38 Search Results for "pisa"

• Europe - A Recap

  • From: traveljunkiejess
  • Description:

    

    So I have been meaning to post a recap of my Europe trip pretty much since I got back. Partly because everyone who knows that we went ask me "So how was your trip to Europe" and I am sick of my lame response of "Good" and secondly because I love coming on here and reading my previous blogs because it always brings me back to that time or event in which I wrote about. A 21st century diary or sorts...... without all the angst...... ok maybe some.
    

    Anywhoo this is not for the skittish reader as it is lengthy.

    
    

    London – Jaron and I were so jet legged from flying over and not sleeping the night before so when we got in around 10am (4hours later then what we should have) that we just passed out until around 5pm. We then walked around and went to a pub and had a very English dinner and drinks and then took in some of London ’s McDonald’s deserts. FYI: They do not mix their McFlurries and they put things like chocolate covered rice crispies in them. Good - but different. The next day we then met our group and were able to just take in some sight seeing. The weather was really nice, no snow at all and probably around 60+ degrees so we got lunch and ate in the park. We then went to the London equivalent of Times Square and had dinner at this crazy Russian place. The restaurant made me feel like we fell through the rabbit’s hole in Alice in Wonderland. That is the only way that I can really explain the décor and feeling. We saw Buckingham Palace (however no Prince William or Prince Harry) and Big Ben at night and started adding to our list of foreign public transportation services that we have now endured.

    Amsterdam – was all that anyone ever thinks Amsterdam is and more. We went to coffee shops, the red light district, the blue light district (that is where the trannies reside) a sex show (saw a girl smoke a cigar with here whoo ha…. No joke), the Anne Frank Museum – which is her house/annex where they were hiding (so amazing and emotional), saw the original Starry Night (my all time favorite painter is Van Gogh so of course I went to the official Van Gogh museum I also found out that technically his name is pronounced Van GOFF not Van GO), we also took in the Heineken museum and proceeded to get buzzed fairly early in the day, before 11am from the free beer that we got, we also went to a clog shop in the country and cruised the canals through the city. I love Amsterdam and want to live there. There is so much more to talk about here but some things are better left for one on one conversation ;)

    Berlin – History galore!!! Saw the Berlin Wall or at least what is still left around. Took a walking tour of the city and saw major Nazi area’s including where Hitler killed himself. There were some great memorials for the Jews of the war and it was very moving. Germans consider their history to be their dark shadow……. They can never escape it, it will always follow them but they can strive to make the future better. We also saw the first concentration camp which was very surreal. It is crazy to think that so much suffering went on and the horrible conditions that they must have been under. Ugh!

    Prague – Beautiful city. It was so colorful. All the buildings are different pastel colors and very ornate and it has been kept up so well that it all looks new. We went to a Salvador Dali exhibit as well as an Andy Warhol exhibit which was really cool. Took a lunch cruise through the city and scoured the markets for trinkets. We then went to this restaurant that had a beer tap in the middle of the table. You then could feel up your glass and drink as much as you wanted. There was a big TV that was keeping score of every table and you were in competition with everyone. I got a really good buzz from that place and never had to pee so much. However we were nothing compared to the Aussie tables. They can put them down.
    

    Munich – Very fun and cool city. We took a tour through the city on cruiser bikes. I loved the bike so much that I got a cruiser for my birthday this year. I was the “butt babe” which pretty much meant that I stayed towards the end of the group and made sure that no one lagged behind. We went to the biggest beer hall in the world and had many of beers. We also went to an original beer hall where families still have their own tables and thousands of people can fit in. Munich goes crazy for Oktoberfest! I had a pickled pork knuckle and an awesome lemonade beer as well as had my first try of ‘snuff’ which is a tobacco that you sniff up your nose. It is awesome.

    On the way to Venice we stopped in Tyrol and went to the original Swarovski Crystal shop. They had a whole room completely covered in crystals – Winter Wonderland and it was very surreal.

    Italy –
    

    ***** Now quickly there are a few things that no one knows about Italy until you go there and it is pretty nuts. Firstly, they don’t give a fuck!!! They know that people will come to Italy even if everyone tells them that it sucks because, hey… it is Italy . They are very rude, they do not use salt in their bread so it is like eating cardboard, it is very expensive, theft is crazy over there so you must be on guard at all times, they charge an exhorbinent amount to use the toilet – However this is not just an Italy thing. In Europe most countries will charge you to pee however it is never very much and the money goes to keeping the facilities clean and nice however that rule does not apply to Italy . (I think I paid one time around the equivalent of $2 American dollars to pee in a very dirty bathroom and they do not have toilet seats, it is just the bowl. It was truly frightening) Also they have hidden dining fees. Firstly they charge you for utensils. They also charge you to sit outside as well as a service fee of usually around 15%. Also they do not tell you this and they will try and hide that unless you come straight out and ask “Do you have a service fee??” And by service fee I do not mean the tip. I mean your food, utensils, service fee, then tip!! These were things that we had no idea about however now stating that I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about my feelings on Italy . I absolutely loved Italy and think that everyone should go and see the massive history there. It is just nice to know what you are in for. It is very exhausting, a definite culture shock for sure. ***********

    Venice – Everything that you think of when you think of Venice is true. It is fucking gorgeous and like a dream. The weather was amazing when we went, I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day. You can walk the whole island in like 20 minutes and we circled it many times. We went to a lace school and purchased a Venetian table cloth and napkins for my mom and saw a glass blower work and make a beautiful piece of art. We then did the cliché canal ride which was beyond compare. It was so much fun and you could bring whatever you wanted on the gondola with you so we bought an original bottle of Bellini (the peach drink that is now sold at Olive Garden was invented in Venice by a man named….. you guessed it something Bellini!!) and took that with us to drink. The city is so gorgeous that it almost looks fake. I ate gelato pretty much three times a day when I was in Italy and had to have pizza!! We did a lot of people watching and just meandering around the city. We then had an amazing Venice dinner that consisted of many different courses of pasta and seafood and salad and a lot of wine.

    Rome – Oh Geez!! So much and there can never really be enough time! We started with a huge tour around the city taking in the Spanish Steps and the Piazza Venezia. I drank out of the Trevi Fountain – which was delicious and said to bring you fertility!! We then went into a crypt that a priest had made hundreds of years ago out of deceased priests body parts. It was very eerie. Every piece of bone was used to make very beautiful and hauntingly creepy mosaics that lined everything from the walls, ceilings, floors, everything. There was not a bare wall in the place. We then went into the Pantheon and saw first hand the amazing architectural abilities of the Romans. We took in so many churches and shrines in Europe and in Italy in general that it is hard to keep them all straight. We checked out the Colosseum at night and walked the first ever street made in the world. Also popped in on the Pope (well not really he was traveling at the time) in Vatican City at night and ate outside on the side streets of Rome . In the morning we got a private guided tour inside ‘Old Rome’ and inside of the Colossuem. Old Rome is like 10 feet below the street level of New Rome because they just believe on building on top of the city. That is why the subway for Italy only runs around the city because anywhere they go to dig in the center of the city they are just going to end up excavating the previous Rome . Then we actually went to the Vatican and walked through the city as well as the church where the Pope presides, saw the tombs of all the old Popes. saw St. Peters Basilica, and saw the Sistine Chapel!! Also we visited the “Mouth of Truth” that is in Roman Holiday. You are supposed to put your hand in and think of something. If it is a lie it is supposed to bite your hand off. I still have my hand so all is well, however our feet hurt so bad from walking the city to try and see everything that it felt like they had been bit. I am sure I am forgetting something really momentous but oh well.

    On our way to Florence we stopped in Pisa . Nothing really in Pisa except that one leaning tower!! So of course we acted like stupid American tourist and did the obligatory pictures such as the holding the tower up, leaning against the tower, heaving the tower on your back and some people even did the leaning tower of penis. Propping it just so to where it looks very impressive. I tried to get Jaron to do it but he wouldn’t. I also purchased a very cute purple bogus Prada purse from some African/Italian counterfeit gangsters. I was able to get them down a lot too, they wanted 50 Euros and I got them down to 20 Euros! But by doing the simple act of purchasing I was then mobbed by about another 20 or so selling various shit.
    

    Florence – Here was the only time that it rained on our trip. And it wasn’t just a little rain. It was a lot of rain. It soaked through my waterproof Columbia jacket and proceed to get everyone as wet as possible. Again we turned to gypsies for needed umbrellas and went along with our day. This also happened to be the day of our mandatory group picture that was outside. We were all soaked. We did however check out a Florence leather company ( Florence is now for its amazing leather) to try and stay dry. Because it was raining the lines to get into museums were horrendous. We waited to see the statue of David outside for probably two hours. It was however worth it. The statue is amazing and also a lot bigger then I had expected. In more ways then one ;) We then took in some amazing views of the city on our way through the Tuscan Hills for our Tuscan dinner where we got serenaded by two Italian opera singers and were also forced to dance by some of our tour mates.You know who you are.
    

    Lucerne – This was a nice rest from the crazy hussle and bussle of Italy . Switzerland is very clean, orderly, and polite. It was a nice change. The Swiss are very into three things. Chocolate – Watches – & Swiss Army Knives. You can find stores for these 3 things everywhere!! The chocolate is amazing, the watches blow your mind, and they are not messing around with those knives. You are prepared for anything and then some. We just kind of wandered around. We took in some Swiss Fondue and a show which was cool and Jaron was forced to get up on stage and blow one of those huge horns from the Ricola commercials. Apparently it is harder then it looks. His prize……. A Ricola! Then a man dressed in a cow costume came out and ran through the crowds. It was odd, but fun.

    Paris – Another amazing city. We got in and promptly went around all the major sites such as Napoleons tomb, the Arc de Triomphe, The Eiffel Tower, and the Champs Elysees . Later on in the evening a big group of us went back to the Eiffel Tower and waited so that we could go up it in the night. It is truly beautiful at night and very glittery and romantic. It is a hell of a lot higher then I thought and even for me who does not have a huge fear of heights it was still pretty scary. In the morning we got up early and headed to the Louvre via the subway and underground entrance. I almost had a drunken Parisian fall on me but somehow made it. I ran to see the Mona Lisa as soon as the museum opened and got to enjoy that without a huge crowd of people. We then just meandered through and took in the crazy opulence of the royal palace that is now the Louvre. Checked out the gravesite of Jim Morrison of ‘The Doors’ as well as Oscar Wilde’s gravesite and Chopin. The cemetery was really old and creepy and some looked as though they had been graved robbed. However it was ironically enough very beautiful and comforting. We then headed back and got ready for our dinner show at the Moulin Rouge. There are no words for this show. It was amazing and vibrant and just plain incredible. At one point a see through tank of water comes up through the stage and a scantily clad girl dances inside the water with a huge cobra!! A great way to end the tour.

    New York City - Then we headed back to the US but had an overnight stay in NYC. I almost threw up in the back of a taxi from all the stop and go craziness. My friend Aimee graciously put us up at her place and pointed us on the right subway so Jaron could see the Statue of Liberty. We got there first thing in the morning and went inside the statue. It was cool because I was unable to do that when I went in 2003 with Ali & Christine. It was so windy however that we could lean forward and the wind would hold us up. In NYC I was happy to again be able to have Starbucks and all Jaron wanted to do was have some NYC street pizza. We also stumbled upon a protest that was going in front of Wall Street in regards to all the bonuses CEO’s got even though their companies had received bailouts. So that was unexpected. Then off again to be home.

  • Blog post
  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 65
  • Not yet rated

• Leaning Tower of Pisa

  • From: allaffordtravel
  • Description:
  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 36

• Leaning Tower of Pisa

  • From: Martrese
  • Description:
  • 3 weeks ago
  • Views: 54

• Waiting for the train in Italy

  • From: joe8211943
  • Description:

    While waiting for our train at the Pisa station, I spied this young lady reading her newspaper.

  • 3 weeks ago
  • Views: 88

• Pisa, Italy

  • From: sarahalden
  • Description:
  • 1 month ago
  • Views: 33
  • Not yet rated

• Pisa, Italy

  • From: daveantphoto
  • Description:
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 29
  • Not yet rated

• shopgirl05

  • Points:652
  • Views: 45
  • Since: 3 months ago

• Naughty in Pisa, Italy

  • From: mail4rob
  • Description:
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 130
  • Not yet rated

• The Leaning Tower

  • From: mccabefamily
  • Description:

    Our first anniversary trip was to Italy. This picture was taken, of course, in Pisa.

  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 136

• Italian Catnap in Pisa

  • From: islasisterchick
  • Description:

    This little Italian kitty found a convenient place to nap on a hot summer day in Pisa.  Funny thing was, I should have gotten the leaning tower in the background to make this shot even better. 

  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 187

• Pisa

  • From: ibnelly
  • Description:
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 175
  • Not yet rated

• Bapistry, Pisa Italy

  • From: noreensfl
  • Description:
  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 86
  • Not yet rated

• Cathedral, Pisa Italy

  • From: noreensfl
  • Description:
  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 85
  • Not yet rated

• Leaning Tower of Pisa

  • From: Atomory
  • Description:
  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 70

• Pisa

  • From: gdetennis
  • Description:

    The Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa) is the campanile or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa's Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) after the cathedral and the baptistry.

  • 9 months ago
  • Views: 126

• Italy 067.jpg

  • From: scpirategirl
  • Description:

    Inside the church next to the leaning tower, Pisa Italy

  • 10 months ago
  • Views: 108
  • Not yet rated

• Italy 058.jpg

  • From: scpirategirl
  • Description:

    Leaning tower, Pisa Italy

  • 10 months ago
  • Views: 121
  • Not yet rated

• Leaning Tower of Pisa

  • From: wylene11
  • Description:
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 343
  • Not yet rated

• Autumn in Pisa

  • From: dni
  • Description:

    This is my second time to this quaint little town that's mobbed by the tourist during the day.  On this trip, I made it my home base between Cinque Terre, Siena, and Lucca.  Pisa doesn't have much to see besides the leaning tower, cathedral, and such.  However during my early morning walk along the Arno river, I noticed that the little town just sparkled.  Barely anyone in sight and definitely no tourists, the clouds was just breaking from a rainy night... It was wonderful. 

  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 340

• great, inexpensive accommodati

  • From: etbrown
  • Description:

    We are just back from two great weeks in Italy: the first eating and drinking our way through Emilia Romagna, the second on an agriturismo estate about 15 mintues southwest of Siena.

    Many of you probably know about agriturismo in Italy: staying on a working farm in guest accommodations ranging from simple to deluxe. Ours, www.montestigliano.it, is the most glorious place, conveniently located to explore throughout Tuscany, super comfortable, with guest support by a totally engaging and helpful English guest manager. And to top it off, the rates are unbelievable! 10 of us stayed in a 5-bedroom, 4 bath house for 1550 E for a week, total. That is the low season rate but even in high season, it's a bargain. We had breakfast in our house each day, cooked dinner in with fresh local ingredients three or four times, and ate great meals in the countryside....or Florence or Pisa or Siena...once a day.

    This is definitely worth checking out.

    By the way, there are lots of agriturismos throughout Tuscany, and really throughout Italy. Especially a lot in Chianti. While the Chianti area is totally gorgeous, it is VERY difficult for local exploring. It can take an hour or more, depending on where you stay, to get to a highway that gets you to the local sites. Staying as we did at Montestigliano, you are 5 minutes from a highway that goes north to Florence (45 minutes) or San Gimignano (30 minutes), south to Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza (45 minutes or less), northwest to Pisa (an hour plus), east to Arezzo, Cortona, etc etc etc. And you are 15 minutes from Siena. You hopefully get the picture.

    By the way, don't be scared off by "off season." We had good weather and no crowds.

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 1396
  • Not yet rated