Ponte vecchi...what...o

So this is the famous bridge in Florence, Ponte Vecchio. This bridge is very beautiful and has very cute shops. This bridge is close to the main shopping street and is near the 'old castle'. I really enjoyed Florence because it was what I imagine Venice would have been like.
 My exchange group and I went up to the highest hill in Florence and over looked the entire city. It was the most amazing site, we then went to big giant church theCattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Its in the shape of a cross and it has the biggest dome, well it was at the time it was built.

Elephant Columns

There are these columns with ancient Egyptian writing on them. I asked our tour guide what it an why it there were these pillars. She told us a story about Caesar and Cleopatra.
This particular pillar is near the Pantheon, its in the background. I really liked this one because it was detailed and the elephant was just too cute. In Rome, there are a couple of them around, its a bit like a scavenger hunt.

Trevi What, Trevi Who

The Trevi Fountain is so pretty. No! Like really its. I promise, throwing a coin into the fountain is a magical experience and it is very crowded. It's like a race to get to the front of the fountain to make a wish, it's kinda like Disneyland it takes a bit of time but the moments you are there its amazing.
The sculptures are spectacular and I can't believe that they were built thousands of years ago. There's so much going on in the fountain that when I went to the fountain the first time I was amazed and it was very overwhelming. It was, maybe, my third day in Italy and it was just spectacular. When I went with my mom at the end of my trip and I found things that I hadn't seen before. If I could I would go back to all the places I had went, I would hope to see all of the things that I had missed the first time.

There's a hole in the sky!!

 The Pantheon: the building with a giant hole in the ceiling. Don't get me wrong it's a beautiful building and there's lots of things to see, mainly dead people. The outside is magnificent and when you walk down to it -because it is built to the original ground level- it just gets bigger and bigger. The columns out front are very tall and you wonder 'how did people in ancient times build these things.'
Anyway the main thing is that there's a giant hole in the ceiling. There's no glass covering it and when it rains, well you get rained on if you stand under it. Literally the building is a round building with a whole in the top and I don't think there are any other doors that lead to rooms. It's pretty cool.

Did you lock the door

I have a weird fascination with old doors and locks. I believe that this lock was in Versailles. I love doors and locks because in the U.S. we usually don't have the history to have interestingly old locks and we also don't have the beautiful tall old doors that have seen so much. Locks have been man handled and have the most interesting stories like who has lived in the biulding, has anyone tried to break in and what has happened on the street in front of building. 

This lock probably doesn't have to worry on if someone was going to break in because it's on an inside door, but I wonder who opened the door or who had locked it and with what secrets did they lock with it.

Ben's Eye

I got to met the legend...Big Ben. I wanted to see Big Ben but it just didn't work into my schedule, well that was until my mom and I decided to go and see Westminster Abby. We get out of the Underground and BOOM! there he is. It was truly amazing. Once we were done in Westminster Abby it was dark outside and he was all lights, and a bonus with the London Eye in the background. This picture just made my London trip complete.

Gold, Gold and um more Gold

I loved these gates. These gates are what guards the amazing Versailles. I look like an ant compared to that palace and these gates. The palace was amazing, sadly non of the furniture in the palace belonged to any of the royal family's that had lived there. I didn't know anything about Versailles but taking the tour really let me learn a lot about all of the rooms and what would have been in those rooms, they made furniture that would be true to the century but it didn't give that feel of aw for me personally because I want to touch something and think who has touched this curtain or had walked on these floor. Still the palace is covered in gold, like literally the outside is almost made of gold.

Jewels and Beefeaters

So this is my new friend Mr. Beefeater. I have no idea why they are called beefeater but they are very nice. This was taken out front of the Tower of London. The Tower of London was very interesting and the crown jewels were quiet stunning. It's a once in a life time sight.

Trains here, there, everywhere?

The lovely Rome train station! If you have never been to a big train station like this one (like I had not) its overwhelming. There is some much going on and so many people you really need to be aware, not like its in the ghetto but still with that many people you should always be aware. Anyways, have to get the safety tip out of the way, its really exciting. I was very excited when I first went because leaving Rome meant I went to my host family which was the most exciting part. The sad thing with leaving is that I was leaving my friends and beautiful Rome.

Comment on a big train station you've been to and how it was like!

the Arc de Vatican

So this is on the side of the Vatican on a kind of side street but it is really cool to see because its kind of the protecting wall for the Vatican when the Vatican would be under attack. These walls are as old as the Vatican it's self but I think the Vatican was been preserved better than these walls.

So breathe taking and just an amazing thing to see, the Vatican is. It's in the middle of everything and like the Colosseum is something you have to see.

Promise I will post more about the Vatican soon!

First things first...

Missing the great city of Rome and all that is has to offer. The Colosseum is one of the most beautiful landmarks I've had the pleasure of seeing. It's seriously one of those things that's one of those hings you have to see.

Rome is just a great city it was the first city that I got to see in Italy. It was a very nice welcome to all of the food and all of the people. I can't wait to go again!

Eiffel Madness

Picture perfect! My mum took this picture so I'm just going to steal it from her, she wont mind. Paris is truly a beautiful city, maybe not my vibe but it is very pretty. The town is breathe taking and stunning. Plus the food is amazing.

Memories

Our view from the hotel in Rome. To be honest writing about all of the great fun I've had. This journey has been the best adventure I've ever had and probably never will have this amount of fun doing it. This blog post won't be as exciting but I need to get it all out.

If your thinking about doing something like this I encourage you to go for it because there might not be another time to get to travel. When you have time to travel, go for it.

Comment if you have any questions or just tell me where you would love to go!