Europe Part I

It occurred to me that I mentioned my trip to Europe without noting down all the interesting experiences when I came back, so I shall do the trip justice today and discuss some of the highlights before the trip's memories fade from my aging brain.

Day 1: Vancouver>Toronto>Rome....a lot of sitting but also free yummy alcohol in mini bottles!

Day 2: Rome

This was one of my dirtiest and most tiring day in my life since we didn't have an opportunity to rest or check into our hotel to wash up after two long flights. We had to go eat and sightsee in intense August heat straight off the plane.

One unfortunate family in our tour group had already lost their luggage during their rushed transferring of flights.

Though Vatican City and Rome were filled with beautiful historical structures, I was just really too exhausted and sweaty to appreciate it all. Moreover, the locals were not especially friendly...my aunt and my mom got yelled at in Italian for lightly touching the material of a purse in his store!

Day 3: Florence, Pisa & Michaelangelo Square

Pisa did not disappoint though it was psychologically draining to protect my valuables from well-known 'gypsies' while trying to shop throughout the many sidestreet vendors. I did not realize Pisa was actually just some old falling down structure made famous because Italians pay to maintain its tilted structure in order to attract tourists.

Today was also the first day I experienced paying 30 euro to go to the toilet. It is typical to have to pay to go to the washroom in Europe.

Day 4: Venice

Such beautiful scenery and buildings along the water! This was definitely one of the best days of the trip yet. We went for a boat ride along the water while listening to music and singing. I managed to capture a bit of it on video. The water was a bit dirty and smelly though...

Apparently, our restaurant where we had dinner used to be a jail in Venice. But more interestingly, I met a waiter at the restaurant who kept saying how pretty and lovely I was and planted a kiss on my cheek!

Day 5: Saltzburg, Austria


This was not one of my good days due to the uncivilized fact that huge mosquitoes were capable of flying into my hotel room the night before (although we never opened the windows!) and decided to bite me EVERYWHERE even my eyelid! So my eye was swollen for 3 days!

It was cool to visit a palace and Mozart's birthplace despite my swollen eyelid and the pouring rain.