8o__Fw3fNkj9f4hdVk_6IAIAOyeQeI-4X9-eQzE2iKzRkb5cZviUYptnxEdd2cYec/s1600-h/P1010127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt_W83adh81HexUKFklD8ck3hirNxx3aov61T7hjgB4w90_6p2b43kOfBdi4h-fw4j_NgkSN1io8o__Fw3fNkj9f4hdVk_6IAIAOyeQeI-4X9-eQzE2iKzRkb5cZviUYptnxEdd2cYec/s320/P1010127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359524705277688354" border="0" /></a>Happy little mini-truck that could be a character in "Cars"<br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-40038132899834422962009-08-06T00:53:00.001-07:002009-08-06T01:20:06.505-07:00Rome: July 5<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 5</span><br /><div>Happy Birthday Jackson!<br />Today was our free day and we decided to spend it at the beach in Nettuno. I wish I had pictures to show you of such a blessed event, but unfortunately we never made it there. After missing three trains (that's right- we managed to miss THREE), we called it quits. Problem #1: We do not speak Italian, and apparently they reserve the right to switch your platfor at the last second, which they kindly announce over in intercome in their native tongue. Problem #2: Apparently weekends have a different schedule and don't match up to the departure board.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Sr1jwXrxVOcW4htW0W8YQ9Ri8TKydw6xXmwRQ02PRRkkupnp1T-qdAY6JhLYuX1M1YgFfzvt_LdK-gMJYQuro_p2purTMlqz_IYIUTsvST-tS4vkOxcVwhZzYTL1t3ep77natQ79IG4/s1600-h/Allie,+erica,+jeanette,+train.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Sr1jwXrxVOcW4htW0W8YQ9Ri8TKydw6xXmwRQ02PRRkkupnp1T-qdAY6JhLYuX1M1YgFfzvt_LdK-gMJYQuro_p2purTMlqz_IYIUTsvST-tS4vkOxcVwhZzYTL1t3ep77natQ79IG4/s400/Allie,+erica,+jeanette,+train.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366761215022973954" border="0" /></a>Trying to figure out the dagnab moon-language on the departure boards<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhr1dLCmw8Fgs2NRYSUtGywRXaoOgHanHBSvOg6PpM5FOvj_jQaM8Gz4m23PdtXOJiDbi0UpsBs7MA-HGIHWBkfELJ_wowdZRKNVNNSUGMcmoh25pg9UuJ1QP_IScwGM_lv_T5DoQOhY/s1600-h/P1010002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhr1dLCmw8Fgs2NRYSUtGywRXaoOgHanHBSvOg6PpM5FOvj_jQaM8Gz4m23PdtXOJiDbi0UpsBs7MA-HGIHWBkfELJ_wowdZRKNVNNSUGMcmoh25pg9UuJ1QP_IScwGM_lv_T5DoQOhY/s400/P1010002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366761230124215378" border="0" /></a>Watching the train leave... One minute too late.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XC2b_gIHW8rWj1QD1JK3ZkHhjb2koLYGTFp0KXGdaHE0I1H0nCGZ6wIPye6j7DIfzvxDaaCEIVdfL5F8mq2CBUZg4fCQP9b_Oit2KxMVpEHBg7-pjGIVqDHKRhQUteKDverDQPUXkLI/s1600-h/erica,+becky,+allie,+laura,+jeanette,+josie,+train.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XC2b_gIHW8rWj1QD1JK3ZkHhjb2koLYGTFp0KXGdaHE0I1H0nCGZ6wIPye6j7DIfzvxDaaCEIVdfL5F8mq2CBUZg4fCQP9b_Oit2KxMVpEHBg7-pjGIVqDHKRhQUteKDverDQPUXkLI/s400/erica,+becky,+allie,+laura,+jeanette,+josie,+train.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366761225075359330" border="0" /></a>Jeanette, Erica, Becky, Allie, Josie, Laura<br />SO depressed<br /><br /></div>Anyway, we're mildly convinced that God didn't want us to go, or at least that is what we have been telling oursleves to feel better about completel.y wasting one of our free days in a train station. When we got back to the hotel (after missing our shuttle- don't even worry), we jumped into the pool for an hour (where they force you to wear a blue cap). I saw a lot of skin, if you know what i mean. Oh and hair. Haha... yikes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfb2aaKwXDWRFLC20fYQ4UUfRyWQY_QKmVlPVsweWrXhv5Wsj9BsRk2mhNDTvSDIMMzIkAxIwa2BB-My9yfARRqiTiINJcQVryLcgAvU0SnOx_yo-0WLLU4_kD3DC6H1ZHsLDtFu2qIY/s1600-h/erica,+josie,+swimming.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfb2aaKwXDWRFLC20fYQ4UUfRyWQY_QKmVlPVsweWrXhv5Wsj9BsRk2mhNDTvSDIMMzIkAxIwa2BB-My9yfARRqiTiINJcQVryLcgAvU0SnOx_yo-0WLLU4_kD3DC6H1ZHsLDtFu2qIY/s400/erica,+josie,+swimming.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366761244708135170" border="0" /></a>Synchronized Swim Champs<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCM5S61_5PcQ1hIwB8SPTGxi_-Z8t3Y3MWqL9r3Yy-YtfNzCOWCIr6xLGpbT6Ph1d-9YRU9Mwni9Ben1N2snh_sAjmSzcOhpaHu6RDY-bfZYRApdME5U7vyjJbm8Kb6zAGh8j2Fg3Rwc/s1600-h/P1010061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCM5S61_5PcQ1hIwB8SPTGxi_-Z8t3Y3MWqL9r3Yy-YtfNzCOWCIr6xLGpbT6Ph1d-9YRU9Mwni9Ben1N2snh_sAjmSzcOhpaHu6RDY-bfZYRApdME5U7vyjJbm8Kb6zAGh8j2Fg3Rwc/s400/P1010061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366761236427100162" border="0" /></a>Lovely<br /></div><br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-77637272617005695392009-08-06T00:52:00.001-07:002009-08-06T01:09:53.990-07:00Rome: July 4<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 4</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Today we left Italy and entered the state of Vatican City. I watched "Angels and Demons" like a month ago and got TOTALLY stoked for this day. :) The museums were over a mile long. I learned so much! They were exquisite. I saw frescos, sculptures (all the "offensive bits" had been destroyed or chipped off and hidden somewhere in the Vatican!), marble ancient flooring, tapestries made with real silver and gold thread, and detailed coffered ceilings. I feel so cultured! Ha ha. The Sistine Chapel is one of those sites that actually lives up to its expectations. I learned about the wall of judgement (and the scandal about all the naked bodies in a chapel that Michelangelo had hidden from the pope until it was too late), and the man getting his special bits (our tour guide always called them "bits" which I've now adopted) eaten by a large serpant because Michelangelo didn't care for him (it was a cardinal). My favorite part in the chapel was the creation of woman, which is in the very center.<br />Next I entered a truly indescribable space: St. Peter's Basilica. Hundreds of several story mosaic murals, 20 foot sculptures, pillars, gold, and an enormous dome. Most of us opted to climb hundreds of stairs to the top level of the dome to see the view of Rome. Darrin says it's #2 of his bucket list, it's THAT beautiful. Later we went to the Pantheon and attended Mass. It was there I met my Italian boyfriend, Mario. Mmmm.<br />To celebrate the 4th of July I got really hyper back at the hotel with Jeanette, Allie, and Erica. We sang the National Anthem pretty loud in commemoration.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqH8rPtNY3SEPBjuClHKC_VGRImC36P-s94wwKwce-YHoykW96maN1YhG2knCD-VakMLZ3AiBqpmZMTTe5_V5YDvvXFFaE1FGWs4vDjhRhU7qqWW1tYeEt8-NeWjcDX1-Bbf9ahT_QNs/s1600-h/P1010002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqH8rPtNY3SEPBjuClHKC_VGRImC36P-s94wwKwce-YHoykW96maN1YhG2knCD-VakMLZ3AiBqpmZMTTe5_V5YDvvXFFaE1FGWs4vDjhRhU7qqWW1tYeEt8-NeWjcDX1-Bbf9ahT_QNs/s400/P1010002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366757306076573666" border="0" /></a>Laura and Josie with St. Peter's Basilica in the background<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvX_TogrVH0xNe8tKPQ2ciD6bFahkDQQGy_otAm7HgCW3zlwRySR2Ci6EhpYHWBwiIIRHjpbrp1-mjsSH-HACdzPPTNBR_CtF0zwwJZ2fyxqy2f_84uXDW8ML9cW4VJ8xG2k7Kps2Da0/s1600-h/P1010058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvX_TogrVH0xNe8tKPQ2ciD6bFahkDQQGy_otAm7HgCW3zlwRySR2Ci6EhpYHWBwiIIRHjpbrp1-mjsSH-HACdzPPTNBR_CtF0zwwJZ2fyxqy2f_84uXDW8ML9cW4VJ8xG2k7Kps2Da0/s400/P1010058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366757331846039810" border="0" /></a>On top of St. Peter's overlooking Rome (SO BLASTED HOT UP THERE)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8Txz4ZDFeORR4VpsiqG3Lw5YDy5X4P_E-nqz0sf_okX6IupBU2kRYElFT_krM9i19bFVAvasLwBsDr5G6IACP6k4GiUb88w2AktS0SF3fefqkz1OxhCg1-_TBLJFvGK6UgmBowWT5gY/s1600-h/P1010032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8Txz4ZDFeORR4VpsiqG3Lw5YDy5X4P_E-nqz0sf_okX6IupBU2kRYElFT_krM9i19bFVAvasLwBsDr5G6IACP6k4GiUb88w2AktS0SF3fefqkz1OxhCg1-_TBLJFvGK6UgmBowWT5gY/s400/P1010032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366757323611467666" border="0" /></a>Wall of Judgement (so so cool!)<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfd6qd7IA2npjnMD-yuIxUqTJM3_EdeonRM-ACUmuVGpjH-SC24BtoIVTDFEy52qserEubJShSeXKuyxWsQirNTC6CZUNazCm-uGWMvrm6fUlDSLEB67xQCqkyRmaehSb5CsyAgjFmd0/s1600-h/P1010034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfd6qd7IA2npjnMD-yuIxUqTJM3_EdeonRM-ACUmuVGpjH-SC24BtoIVTDFEy52qserEubJShSeXKuyxWsQirNTC6CZUNazCm-uGWMvrm6fUlDSLEB67xQCqkyRmaehSb5CsyAgjFmd0/s400/P1010034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366757317527505250" border="0" /></a>Creation of Man<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPSPCn4p8fYE-7V0GOeYYaB40F1l2udUW_qFNqKJGgk5vi6tZ0HApBI8zzK95EzsN7qpP1KwETXCdFocHe2ngLWZH8ipRI5Og5GBdEGms0vnbxSF-eDVj37y5F6-nAg7tURgcdVVf1fA/s1600-h/P1010019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPSPCn4p8fYE-7V0GOeYYaB40F1l2udUW_qFNqKJGgk5vi6tZ0HApBI8zzK95EzsN7qpP1KwETXCdFocHe2ngLWZH8ipRI5Og5GBdEGms0vnbxSF-eDVj37y5F6-nAg7tURgcdVVf1fA/s400/P1010019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366757308426092482" border="0" /></a>Tapestry of Jesus who's eyes follow you down the hall<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-yyTtkVs23NZ-32h7KLUOpi-2WqDnWJd6N_2bfcSPW-JgcjBn7qBBeqn3nrJRmVgWu9_hsiXO2BHIAdpWWSFsHG8fuNdG8JjNAOcac3dEzw_NDFQmQ8HDTY1dsfZXwkQTTlofdyYcYA/s1600-h/P1010072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-yyTtkVs23NZ-32h7KLUOpi-2WqDnWJd6N_2bfcSPW-JgcjBn7qBBeqn3nrJRmVgWu9_hsiXO2BHIAdpWWSFsHG8fuNdG8JjNAOcac3dEzw_NDFQmQ8HDTY1dsfZXwkQTTlofdyYcYA/s400/P1010072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366759851668810306" border="0" /></a>Pantheon<br /></div><br /></div><br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-2879409330810255512009-08-06T00:45:00.001-07:002009-08-06T00:49:19.996-07:00Rome: July 3<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 3</span><br />Because of the swift arrival of the hail storm yesterday we were unable to go inside the Colosseum, so we returned confidently with umbrellas and parkas in hand (regardless of the fact we wouldn't need them). The structure is magnificent. Larger even than I had expected. Laura and I had to swallow our normal inclination to feel embarrassed and replace it with pride (or at least a false sense of it anyway, knowing we'd never see these people again), as we attempted to recreate an "America's Next Top Model" photo shoot. As luck would have it, we actually like a handful of the photos and had a good laugh doing it.<br />We then met a tour guide and walked for about a hundred or so miles... She took us to see the Church of St. Clemente, Church of St. Peter in chains, Church of St. Maria Maggiore, St. Carline, the President of Italy's palace (where they happened to be changing the guards with a full band of handsome men), and finally to the Trevi Fountain. I threw in one coin in hopes that I would one day return to Rome (an old legend).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXj3puMpJPEZPoJbepkF9lvyQR1ZR7ofRibxw4yl2Bx9t5bZpgrHo_Y-Ww-DxKb0glB_LLB3hPZ1e_tDNKyKX2tLAIn82YzPU2dkJ68pgsgDMZf4xeUKOOdhp7z44R70jBHVDl-dYmBSc/s1600-h/P1010108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357319097190561810" style="width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXj3puMpJPEZPoJbepkF9lvyQR1ZR7ofRibxw4yl2Bx9t5bZpgrHo_Y-Ww-DxKb0glB_LLB3hPZ1e_tDNKyKX2tLAIn82YzPU2dkJ68pgsgDMZf4xeUKOOdhp7z44R70jBHVDl-dYmBSc/s320/P1010108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Colosseum<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkDgiqWUWkYQPNlW3li8VhxIkeKOr1bj3VvanUhdi_z2POL0PKuCXeQ_1lUfz3wSAwySXOsxX5AffhNEnM8tJbzBXv2nH7lUjfwLeboAlcEMCumQHqpxINVuNoH9WveawfGlgOziiyyA/s1600-h/P1010188.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkDgiqWUWkYQPNlW3li8VhxIkeKOr1bj3VvanUhdi_z2POL0PKuCXeQ_1lUfz3wSAwySXOsxX5AffhNEnM8tJbzBXv2nH7lUjfwLeboAlcEMCumQHqpxINVuNoH9WveawfGlgOziiyyA/s320/P1010188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358419240358278034" border="0" /></a><br />Allie-Berry<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdo12ZYTXBf4kYP9Q7zZLSTkgwySLsAQHERhyphenhypheno82d3TVxEVtwWfzGqGB7cAAR4lfbrHrhNJ0uKFiFh_pKbtj-vM67NfbRCv3NgsD136ui93JBnoLtX7CCEQaxFfIvt_D9P2cvknApi0w/s1600-h/P1010223.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdo12ZYTXBf4kYP9Q7zZLSTkgwySLsAQHERhyphenhypheno82d3TVxEVtwWfzGqGB7cAAR4lfbrHrhNJ0uKFiFh_pKbtj-vM67NfbRCv3NgsD136ui93JBnoLtX7CCEQaxFfIvt_D9P2cvknApi0w/s320/P1010223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358419222542973586" border="0" /></a><br />In front of the fire statue in Angels and Demons!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvxsL134UMLQ3pKG_ktmmgi8OXjx7JzN3vfdgXiqggS-Vnt-HeazIji2vVKgWh8Zj5r4ftNdVddLKUgNNaIOa4XRaQkSXCWAnC19IAJzeMl3vCAv69JAHLbuKYdRecADbxrgwgvV7xz8/s1600-h/P1010181.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvxsL134UMLQ3pKG_ktmmgi8OXjx7JzN3vfdgXiqggS-Vnt-HeazIji2vVKgWh8Zj5r4ftNdVddLKUgNNaIOa4XRaQkSXCWAnC19IAJzeMl3vCAv69JAHLbuKYdRecADbxrgwgvV7xz8/s320/P1010181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358419204681144322" border="0" /></a><br />One of the thousands of adorable doors<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuw3WwlRcneWxw2kp_txfzUwre4oGQLLuW8MePCWixNRyeHP0OhwP_GyTTsizGuJrPF1IgmqqRXq6kVswg6kZ5Yh1I-JPMdIXV4SjZDJzqZ2ENUvtu4d0wqRwE7gH_sGhPFKwUassZgI/s1600-h/erica,+josie+borghese+gallery.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357319087762153330" style="width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuw3WwlRcneWxw2kp_txfzUwre4oGQLLuW8MePCWixNRyeHP0OhwP_GyTTsizGuJrPF1IgmqqRXq6kVswg6kZ5Yh1I-JPMdIXV4SjZDJzqZ2ENUvtu4d0wqRwE7gH_sGhPFKwUassZgI/s320/erica,+josie+borghese+gallery.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Erica and Josie<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJD9hms4EHNvNKcqE48xdJmsy7Iis0p2PIiYKEr5pr7ludbuufLy6dljL3VlDIgj1v20LX0Zzp-yOGw5U3MfYAD6Tfqs2JJ2T1FhaUhJmaf2rOK2DRAKAb1mrtMA3ocEdRLpn9S8wRJQ/s1600-h/P1010107.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJD9hms4EHNvNKcqE48xdJmsy7Iis0p2PIiYKEr5pr7ludbuufLy6dljL3VlDIgj1v20LX0Zzp-yOGw5U3MfYAD6Tfqs2JJ2T1FhaUhJmaf2rOK2DRAKAb1mrtMA3ocEdRLpn9S8wRJQ/s320/P1010107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358419186907380354" border="0" /></a><br />ArchJosie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-33966265820279770772009-08-06T00:38:00.000-07:002009-08-06T00:44:54.022-07:00Rome: July 1-2<div style="text-align: justify;">On <span style="font-weight: bold;">July 1</span>, 2009 a group of USU Interior Design students left bright and early for a study abroad to Europe. Laura Andersen picked me up at 3 am for the airport. Somebody, for financial purposes no doubt, had the bright idea of giving us 3 flights wich came hand in hand with 2 long layovers. We lost a full day and arrived in Rome, Italy on <span style="font-weight: bold;">July 2</span> at 10:45 am.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357314909686380018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyB4gljv4A43iUuLx_kTPP3VdnnlBkDnM7IsMmvn9Kinf3DZiTZvRipKNG4noM6cRgbqFmTgGdke6nOWJ9eD3vZ2-jRz_1FmaqOuynDS0PE-o2OB8Hg6i7_Il3CajP2IFo_1okSnxDrI/s320/Rome,+plane.JPG" border="0" />View from the plane<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tired, perhaps? Nonsense. Jetlag? Never heard of it... That's right, we began touring the city immediately. I felt like I was on drugs or something because I was so disoriented, but no time to complain: I'm in Rome!<br />We started by walking through some of the city, seeing the exterior of the Colosseum, ancient stonework, and bridges along the roads (so great in numbers were they, it was as if they were nothing special), and the Capitolini Museum.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357314933956594450" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlNpBBLsKI1buWNCvjdjr5xU-3K32y0Rocb5esLQ1haXsXLG0DSOVojgVDa2zYvuu14hlmsjQhFDVUDXpGavyGsslTL7BmtWvbd-UO09dyeItQ2zzYuUoOoEBof7NtkIYIFuwnW2Frus/s320/ruins.JPG" border="0" /><br />Ruins we saw on the walk in the Rain<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357314922524698482" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXw3w12cwwX_LbfTEB83Rhp5nUBi8nNokUoxbJaKrQPySEfPmm2kyA41a3OB6ZedtWQbY_c9eblohOWEkb2C72mCQti_mCXSpwGfNV6rgbrDnFZ_Vd7fT_9Vt5hyBYmpK8DHyeY6wZKk/s320/P1010107.JPG" border="0" />Building erected for Italian Independence<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357314929640521810" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-e3xfUZ0_4NXLriDGrYkzbdOSrUIfUxfn2PKBiTGSet9fw8Z1POa2bBDcHUextyN2Vq3oqrw6hMJacY3v3S6TN70sOKptS8ILEcO8PVeW1OfFNyZ-sOfxd18VEJQhxhAFLuwtQa1NGEc/s320/P1010123.JPG" border="0" />Pretty view from museum<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357314912476174946" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbZINcn2rlfCo6sxJYk5JdbjMUeSeMSp47wc0gZKpMV8qcmDW1PPWjI5mlUntGJ1cmfsiW8Tq0wlGAkzxN36fS0PhiG2TepFRiq8ISJccatcuqfmsZsr5p848hdFrik1tcv81dSmWH0s/s320/Josie,+statue+2.JPG" border="0" />Just keeping it G-rated :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The part of the day most worth noting was the near flash flood we experienced right outside the Colosseum. It's like we, the teachers included, jjust thought it would stop as quickly as it had started, but we poorly misjuged mother nature. An hour later, after never seeking shelter, we were all drenched from head to toe... and so was our stuff. Many lost Metro passes, sketchbooks, and more. But I don't think a single student would tell you it wasn't outrageously fun. :)<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the Borghese Museum we saw gardens and sculptures. My favorite was the Apollo and Daphne sculpture. The story goes that Apollo was in love with Daphne and was chasing her to show her his love. In doing so Daphne prays to her father, a god, fork a solution. As a result she becomes a Laurel tree. The sculpture captures the moment of transformation as Apollo reaches for her.<br />Italy is charming. The buildings with their flower boxes, their shudders, and their rod-iron balconies. Most of all I am loving the doors. Such a variety I've never known! I've made a personal note-to-self that I would like to instal round topped blue Italian doors in my dream house.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-46999225577332891842009-08-03T16:38:00.000-07:002009-08-06T05:20:08.852-07:00Irelandtop 5Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-30910567147482031132009-07-23T19:01:00.000-07:002009-07-24T03:49:10.210-07:00PatternsSome of my textile designs: V&A, the Tate, and British Museum (in that order)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2qhLGwNR_j70vl_haUzULJ1m_PsZ98erx91cVilpc-zYGXVhmQAfry2phpVus4IzO_yexRWsx4za7e9zmYloTa84JKksq-r7Upzv2uAjqrVTKQjUFZ48V4FVC5g67sxROsp0td95DBI/s1600-h/IMG_0601.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2qhLGwNR_j70vl_haUzULJ1m_PsZ98erx91cVilpc-zYGXVhmQAfry2phpVus4IzO_yexRWsx4za7e9zmYloTa84JKksq-r7Upzv2uAjqrVTKQjUFZ48V4FVC5g67sxROsp0td95DBI/s320/IMG_0601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361842831590036946" border="0" /></a> Some inspirations (of those that could be pictured.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgEG1Tu-mCQy9RNgQZ6eif58N_GcgTcQwdirxHXtCo_izAiiZRku9kC0Zm6ZFnZbDs7JADMDCzm1I0Cp2FqAVdjLzZPSGKbCaL3FOMvvgNwCFAzP2F2er-fF1-i4C6YO-C-Rqe4UFy8U/s1600-h/IMG_0086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgEG1Tu-mCQy9RNgQZ6eif58N_GcgTcQwdirxHXtCo_izAiiZRku9kC0Zm6ZFnZbDs7JADMDCzm1I0Cp2FqAVdjLzZPSGKbCaL3FOMvvgNwCFAzP2F2er-fF1-i4C6YO-C-Rqe4UFy8U/s320/IMG_0086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361842840933067410" border="0" /></a>I couldn't take pics in the Tate, but the middle one is loosely inspired by something that sort of looked like this, except it was a cool painting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qEwQWMh4tNxCt3DrY_7k_zCgA3gnf2ARgTC68iqh3FZ68MZnw6D65R9HGompxXhVpzxH2f1hJcrUNIrrH3TBGI3Ks97z6yWfca4_TZlmISwqaa5NyO4rYKC8PBD2G2WEIue_hlBGHi8/s1600-h/IMG_0158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qEwQWMh4tNxCt3DrY_7k_zCgA3gnf2ARgTC68iqh3FZ68MZnw6D65R9HGompxXhVpzxH2f1hJcrUNIrrH3TBGI3Ks97z6yWfca4_TZlmISwqaa5NyO4rYKC8PBD2G2WEIue_hlBGHi8/s320/IMG_0158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361842836128614066" border="0" /></a>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-64434637736926492982009-07-13T23:55:00.000-07:002009-08-06T02:08:49.020-07:00Venice<span style="font-weight: bold;">Venice Top 5:</span><br /><br />5. The laughably disgusting food. Italian food sounds good, right? You're wrong. American Italian food sounds good. Sure, that is a blanket statement that is completely out of context, but the food we had is worth noting as some of the most deceiving food I've ever had- and that includes April Fool's Day dinners.<br />4. Falling into the Grande Canal. I was the only one on the trip who can say that.<br />3. The fact that streets are crowded with people, not cars.<br />2. Going to church in Italy! So fun and the people are kind. It was a trick to get there, but totally worth the effort.<br />1. Gondola ride, hands down. If you go to Venice, don't skip it.Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-8293355886524578482009-07-11T14:10:00.000-07:002009-08-06T00:51:12.068-07:00ROME (overall)<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rome top 5:</span></span><br /><br />5. Swimming with blue caps at our hotel. We saw hairy armpit lady, topless little girl, and bottomless little boy.<br />4. Singing the national anthem late at night in our hotel room on July 4.<br />3. Hailstorm at the Colosseum<br />2. VATICAN CITY! Good glory. That includes the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's, the view, etc. It was the most incredible experience. And a little creepy too. Haha<br />1. Meeting Mario, my Italian boyfriend... Or so I'd like to believe.</span><br /><div><br /></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519958840702452480.post-8679005450503072142009-06-25T11:46:00.001-07:002009-06-25T13:02:17.151-07:00Summer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIEqlzUJufmb711WHR7AVvle4UBpJL6dDd8eb-tnJ5hIDe9rmXvUQ8rsVuN5DKFFerAo34vUDH7D3zi7tF7x8zUtUFA3jyB9ldSC7pJA3nWX1EEp2ynZoB3_nsajbLlG7aP6lF-YN6Fg/s1600-h/4323_521210843359_122803008_30923704_875293_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIEqlzUJufmb711WHR7AVvle4UBpJL6dDd8eb-tnJ5hIDe9rmXvUQ8rsVuN5DKFFerAo34vUDH7D3zi7tF7x8zUtUFA3jyB9ldSC7pJA3nWX1EEp2ynZoB3_nsajbLlG7aP6lF-YN6Fg/s320/4323_521210843359_122803008_30923704_875293_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351339698822891778" border="0" /></a><br />I graduated from Utah State in May, which was a delight because I was side by side my older brother, Jackson. I didn't even try to line up a job because I'm cutting the summer in half with a research trip to Europe (Oh, I got accepted to finish my masters degree at USU in Human Environments). So I've been packed for Europe since the first week in June (I don't leave until July 1), and all the spare time of summer has had a noticeable affect on me. I've categorized my belongings in my closet by sleeve or pant length, followed by color order within that subset. I've thrown away possibly 1/3 of my overall belongings (Holly and Les would be so proud), and now I'm a little obsessed with de-cluttering. It feels like heaven. No need to snicker- I know I'm pathetic. But had I known all along I would have n<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxKIlxI4hcqWoJYLQqpF7zuU7Fwp2yq-IPBbHHCvc8l6rbyqnW5nxpXSKql7WtAtUFReRF5IsLrEW2YpAn2uMm2dPqtoT0mcxzcTkZd57tLJ68CZFPdWtAgK-y2iVlb_hWSS7i5rg3E8/s1600-h/P1010453.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxKIlxI4hcqWoJYLQqpF7zuU7Fwp2yq-IPBbHHCvc8l6rbyqnW5nxpXSKql7WtAtUFReRF5IsLrEW2YpAn2uMm2dPqtoT0mcxzcTkZd57tLJ68CZFPdWtAgK-y2iVlb_hWSS7i5rg3E8/s320/P1010453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351342974098082594" border="0" /></a>ever accumulated all that stuff!<br /><br />The month of June, I'm not afraid to admit, has been a heavily drugged month. I turned 21 yesterday, so you may think I would lean towards drinking, but the Lortab kept calling my name with all my dental adventures. Starting with an emergency root canal, an infection, followed by 4 wisdom teeth extractions (2 of which were impacted), and there's no end in sight. While the bruising has ceased, I'm still in pain two weeks later. In this picture I look like Flick from "A Christmas Story", no?<br /><br />My 21 Birthday was kickin'. (Yup, I used that word Jackson. But I don't feel bad because Holly told me yesterday that you use words in the wrong context ALL the time and she's one of the few who calls you out on it. Kickin' is in the correct context here, I'm sure of it. ) Usually it feels like ALL of my friends are on trips or just plain forgot. It's always a beautiful day, but it's often been a lonely one. However, I gotta say: Facebook has really changed the mood of a birthday. Is it crazy to anyone else?It has made a way for the entire "village that raised me" to send their regards. It's definitely nice... but in a weird sort of way.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkMCxznZtyA5WAJ6SYn5-53uFQCXakDf4UTtv-ZfNLZyOJeEHJjqUjftOGFXu27qSbSSfZqdklNwdsLkrF4Ikw20tA7OJi4BbFv5l3YCIDYkqGLPlsoDuGb5WzNYz10Zpf5mGQ1oDJdw/s1600-h/P1010474.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkMCxznZtyA5WAJ6SYn5-53uFQCXakDf4UTtv-ZfNLZyOJeEHJjqUjftOGFXu27qSbSSfZqdklNwdsLkrF4Ikw20tA7OJi4BbFv5l3YCIDYkqGLPlsoDuGb5WzNYz10Zpf5mGQ1oDJdw/s320/P1010474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351357670268961970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The annual family picnic was perfect. Mom made my new favorite meal: Chicken enchiladas (except I quickly learned that they are in no way legitimate enchiladas, as dis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P_DbIWt7bNnz9YoGzbyj-Idwtj4htyONo5bQGoZmTEf4VvAkU-EOQVhaEbxZDeuzstVIyBh8QY8xelpFqAU9mL8rInpQ-grmOkEb6vpkh4wyqiXzyTP9gUk3vdSwKVcXiLTS_bHtn9k/s1600-h/P1010481.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P_DbIWt7bNnz9YoGzbyj-Idwtj4htyONo5bQGoZmTEf4VvAkU-EOQVhaEbxZDeuzstVIyBh8QY8xelpFqAU9mL8rInpQ-grmOkEb6vpkh4wyqiXzyTP9gUk3vdSwKVcXiLTS_bHtn9k/s320/P1010481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351347896145969298" border="0" /></a>covered at Mexican Restaurants when I order the same dish.) Home Sweet Home. :) We played volleyball at Adams Park. My team skinned by with the win (The other team claims it was a "gimme" since I'm the birthday girl. Unnacceptable.). Later at my house friends came by for cake and ice cream. I was, yet again, unable to earn my birthday wish. And this year I only had 12 candles! (They reversed the number in hopes I would have a better chance.) THREE blows later I realized I would likely not meet the queen on my adventure in England.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />So this summer entry (my first EVER) is dedicated to my family for the following 5 reasons:</span><br /><br />5. Kristen and clan came to our graduation (which was brutal even for me) in support. Wow.<br /><br />4. For Adam riding bikes to Nibley AND BACK with me and waiting for me when I got lost getting to Willow Park (Yup, lost in my own small town that I've lived in for 20 years).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhdoxh0o9p7jMYXu4vpsApQ13OvilcPcFu14QNTey_4aJfMTYl6AulqhCyPR2Sg119FVAlX2F6wnSDyfneOxhEBXB29kab3mDxINESxJ-wOWaDYA8bcudYSuKXa1iihTNwJyTnJX68qU/s1600-h/4331_110852730350_566345350_3108127_7767129_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 364px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhdoxh0o9p7jMYXu4vpsApQ13OvilcPcFu14QNTey_4aJfMTYl6AulqhCyPR2Sg119FVAlX2F6wnSDyfneOxhEBXB29kab3mDxINESxJ-wOWaDYA8bcudYSuKXa1iihTNwJyTnJX68qU/s320/4331_110852730350_566345350_3108127_7767129_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351349532568943794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3. For Mom taking care of me while I bawled on the way out of surgery when I found out we "didn't have cottage cheese in the fridge," a true dilemma in my life at the time.<br /><br />2. For Clay and Jen making me a candy bar poster that took obvious time and wit ;). P.S. I like M&Ms too!<br /><br />1. To the losing team at volleyball, for feeding my sad volleyball ego. But really for the H.S.H. book that everyone contributed to. I cried both times I've read it, and I haven't even left yet.<br /><br />xoxo<br /><br />Jolu<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Josie-Joluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02937321854088091357noreply@blogger.com7