As the train sped away from Paris, we passed through beautiful French countryside, some even covered in snow. We arrived in Lyon around mid afternoon. The sky looked gloomy and I was hoping we would get to our hotel before it started to rain. After a short Metro ride and walk, we arrived at our hotel. We dropped off our stuff and headed to a craft store Emily wanted to go to. When she was studying in Paris, it had been a favorite store of hers and she found out there was one in Lyon as well. By the time she had picked a pattern and acquired the necessary amount of yarn, it had begun to rain. We then found a Creperie for dinner where Andy and I got the same thing for dinner ( a crepe with tomato sauce and cheese) and for dessert (a crepe with sugar). We decided to try to go to the Christmas Market but it was raining too much and we decided to head in.
The next day was bright and sunny. We stopped at a cafe for breakfast where we got the last 3 pastries: 2 pain au chocolat and 1 croissant. We then walked across the river to go to the Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere. Andy and I rode the funicular up the hill while Emily walked. From the top of the hill we walked around to the Roman ruins of an amphitheatre. Just like in Rome, I enjoyed walking around the ruins, climbing the steps and see all the broken marble. Andy and I stood in the center of the amphitheatre and talked, we could then hear our voices amplified. After playing on the Roman ruins, we headed back towards the Basilica and took in the view over the city of Lyon. 
It was beautiful and off in the distance you can see the Alps. They were covered in snow, such a beautiful, cold sight. We took the funicular back down the hill and stopped at the farmer's market along the river for lunch. Andy and I split a half of a roasted chicken with some potatoes (so good). Emily got some olives. And we all shared a slice of cheese and a baguette. We walked over to a courtyard in front of the National Theater in Lyon and ate our lunch. It was a delicious French lunch. Afterwards we split up, Emily went to the Christmas Market and Andy and I went to the Musee de la Resistance. The French Resistance movement against Nazi Germany began with a small group of people in Lyon. I really enjoyed and look forward to learning more about it. Afterwards we went to meet Emily at the Christmas Market. It was located near the gare (train station) so Andy got a bit sidetracked on the way over. Shocker. He took many pictures of trains as they crossed the river towards the station. It was nice to be able to just cruise around Lyon with my brother. 
Eventually he was satisfied with his pictures and we met Emily at the Market. We walked around, purchased some Christmas gifts and had some delicious food. For dinner I got a baguette with cheese and ham (jambon) which was broiled open-faced. It was delicious. I also got a fresh pretzel to save for later and a waffle covered in powered sugar for dessert. Yummy.
My second trip to France began much in the same way as the first. I rode the Eurostar from St. Pancras International across to Gare Nord on Friday morning to meet Andy and Emily in Paris. Unfortunately this time did not go as smoothly. Due to a train failure earlier in the morning (in addition to the closure of part of the tunnel because of a fire during the summer), we arrived 70 minutes late. I did not have anyone sitting next to me so it not bother me too much. In addition, we were compensated with a free one-way or half price return ticket.
We head off to dinner and find an Italian place where Andy and I get the same dish. After dinner we take the Metro to the Arc De Triomphe. We come out of the Metro station and there it is in the middle of a gigantic traffic circle. We took the tunnel under the street and arrived in the middle of the arch. We then climbed the North staircase to the top. It was a lot of steps and reminded me that no matter what country I go to there will be so many steps to climb. There was a great view from the top. Looking down the Champs-Elysees, all lit up, was beautiful. I looked down at the traffic going around the Arc and realized there were no lines. Cars would jump in and out swerving at their own will. The view of surrounding Paris was gorgeous to the south was the Eiffel Tower all lit up (in blue to celebrate the president of France as the President of the EU). After many pictures we went down the South staircase which was a bit easier. We then walked down the Champs-Elysees for a bit. Then we found a Metro station and were off to our next destination: Notre Dame.
The Metro station was massive, the walls were thick and big so as to hold back the river because the cathedral is on an island. This island was a lot bigger than I expected. We walked across the street and around the corner to Notre Dame de Paris. It was just as you would expect it to look. There was also a Christmas tree out front. We then walked around around the side and over the Siene to find a gelato place Emily loved. As we walked away from Notre Dame I was surprised by the differences in architecture along the building. All lit up, it was beautiful. We found the gelato place but it was closed so we found the location of another one across the river. It was good, how I miss gelato. We called it a night and headed back to the hotel.
The next morning, Andy and I went to the Eiffel Tower. We got some bread, pastries, and apples for breakfast as we walked over. We walked around the corner and there it was. Landmarks in Europe have a way of doing that; I was just strolling along, turned the corner, and there it was. Um, wow. We walked over to it and waited for it to open. Soon enough we were able to go up. We took the first elevator to the 2nd level and then took the express straight up. Although it was over cast, the view was amazing. After many pictures and looking around. We went down and back to the hotel. We finished packing and along with Emily went to the train station to catch a train to Lyon.
My brother and Emily came to London the week after I returned from my trip to Normandy and Disneyland. It was so exciting to see them. After they arrived in Heathrow on Tuesday afternoon I met them at Trafalar Square for dinner. I was jittery all day, I was so excited. I was tracking their flight, checking and rechecking when they would arrive. It was awesome to come out of the Tube station at Trafalgar Square (which is an impressive sight on its own) and see my brother and Emily standing there. I ran up and gave them big hugs (Andy got 2). We then walked along The Strand and had dinner at a Italian restaurant . 
Out of habit I almost used the limited amount of Italian I learned in Italy: prego and gratzie. It was good. After we went back to Andy and Emily's hotel and then Andy came with me to my flat. I showed him a bit of the area and we made plans for breakfast the next morning and went back to the hotel.
After Andy and Emily went to the National Portrait Gallery, I had already been there so I went back to my flat and met them for lunch after. We went to Wagamama, a ramen noodle restaurant. Emily had been very excited to go. After we wet to the London Transportation Museum, this was Andy's choice (as if there was any doubt). It was very cool. There was a paper you took around and punched shapes into it at different stations. And at the end there were buses you could climb on along with tubes and buses to drive. I approve, it was a fun museum.
That night we went to Hyde Park to visit the Winter Wonderland. There is an ice skating rink, carnival rides with Christmas themes, and a market. Of course there was also food; Emily got mulled wine and Andy and I got waffles covered in powder sugar. Delicious! We parted ways, them to their hotel and me to my flat.
brought along with chicken. We also had veggies, rolls, and mashed potatoes. We even made eggnog. It was great fun.
My trip continued the next morning, early as I left Caen to return to Paris and on to Disneyland. My train left just before 8 and I gave myself plenty of time to take the bus back to the station. After waiting for 10 minutes and no bus I double checked the schedule and consulted my phrase book. I learned that the buses did not run on Sunday which was not what the website told me. Oh well. I walked back the the hotel and asked about the buses. Fortunately they had a number handy for a taxi and they called one for me. A few minutes later I was at Gare Caen and on my train. Soon we were headed back to Paris.
Back in Paris I walked the block from Gare St. Lazare to the RER A Auber station. The RER A ends at Marne-la-Vallee which is also the stop for Parc Disneyland. It takes about 30 minutes from the center of Paris. I got off a few stops from Disneyland to drop my stuff off at my hotel, Mister Bed City Hotel. I love the names of chain hotels in France, they are very fun. Back on the RER A, I was at Disneyland before noon, giving me plenty of time to see the parks. I was so excited walking in. Now that Normandy was crossed off my list, this was all I needed to see. The Disneyland Hotel serves as the Main Gate for Disneyland. Once inside you walk under the train and onto Main Street (U.S.A. I think). It all feels the same, but yet somewhat different. The shops and food establishments are arranged differently. I decide to go to the left and work my way around the park.
I first go to Adventureland and ride Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril. While walking through Frontierland and past the Mark Twain which goes counter-clockwise around the island I thought I saw something white falling and while I was in line for Indiana Jones it began to snow. It was snowing at Disneyland. I could not believe it though it was cold enough. After that I made my way around through Fantasyland. It is a lot bigger than the one in Anaheim. Compared to Anaheim, they have the same rides along with a maze inspired by the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland and they have an area just for Belle. I walked around the back towards Its A Small World but it was down. I headed over to Discoveryland (Anaheim's equivalent of Tomorrowland). I immediately got a Fastpass for Space Mountain: Mission 2.0. I had an hour or so and I decided to take the train around the park. I walked past Star Tours and thought to my self, I am sure it is the same, I can skip this. But then a light bulb turned on, the robots should be speaking in French, how can I not see this. It was glorious. Enjoy this little gem of a video I recorded.
After Star Tours I decided to have lunch. At this point it was snowing, flurries I believe would be the correct term. By the tie I had finished eating, there was a layer o snow on the buildings and shrubbery. I went on to Space Mountain and it was fantastic; there were loops and multiple inversions, much better than Anaheim.
The language completely threw me off. I knew the park and what they should be saying but it was completely different. It was like a dream where I know this place, I am familiar with it but it was different, something was off. I walked around a bit more and did some shopping.
I hopped back on the RER A to my stop, Torcy, and went to bed in my nice warm bed. I took my time the next morning and made my way back to the center of Paris. I was not sad about only seeing train stations in Paris because I knew I would be back next week. And then it would also be with my brother.
I had an amazing, first trip to France. This was my dream trip. When I came to London, I said there were two places I had to go to, everything else would be gravy. I had to go to Normandy and the D-Day beaches and I had to go to Disneyland Paris.
Luckily, trains go to Caen every hour or so and I waited in the station for a bit ad took the next train out. No problem.
The next day was very exciting. I had been looking forward to the tour of the beaches for years. The morning I spent more time at the Memorial, saw a few short films, and walked around the Post-1945 area which focused on the Cold War. After a quick bite to eat I was off on my tour. There were four other. A family of three and a girl from Australia. We got into a van with the tour guide and set off. We had five destinations ahead of us. First we stopped in Arromanches, 
code name Gold Beach. This is where the British built their artificial harbor. There are still remains of this harbor out in the surf. Next we went to Batterie-de-Longues where there are three intact German bunkers with a fourth partially damaged. They were huge. The guns were so long and the concrete housing around it was impressive. Rommel added these to help camouflage and protect the guns. These were not aimed at the beaches but out to sea at the ships bringing in men and supplies. Our third stop was the American Cemetery. 
There are nearly 10,000 crosses lined up representing the Americans who died during the entire European campaign, not just Normandy. It is a sight I will never forget. The rows seem to go on forever. It is cross after cross and row after row, quite an impressive and moving sight. Each cross is engraved with the name, rank, state of birth, and date of death. The crosses all face west looking towards The States. Scattered among the crosses are ones that read, "Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God". 
Those are the ones that really left an impression on me. The cemetery left me speechless. We then continued on to Omaha Beach. This where the Americans built their artificial harbor but after two weeks of using it a huge storm came through and it was destroyed. The only piece of it that remains is a ramp that was beached and is used for part of the pier. We then took off for our final destination, Point-du-Hoc. This separates Gold beach from Utah beach. The Army Rangers climbed this cliff to make their way inland. 
During the hours before landing, the US Navy bombarded this spot with artillery. Today it remains as it did after the fact. Up on that cliff there are craters some 6+ feet deep. There are also pieces of concrete 3 feet x 4 feet x 5 feet as one German bunker exploded from the inside. It is truly amazing the capabilities of ammunition. They took us back to the Memorial and I went back to my hotel to go to bed because tomorrow is Disneyland.
For our last British Life and Culture field trip, we went to the National Army Museum. We were there to learn more about Britain's involvement in WW1. Instead of walking around the museum, we had a presentation including a dress-up bit. The museum is located next to the Royal Hospital Chelsea which is in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the very same borough that I live in. We decided to walk back to our flat and it was fun discovering a new part of London that is within 10 minutes of where I live.
I went back the next day to Chelsea and walked along the Embankment up towards Parliament. It was nice to see this side of London. It was less crowded compared to my usual walk from Parliament up to Tate Modern plus there are more trees so I could clearly see the season changing to autumn.
This British Life and Culture trip was to Westminster Abbey. It is located across the street from Parliament and is where royal coronations and weddings occur. This is also the burial site of many major English royals and cultural figures. Our visit coincided with the Armistice Day, UK's version of Veteran's Day. Where the US remembers veterans from all wars, Armistice Day commemorates the day the Great War, World War 1, ended on 11 November. In the weeks leading up, there is a collection drive for the 
Poppy Appeal. For a one pound donation you get a red paper poppy to wear. The poppy was chosen as it was the first flower to grow on the battlefields of WW1. In addition to the poppies people wear, out front of the Abbey is a field of crosses and poppies.
Because of the Poppy Appeal it was surrounded by red poppies, it was beautiful. There is a tradition that began with the wedding of King George VI, when his bride Elizabeth placed her bouquet on the tomb in honor of her brother who died in the war. Since then every bride to be married in the Abbey has placed her bouquet on the tomb.
Halloween saw the return of my British Life and Culture class after two weeks off for the semester break. This week we discussed immigration and visited East London, more specifically Brick Lane. Over the course of history, the east side of London is where the newest wave of immigrants lived. The wind normally blows west to east, so in the days of the Industrial Revolution the smells would blow in the direction of the immigrants/poor and not the rich on the west side. In the 1600s it was the Huguenots, the 1800s saw the Irish, and the early 1900s Jewish immigrants from the Slavic nations moved in. Now it is populated by Middle Eastern and Indian immigrants.
First we did a walking tour of the area. Throughout the different occupants, the area has a history of garment making. Many of the items created here would show up on the west end for the rich to buy. Walking through the area reminded me of the garment district in LA. After the tour we ended up at a Pakistani restaurant. I had never had Pakistani food before (shocker, I know) nor have I ever had any Middle Eastern or Indian food so I did not know what to expect but I was willing to try. First came a sort of salad: cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, etc. Then came the starter. Lamb kebabs, lamb chops, and chicken shish all cooked tandoori style. Nan (a sort of pita) came out with it along with a rice similar to that of fried or Cantonese. It was delicious. The main meal came along with a mango smoothie that was similar to that of eggnog. I did not like it very much. I did like the main meal though. More chicken and lamb each in a curry/stew type sauce and some sort of lentil dish. It was all very good and I would be more than willing to have a similar meal again.
I went to two different football games this week. The first was American football and the second was what we in the States would call Soccer. Both were fun.
football game. I was surprised at the number of Europeans there, but they were well represented. I enjoyed the game. I was rooting for the Chargers because they are as close to a home town team as I will get and I got the tickets through connections at the Chargers. In the end they lost. After the game, we waited for the crowd to clear before heading to the tube station. It was amazing to see such a mass of people all going in one direction. It is like the line of cars trying to leave a concert, but people instead.
The following Wednesday (29 Oct) I went to a football game that is commonly referred to soccer in the States. We went to Craven's Cottage, home of the Fulham Football Club. Fulham is the next borough over, so that is our home team. Apparently Fulham and Wigan, the opposing team, are the two worst teams in the league and bitter rivals. I was warned that a fight might break out. Sadly it did not happen. The game was fantiatic. Partly because of the fans. It was a Wednesday night and was nearing freezing (as in 
zero Celsius) but the place was packed. There was lots of chanting and it is hard not to get sweep in the excitement when the home teams scores. Football jumped close to the top of my list of favorite sports (not as high as motorsports, put it is up there). Clearly I was born in the wrong country. When we got there, my flatmate tried to buy a beer as one does at a sporting event but learned alcohol was only served at halftime. So you only have 15 minutes to buy your alcohol. I guess it keeps the crowd from turning into a drunken brawl, but there were a lot of police there to keep the peace just in case.
We arrived at Santa Lucia (Tuesday 21 Oct) after a few hours on the train. It was one of the best train rides ever. I just sat there watching the beautiful Tuscan scenery go by as I listened to my iPod. I was leaving Florence and on my way to Venice, how could I complain. It was beyond me. God has truly blessed me while my time in London that I am able to go on this trip. When we got off the train we walked out of the station. The weather had turned from Southern California warm to overcast and drizzle and slightly cold. Although the weather was bleak, I was mesmerized. The steps out of the station lead right to the Grand Canal. There, in front of me, was Venice. Canals, boats, I could not process what I was seeing. I felt as if I had stepped onto a film set. So bizarre. I don't understand how this city was created. No where else in the world is there a place like this. We got our tickets for the water bus (Route 41) and took our 30 minute ride around to our hotel. 
Oh yeah, we were in a hotel instead of a hostel. We got off at Arsenal, one stop down from St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). We walked over a few bridges (the first of many) and turned up a street (not a street as we would normally think, but more like an alley or footpath [sidewalk]) which opened up to a big square. On the other side of the square was our hotel, Palazzo Soderini. We were buzzed in and once checked in were led to our room. We had two rooms here, a double with two twin beds and a triple with a king sized bed with a twin. The first room, the double, was fairly simple, nothing too fancy. But everything changed when we walked into the triple and were so amazed. This was no hostel. The ceilings were 20 ft high (and gorgeous) and the room was at least 20 ft x 40 ft. It was huge. There were two huge couches that could hold 4 people a piece and a massive TV with DVD player. We also had a balcony that looked over the square we just walked through. We were amazed by the grandeur of the room especially after the other places we had previously stayed.
Somehow we made it to the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. Um, wow. It was mid-day and the canal was busy with traffic: water buses, water taxis, and cargo boats. We walked up to the bridge and stared (a common activity on the trip but you would understand if you were there). We crossed the bridge and continued walking. We came across many more squares, bridges, dead ends, shops selling the same glass pieces as the last, and a Ferrari store like in Rome. Somewhere along the way we got gelato, I already miss it. After a while we decided to pull out the map to see where we were and what we had seen. I looked around and saw what looked like a car park (parking structure). Apparently we had walked the entire length of Venice in a matter of hours. It was getting dark by this point so we hopped on the next water bus back to our hotel. After getting ready and watching Dodgeball (there was a copy, in English to our surprise, in the room) we headed out to find this club mentioned in our guide book. Supposedly it was just past St. Mark's. After an hour of looking and asking for directions and always ending up back at St. Mark's we gave up. It was getting late so we ate at the first place we found open. Then we took our food to St. Mark's and listened to the battling bands. Two of the restaurants had a band in front surrounded by outdoor seating. The bands take turns going back and forth playing the most amazing music. There I was in St. Mark's Square listening to this beautiful music. Thinking about it now brings tears to my eyes. It was one of the best moments of my life. I recommend that everyone experiences this at least once in their life. I am planning at least a second. Eventually the bands stopped and closed down for the night. We were still hungry and wandered looking for food. Out of nowhere this little shop is open. We met a nice couple there, one from Canada and the other from Budapest. After enjoying an after dinner treat we, somehow, made it back to our hotel.
After a week of late nights and early mornings, we all got 8 hours of well deserved sleep. Our only objective for the day (Wednesday 22 Oct) was to go on a gondola ride. We shopped around a bit and ended up with a good price, especially split 5 ways. We were all amazed by the skill our gondolier, Franco. The canals have a good deal of traffic and he would steer within centimeters of the way without hitting. It was impressive. He was also very funny and even obliged us by wearing the traditional hat. He also seemed to know someone walking over every other bridge we went under. Money well spent. 
After that it was time for Jessica and myself to leave for the airport as Jenni, Katie, and Lucas were staying an extra day. We caught an express shuttle to the Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo. It was the coolest thing because, unlike the water buses, they venture out into open water, down a sort of highway. There are pylons marking the sides and the boats travel along as if it were a road staying on the right side and passing on the left for slower boats. I ever thought about that but once I saw it, it made complete sense. The main transportation is on the water so why not just change the pavement and cars for water and boats. So cool.
We arrived by Eurostar in Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) around 1330 on Sunday. We had a 10 minute walk to our hostel, Plus Florence, down the road from the station. Upon arrival at the hostel, we knew it would be a very different experience from Dublin and Rome. It looked like an apartment complex from the outside and the inside looked like a front desk from a hotel chain. Our room was not yet ready so we grabbed a map, left our luggage in the appropriately named Luggage Storage Room and set out to discover Florence. I wanted to see the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, or better known as the Duomo, so we headed in that direction. Along the way we ran into a street market where every four stalls sells the same thing. There were lots of cashmere scarves and leather bags/wallets. Eventually we made it to the Duomo. Um, wow. The detail on the outside of the building was so intricate. It is amazing to look at the craftsmanship from 700 years ago. I wonder if the workers ever thought if their work would still be around for as long as it has lasted. Just like the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon in Rome, the Duomo in Florence just appears from around the corner. It seems so unreal. The inside was not as impressive and St. Peter's but was beautiful nonetheless. Next we wandered around a bit more and decided to go see David. We found the Accademia and saw David. He is much taller than I thought. I had no idea that he was 14 feet tall. Looking at the statue, I could see the skill of Michaleangelo, you can see the tendons in the hand and on the back of the knee. He was truly a great craftsman. He could look at a piece of marble and release the statue within. There seems to be a recurring theme in Italy of my perception versus the actual; most things seem to be bigger than I once thought. We looked at the map and saw a few things on the south side of the city to see. We walked towards Ponte Vecchio. This bridge dates back to the 14th Century, like the Duomo. It is lined on both sides with shops. Looking down the street at it, I could not tell we were nearing the 
bridge. At the end of the bridge we got some gelato the traditional way, no cones. As we ate our gelato, we walked towards Piazzale Michelangelo. It sits atop a hill on the south east end of Florence which overlooks the entire city. After may steps, not the first nor the last of the week in Italy, we arrived at the top. The sun was beginning to set and it was such a gorgeous sight. I have seen pictures, but they do no justice to actually standing there after walking there from the Duomo, David, and Ponte Vecchio. From there you can see the entire city. The Duomo dwarfs the entire city, rising high above every other building. We sat on the steps there and stared. We sat for a half hour or so. I was trying to take it all in (and failing) and thinking about Rome and my new found love for Italy. The history, tradition, and culture are wonderful and captivating and mysterious. We finally headed down the hill and back to our hostel. It was Katie's birthday (we were all jealous of her as she spent her birthday in Rome and Florence) so we got ready to go out to dinner. By the time we got back and were ready, it was getting late. In London, there is always something open, but not so much in Florence or in Venice as we would later learn. After failing to find a place to eat we stumbled across a Chinese/Thai restaurant. It smelled good and the food at the table of the couple near the window looked good. In we went and had, quite possibly, the best Chinese meal I have ever had. It was delicious and fresh. Yum. All dinner we could not get over the fact that we were having Chinese in Italy, but we did not care because it was so good.
The next day (Monday), we decided to go to Pisa, less than an hours train ride away. From the train station, we walked about 15 minutes and around a corner, as usual, there it was. A tower and it was leaning. Like the Colosseum before, we stood and stared in awe. Finally realizing what we were seeing, we grabbed our cameras. No visit to Pisa is incomplete without the silly poses. We took photos holding the tower up, pushing it over, and leaning with it. We also took a group picture. After we set it up, I lined it up on my camera. We asked a fellow tourist to take the picture for us. 
As you can see, he did not get it exactly right which makes it even funnier. We then had lunch just down the street from the tower. We found a restaurant with a friendly staff. As usual we ordered pizza and pasta. It was so good, in fact the best pizza we had in Italy, maybe ever. The bread and sauce were fresh as was the extra gooey mozzarella. So good. We then headed back to Florence, but not before our train broke down, 200 feet after leaving the station. Half an hour later we were on our way. That night after dinner we met up with a friend who was staying with a friend in Florence for her break. It was fun to swap travel stories and we recommended a trip to Pisa.
switch to Metro B. What a contrast Metro B looked like it came from New York City. It was covered in graffiti and had a dirty feeling to it. It just looked musty. After three stops we arrived at Bologna and our hostel, Youth Station Hostel. Since there were 9 of us we had a whole room to ourselves. It was actually more of a hallway than a room, but it was just a place to sleep. We were starving as it was nearly midnight and most of us had not had dinner. The front desk told us of a place around the corner that was open. We found it easily, Kebab King/Pizza Queen. They were almost out of pizza (which is baked like a sheet and cut and weighed, the it is folded in half 
like a sandwich) so most of us had doner wraps. So good.
Before we left London we scheduled a tour of the Vatican. We saw the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. I was surprised (I was surprised, were you surprised?) at the size of the chapel. I thought it was small with room for 100 people or so and ceilings only 20 feet or so from the ground. I was completely wrong. It is huge. The ceilings are at least 70 feet high and around 300 tourists inside. I was taken aback. The scale of the ceiling was so impressive. After the chapel, we went into the Basilica. It was gorgeous. And then we went out to the square. Wow. So much history. It is beautiful. The sun was setting at this time through the departing rain clouds. It was so beautiful. That night we went out to dinner. Pasta in Italy is so good. Then we went to the Trevi Fountain and sat and stared at it. We took a break and got gelato, the first of many. 
Then we went back to the Trevi Fountain and stared some more. I don't know what it is about the fountain. It is so beautiful at night. I have no words except to go and see it for yourself. It inspires awe in that it has continuously flowed for hundreds of years. I need that plumber because modern plumber does not work that well. We finally made it home. I could barely sleep because of all I had seen that day and in anticipation of what I was going to see the next day.
The next day we started at the Spanish Steps. I was sad it was not May because that is the only time they have flowers adorning the steps but it was lovely none the less. We were to make our way to the Pantheon. At some point while taking pictures (no surprise there) I got separated from the group. I knew where we were going so I took off in that direction figuring they had taken off without me. On my way I found a Ferrari store. I had to go in. The employees were wearing team attire, very cool. I would my way to the Pantheon and again could not believe what I was seeing. I was looking down little streets as I was walking and suddenly there it was. Out of nowhere and a 2000 year old building appears. I don't get. There is too much to try and process. My mind was blown. I could only stand in awe. After our fill of history there we ventured back towards the Colosseum and the Forum for a tour and 
stumbled upon the Vittoriano, a monument to the unification of Italy. We continued on to the Colosseum and the Forum. The tour was great, first we got to skip the line and then we got lots of good information. My favorite bit was that they would flood the Colosseum (arena comes from the Latin for sand as the ground was covered in it to absorb the blood) and have mock sea battles and train their navy. The tour continued over to Palatine Hill part of the Roman Forum. It was fun to walk around, climbing on huge pieces of marble that are 2000 years old. That night part of the group went out on a pub crawl, while myself and a few others went to diner (best pasta on the trip) and wandered Rome at night, we roamed Rome.
