Napoli
Well, we spent days 3-5 in and around Napoli. Considering days 3 and 5 were spent on our two hour train ride! I absolutely love the train, something about traveling by train and seeing the land is the best thing to me. I just wish there were more trains available to take in the United States especially in and around MN.
So Napoli the city itself wasn't that appealing. Gino's pizza was fantastic plus the Christmas street, it is Christmas all year in this street. But you will see many chilly pepper ordiments because they are good for boosting fertility in a couple. But I did need to be careful to watch where I stepped because there is a huge population of stray dogs, which means their business is all over the streets along with the trash, John compared it to Queens, New York....but I strongly recommend staying at Giovanni's hostel. It is in the perfect location plus Giovanni himself was wonderful! He gave us a short history lesson along with writing up colorful map with the places to see and the mafia area's to avoid, he even made us dinner once with a cooking lesson!
Outside of Napoli, we traveled to the island of Capri. It was beautiful! The water was this indigo blue color and just beautiful! When we got back to the hostel after our trip to Capri, Giovanni invited us to eat lunch with him and a few others in the hostel! His pasta was delicious!
That evening we met two girls, Cate and Bekah, from the USA as well but they are studying in France. We went out for gelato and chatted with them and walked along the pier/coast the view was breath taking!
The next outing we made was to the Volcano Vesssss and Pompeii which was one of the cities covered by ash after the volcano exploded. We got the opportunity to climb up and look into the volcano, sadly it didn't have any lave bubbling all we saw was rocks and some steam. I was a bit disappointed. We travel to the volcano with Denis, he was staying at our hostel with us and he is from London.
Pompeii was amazing! There was so much history and to see the city, bodies, homes after the explosion was a interesting experience. The homes, kitchens, streets in Pompeii were so modern and I could see things that that we still use in our homes today.
Well back to Rome tomorrow! Tata till later <3
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
People you meet along the way...
While traveling in Italy I had the opportunity to meet new people from all around the world. The funny part is that some of these people gave me the feeling that I have met them before but getting to learn about them and what they want to do in their life or is doing was a wonderful experience.
Giovanni, the owner of our second hostel in Napoli. You could tell he has a passion for Napoli, even though it isn't the city he grew up in. He knows so many stories, fun places to see and were one must eat. Giovanni is also generally sincere and worries about our safety. He talked to us about safety in the city, sets a curfew so we won't be out when the city isn't safe, and he just takes the time to get to know you and what you enjoy seeing so he can find something we would want to see.
The American group, we met this couple of older tourist on our way home from Pompeii. The husband was so friendly. He was very interested in the fact that we are exchange students in Lithuania. This couple was from MN, with a daughter attending St. Olaf, just shows how small of a world we live in.
Cate and Becca, these two girls were in the same hostel as us. They kept reminding me of somebody back home. Like Cate had that same personality, same way of speaking and very friendly.
Traveling has opened my eyes to realize that you meet so many different people from different countries. Not only in Italy have I had the opportunity to meet new people. In Lithuania I have gotten the chance not only to meet people but be welcomed into their lives like a member of their family. I have been very blessed to have been given this opportunity and I will be sad to see it come to an end.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Rome!
Rome!
Over the last week I spent some time in Rome, Italy. Actually April 28-30th and May 3-5th. Then a few days in Napoli, Italy.
Wow, Rome is just beautiful. The first day we arrived we went to our hostel, which was like only four blocks from the Colosseum! Perfect walking distance! The hostel wasn't to bad either, it was more like an apartment and we just got one room of the apartment. Although the shower was a tad bit cold.
On day two, we went walking and exploring the entire city. We saw so much, we walked for like twelve hours, I'm pretty sure John was ready to kill me because I just kept going and having more places for us to see. We saw the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, and a ton more! Plus we ate delicious foods!
Day three, we went out and explored some more. It was raining today which put a damper on our ability to explore which is okay because we took a train to Napolis that afternoon and got to see the scenery such as mountain like hills and more farm lands. It was just beautiful! Plus just I love taking the train!
Until later, I am now off to explore again.
Over the last week I spent some time in Rome, Italy. Actually April 28-30th and May 3-5th. Then a few days in Napoli, Italy.
Wow, Rome is just beautiful. The first day we arrived we went to our hostel, which was like only four blocks from the Colosseum! Perfect walking distance! The hostel wasn't to bad either, it was more like an apartment and we just got one room of the apartment. Although the shower was a tad bit cold.
On day two, we went walking and exploring the entire city. We saw so much, we walked for like twelve hours, I'm pretty sure John was ready to kill me because I just kept going and having more places for us to see. We saw the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, and a ton more! Plus we ate delicious foods!
Day three, we went out and explored some more. It was raining today which put a damper on our ability to explore which is okay because we took a train to Napolis that afternoon and got to see the scenery such as mountain like hills and more farm lands. It was just beautiful! Plus just I love taking the train!
Until later, I am now off to explore again.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Holiday in Šiauliai
Holiday in Šiauliai
From Thursday until Saturday, I visited Šiauliai and spent the end of my spring holiday there with John, another exchange student.
During this visit we had many adventures plus it was warm enough for me to wear shorts the entire time! On Thursday I took a trail the three hours up to Šiauliai arriving just in time for lunch! After lunch we decided to visit the hill of crosses. Like 10-15km outside of town....we decided it would work best to just bike this distance. To bad one bike had a bent tire and the other bike had no air in the tiers. After 30 min of attempting to pump air into the tires we figure we can probably get air at a gas station. We ended up going to a bike shop and it took the employee like two minutes to fill both tiers. It was a fail on our part. After this we set out on our way, we made it there in an hour. The hill of crosses was amazing, it looks so small but in reality it isn't. There are big crosses, small crosses and medium sized crosses. I even got to put my own cross out there!
On Friday, personally I was so so so sore from biking. All over my body hurt. But John invited some of his friends over and we played card games and then beach volleyball! It was perfect weather for this! After volleyball we all took a walk down by the lake, the water was a bit chilly but not bad at all. Down by the lake I taught them how to play Spud, it is a game from my childhood, except instead of spelling out SPUD we used the word ASILAS which means donkey in Lithuanian.
Well that's most of my holiday, have a splendid Easter!
From Thursday until Saturday, I visited Šiauliai and spent the end of my spring holiday there with John, another exchange student.
During this visit we had many adventures plus it was warm enough for me to wear shorts the entire time! On Thursday I took a trail the three hours up to Šiauliai arriving just in time for lunch! After lunch we decided to visit the hill of crosses. Like 10-15km outside of town....we decided it would work best to just bike this distance. To bad one bike had a bent tire and the other bike had no air in the tiers. After 30 min of attempting to pump air into the tires we figure we can probably get air at a gas station. We ended up going to a bike shop and it took the employee like two minutes to fill both tiers. It was a fail on our part. After this we set out on our way, we made it there in an hour. The hill of crosses was amazing, it looks so small but in reality it isn't. There are big crosses, small crosses and medium sized crosses. I even got to put my own cross out there!
On Friday, personally I was so so so sore from biking. All over my body hurt. But John invited some of his friends over and we played card games and then beach volleyball! It was perfect weather for this! After volleyball we all took a walk down by the lake, the water was a bit chilly but not bad at all. Down by the lake I taught them how to play Spud, it is a game from my childhood, except instead of spelling out SPUD we used the word ASILAS which means donkey in Lithuanian.
Well that's most of my holiday, have a splendid Easter!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Final Family!
Final Family
Well on Tuesday the 19th of April, I moved to what should be my third and final family.
I am now living with my counselors family. Which is good because I feel at home already. For those who are unaware, I have lived with my counselors family a few times for the past few months while my second family was out of the country.
This family consist of a mom and dad, a nine year old son and a twelve year old daughter plus a pet turtle.
I am happy at this family and very comfortable, I even got to peel potatoes yesterday.
Peace out!
Well on Tuesday the 19th of April, I moved to what should be my third and final family.
I am now living with my counselors family. Which is good because I feel at home already. For those who are unaware, I have lived with my counselors family a few times for the past few months while my second family was out of the country.
This family consist of a mom and dad, a nine year old son and a twelve year old daughter plus a pet turtle.
I am happy at this family and very comfortable, I even got to peel potatoes yesterday.
Peace out!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Rome and Juliet!
Romeo and Juliet!
Wow! So I had the opportunity to attend my second ballet and I jus loved it! Me and Jūratė, my second host mom, went to Romeo and Juliet on 4/20.
Before Romeo and Juliet we went and saw this collection of dresses. There were two different collections. One from the Victorian Age and another from the Fashion Age, 1920's-1930's.
The Fashion Age dresses were most interesting to me, because I recently presented a project on the 1920's and how their fashion changes so dramatically and how you can still see some of those changes nowadays. Although my favorite was the Victorian Age, these dresses were just magnificent and ladies during this time period were TINY! Their waist and arms and feet were just so so tiny it looked uncomfortable. Plus their shoes, very narrow and small. I laughed at them because I just know my feet would never have fit into those shoes. NEVER! I have very wide and big feet so I would not have lasted long during the Victorian Age.
After the dress collection we went for salads because we had a little under an hour before the ballet. To bad it takes salads about an hour to be made.... Like seriously how can a salad take around an hour? So instead we just decided we would come back after our ballet to eat the salad.
The ballet was beautiful but long. It was over 3 hours! But worth every minute of it! The dancers did an amazing job and were beautiful and incredible. We had front row seats and if you ever go to a ballet I recommended front row seats, you see everything and how well built the dancers are. For me it is interesting because next month I will have the opportunity to visit Juliet's balcony while I'm in Verona.
All in all, this was a beautiful performance and the theater, opera and ballets are something everyone should experience.
Viso!
Wow! So I had the opportunity to attend my second ballet and I jus loved it! Me and Jūratė, my second host mom, went to Romeo and Juliet on 4/20.
Before Romeo and Juliet we went and saw this collection of dresses. There were two different collections. One from the Victorian Age and another from the Fashion Age, 1920's-1930's.
The Fashion Age dresses were most interesting to me, because I recently presented a project on the 1920's and how their fashion changes so dramatically and how you can still see some of those changes nowadays. Although my favorite was the Victorian Age, these dresses were just magnificent and ladies during this time period were TINY! Their waist and arms and feet were just so so tiny it looked uncomfortable. Plus their shoes, very narrow and small. I laughed at them because I just know my feet would never have fit into those shoes. NEVER! I have very wide and big feet so I would not have lasted long during the Victorian Age.
After the dress collection we went for salads because we had a little under an hour before the ballet. To bad it takes salads about an hour to be made.... Like seriously how can a salad take around an hour? So instead we just decided we would come back after our ballet to eat the salad.
The ballet was beautiful but long. It was over 3 hours! But worth every minute of it! The dancers did an amazing job and were beautiful and incredible. We had front row seats and if you ever go to a ballet I recommended front row seats, you see everything and how well built the dancers are. For me it is interesting because next month I will have the opportunity to visit Juliet's balcony while I'm in Verona.
All in all, this was a beautiful performance and the theater, opera and ballets are something everyone should experience.
Viso!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Spring in The Air!
Spring has come!
Wow! It is spring here in Lithuania and am I glad! It comes to that point during winter when I start to wonder, is this ever going to end!?! I love the snow, well actually I like it mostly for snowboarding and skiing. Sadly I didn't get a chance to get out at all this season. But I am planning to make up for that next season!
Winter though, is dark compared to a winter in Minnesota. In Minnesota you can usually count on having sunny yet bitterly cold days. While in Lithuania winters are dark and cloudy, it isn't like the sun doesn't rise because it does, there is just usually always overcast covering the sun. Luckily for me I am used to those Minnesota cold winters but it sure does make me miss those sunny summer days and evenings.
Spring, so far, though has been beautiful! The sun is shining almost daily, no constant overcast and no sun for a few months. We have had a few rainy days but it doesn't seem to last long and usually clears up by mid day just in time for my lessons to be over! But these weather men are predicting rain for the next THREE days! Yuck! I better find my umbrella, I packed it when I switched families and now I just don't remember where I packed it.
Have a bright day!
Wow! It is spring here in Lithuania and am I glad! It comes to that point during winter when I start to wonder, is this ever going to end!?! I love the snow, well actually I like it mostly for snowboarding and skiing. Sadly I didn't get a chance to get out at all this season. But I am planning to make up for that next season!
Winter though, is dark compared to a winter in Minnesota. In Minnesota you can usually count on having sunny yet bitterly cold days. While in Lithuania winters are dark and cloudy, it isn't like the sun doesn't rise because it does, there is just usually always overcast covering the sun. Luckily for me I am used to those Minnesota cold winters but it sure does make me miss those sunny summer days and evenings.
Spring, so far, though has been beautiful! The sun is shining almost daily, no constant overcast and no sun for a few months. We have had a few rainy days but it doesn't seem to last long and usually clears up by mid day just in time for my lessons to be over! But these weather men are predicting rain for the next THREE days! Yuck! I better find my umbrella, I packed it when I switched families and now I just don't remember where I packed it.
Have a bright day!
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