Home to Rome

Back to Rome! We spent the night in Florence and caught the train the next day back to Rome. We spent the evening seeing the Roman night life. Well, the tourist night life. We didn't hit the clubs or anything...

Here we are having dinner at the Pantheon. Our friend, Partyus Maximus, snapped this photo of us. He was with friends on a 27 day tour of Europe.

We walked up to the Italian President's Mansion. He has a pretty nice place on one of the seven hills of Rome.

The Spanish Steps are THE PLACE to be on a Roman night. Everyone is there chatting. It is also the common meeting place before hitting the clubs. And these women know how to dress!

The Trevi fountain is great to see all lit up. It is very popular also at night. It's hard to get a picture without someone else in it, but it's worth all the elbows to the ribs to get there. Hope that guy who was in my way is alright...

In wedding folklore, the father of the bride puts a coin in her shoe for good luck. This is Dad dipping a euro in the Trevi fountain to put in my shoe at the wedding.
Tossing my Euro into the fountain. I am destined to return to Rome now! Wonder when...

The adventure continues.

Florence... "Hey, there's the Duomo"

After leaving Pisa, we took a train to Florence. This is such a beautiful city with so many things to see. A thing to understand is that the Medici Family used to rule Florence, so everything is made by them, dedicated to them, looks like them. Also, Michelangelo did all the artwork, and if he didn't, who cares. So with that in mind, we struck out to see Florence.

The overwhelming identifying figure of Florence is the Duomo. This was built by the Medici Family without scaffolding. Quite an undertaking.

Next to the Duomo it the Baptistery, monument to John the Baptist.

Like I mentioned before, the Medici were a big deal. Here are some of their buildings.

Cappella Medici (Medici Chapel)

Galleria deli Uffizi (Medici government buildings)

Palazzo Medici-Riccardi (Medici Palace)

The modern government has some buildings also. They are all located in Piazza della Repubblica.

A popular spot in Florence is Pointe Vecchio. This bridge overlooks the Arno River. It used to be lined with fishmongers and butchers, but in the 1500s, the government decided to make these shops move and only jewelers and goldsmiths could occupy the bridge. It smells better now.


And, Michelangelo is the artist of Florence. One of his most famous works, David, is seen in the Academy. This is David contemplating his battle with Goliath. You are not supposed to take pictures, but I used my super secret photo skills to snap some. Be aware, he is naked.
For more Florence, see Facebook!

Samantha Brown has nothing on me!

So we embarked on an adventure to Pisa! It all started by us boarding a train in Rome headed up the coast. We were in first class (wahoo!) and getting settled for the ride. As we were waiting to leave, we got a taste of true Roma Termini (Rome train station). In ENGLISH a man started yelling, "NO! STOP! GET AWAY! PICKPOCKETS!" Termini is known to be a prime location for pickpockets, and this American was targeted. They will typically strike when your hands are full of luggage and there is nothing you can do. Luckily, this man was able to grab the girl, and his wallet, and the police came to get them. So that was our exciting start to the day.


After an uneventful, yet beautiful train ride up the coast, we arrived in Pisa. Now Pisa ia a neighborhood with a small area of tourist attractions. So we made our way across the Arno River to the tourist area.

Arno River

The whole way there, I was becoming one with my inner Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel, and I HAD to get the perfect picture with the Leaning Tower of Pisa! So the entire time we were touring the other buildings, I was trying to figure out the perfect angle, distance, sun rays, everything! I did enjoy the Baptistery (built to honor John the Baptist), Campo dei Miricoli (church), and camposanto (museum), but I had to get to the tower!

Baptistery

Campo dei Miricoli

Camposanto

Finally, it was time for our tour of the Leaning Tower! We climbed the 250+ stairs to the top of the bell tower. The stairwell was narrow, and you could feel the lean of the tower, but the view was amazing. You could see all the way to the mountains surrounding the Tuscan area. I stood there thinking "Holy cow! I'm at the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!" It was surreal. I highly recommend it!


As for my ideal picture...well...I think Samantha Brown would be proud...


For the rest of the Pisa adventure...

Roman Holiday

When I woke up this morning, I was in Italy! We arrived at the Rome train station a little after 9AM. We couldn't check into the hotel yet, so we went sightseeing! We stopped in quite a few churches, some which my dad has never seen (it seems like he has seen every church in Rome!) They were very nice.

Gesu et Mariae

Basilica dei ss ambrogio carlo

Piazza del Popolo Twin Churches

Of course, lunch was authentic Italian! Delicious! I can't stay in this country too long, I will weigh 3000 pounds!

Yum!

We made a stop at the Pantheon. It was being repaired, so it was hard to see the outside. This inside was as wonderful as ever.

Inside the Pantheon

The Spanish Steps are a monument to the Spanish King. This is a neat hangout for locals and visitors alike.

Whenever I see the Colosseum my mind goes straight to...no, not gladiators...but Arthur. The animated cartoon show from when I was younger. His friend Buster once sang a song about Rome. "Ancient Rome...it's not like home...colosseum...gotta see 'um..."

Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum

The Forum used to be the center of government. Some of the buildings still stand. It's unbelievable that there are buildings dating back to before Jesus' time!

Former Senate buildings

San Giovani is my FAVORITE church! They just don't make them like this in America!

San Giovani, front side

Piazza Navona is a lively place. There are street artists everywhere painting, drawing, creating so many different masterpieces!

Piazza Navona and Fontana dei fuimi

In Rome, the Trevi fountain is a must! It has been said that if you throw a coin in the fountain, you are destined to return. Well, in 2006 I threw a coin in...and here I am! I believe I will be tossing another one!

Facebook it!

Do you really need 70 rooms?

This was our last day in Germany. We drove through the Alps to a castle built on an island. This was a spectacular drive! The Alps are beautiful!

Once we arrived. We had to take a boat across a lake. The castle was well worth it! Herrencheimsee was build by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. He set out to build 4 castles. Three were started and only one was completed. This is one was not complete. Only 20 of the 70 rooms were finished. After seeing the castle, I have to wonder what you could possibly have in the other 50 rooms that could not go in the original 20? Guess we will never know.

After leaving Herrencheimsee, we went back to Schleissheim to see the garden.

The time soon came to leave Germany :( So, we caught our overnight train to Rome! This was pretty neat. Our sleeping compartment was tiny (about 4'x6'), we didn't sleep well, and the coffee wasn't worth drinking...but it was an experience!

Our train compartment

All my pictures are...where else...facebook!

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

The question of the day...do you speak English? Today I ventured into Freising, alone. And being the friendly people of Germany, they all tried to talk to me. While I can say good day, please, thank you, and get a table for two, that is the extent of my German. Other than asking if someone speaks English, and typically they do. I'm glad the friendly people of Freising take pitty on this dumb American.

I had a great time exploring the city and taking pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.

View of the valley from the monastery

Freisinger Dom (Freising Church)

We went to Dachau, specifically the former concentration camp. This is always an overwhelming visit. I have been before, so I knew what to expect, but it is still amazing how someone could treat a fellow human in this way. My dad's boss, Major Stuckey, said it best "some soldiers, even today, just like to kill."

The main train entrance. On the left is remnants of the platform, and the building on the right is the former commodore's residence.

Guard Tower along the perimeter fence. When this was a functioning camp, entrance into the grassy area was reason to be shot.

Inside the barracks


The main gate

We went to dinner at Schleissheim Palace. There is a Biergarten there with delicious food. A state dinner was happening at the palace an in the garden, so we didn't get to tour.

After dinner we walked up to the overlook at Freisinger Dom, while enjoying some ice cream.

We ended the day with a trip to Weihestephaner, the oldest continuing running brewery in the world. It was founded in 1040 and was a monastery. The monks were responsible for brewing the beer, until the government took it over. In Germany, beer used to be the safest thing to drink, since the water was contaminated. Fermentation killed the bacteria. Likely story, Germany.

Today was another great day! We are starting to recover from jet lag. Tomorrow is our last day in Germany. And, as always, you can see all my pictures on my facebook!

Germany or Bust!

Dad and I left July 11, headed to Germany! And let me tell you, this was the easiest flight I have ever taken. We left Atlanta an hour early, arrived in Germany early, and both of our suitcases got here!

Dad and I leaving from Huntsville

Padre at his finest

If you have ever traveled overseas, you know what I am about to talk about. But if you haven't, let me explain every travelers arch nemesis, JET LAG! The best way I can explain jet lag is the it is like staying up all day, all night, then having to walk a marathon the next day. You are exhausted, your feet don't want to move, and your eyes are barely open. We have learned it's best to fight the urge to sleep and keep busy. The first day stinks, but it helps you come out of it better. So in our attempt to keep ourselves from sleeping the day away, we did some sightseeing! And for those who think we are jet lag champions, don't be fooled. We did take some short cat-naps during the day.

We are staying in a little town outside of Munich, called Freising. It is such a quaint place full of friendly people. Part of our day was spent wandering around Freising.

This afternoon we took the train into Munich. This is probably my favorite city in the world! The city hall is my favorite building. I think it looks so interesting and can be recognized as traditionally Munich!

City Hall

Dinner was, where else, at a German beer hall. The Hofbrauhaus is most famously known as the location where Hitler was voted by his peers to lead a revolt. Now it's know for its authentic German food. Yum!
I will be posting TONS of pictures on my facebook so be sure to check it out!