Wed 7/17/2001
Virgin Atlantic non-stop San Francisco Int'l to London, England. Firest few days in London, then on to Paris. [view photos of London/Paris] (The photos are stored online at Ofoto - the first time, you'll have to register, but it's free (actually, they give you 15 free prints for registering!).
Wed 7/25/2001
Hola amigos!
We are in San Sebastian, Spain, and having so much fun. We started our trip in London and spent 4 days there, then to Paris, and then here. We celebrated Alan's 21st b-day last night; needless to say it was pretty wild. [view photos of Paris/San Sebastian] We are taking the train to Barcelona tonight to Ibiza. I love it here. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know that we're alive, and having the greatest time. [view photos of Ibiza/Alicante]
Sun 7/29/2001
Hey all,
Alan and I are in Alicante right now; it is so beautiful here. The water is clear and warm and amazing. The shore is lined with blue and white mosaic tile and the people are awesome. We took an overnight excursion to Ibiza the other day, and it was awesome! We will probably stay here for one more night and then take an overnight train to Barcelona where Angela is meeting us. Hope you all are having a great time. [view photos of Ibiza/Barcelona]
Sat 8/4/2001
Hey all,
We are in Rome now and headed to Venice. Rome is absolutely amazing, words cannot even begin to describe the power of this city. Angela is with us and we are having so much fun! not much time now to write, but we are safe and having a blast. Nice and the south of France was awesome. We rented scooters and mopeded our way to Monaco, it was so much fun, even though Angela killed the scooter and I ran into Alan and a car. We scooted around Rome today too, too cool. um...the ice cream in nice was to die for, Angela and I nearly died it was so good. [view photos of Nice and Rome] Angela is black and I am a peeling reptile, yuch...so is Alan. Alan is our protector, as gypsies are all around trying to steal from us. We met with this guy who's been travelling with us and he and Alan are fast friends…they're a little crazy together, but we are having a blast! [view photos of Rome and Venice]
Tue 8/7/2001
Hello all!
Well, we survived Rome and the scooters and gypsies and made our way to Venice. After hearing from multiple travelers that the campgrounds in Venice were fun for backpackers we trekked all the way to the campsite to find they were completely booked. So we took the ferry from Fusina to Venice, the ferry ride was gorgeous! We got into Venice in the late evening and stayed in a beautiful hotel. We decided to splurge after multiple days of train travel and horrid accommodations in Rome, and for Alan's last night. That night we all got dolled up, Alan Angela Carlton (Alan's new best friend) and me and strolled through the streets of Venice, experienced the most beautiful sunset with the deepest orange sun you've ever seen, and ate at a cute little cafe. After dinner we went to San Marco Square for drinks and enjoyed Asti Spumante and Grappa while listening to a live orchestra, it was absolutely amazing. Angela and I were in tears it was so perfect!
The next day we walked through city without any maps and just went where our hearts desired, it was so fun, and we fell in love with all the venetian glass and masks. We took a gondola ride and it was so relaxing, we were in heaven. After a perfect night and perfect day, we decided to eat in front of the Rialto Bridge at a cafe. Never ever, ever eat in Venice, the service and food were horrible, the waiters were purposefully mean and rude and completely ruined the love I held for Venice. I think the service in Europe in general is awful, so Angela and I decided to not ever eat in a restaurant again! We took a train to Milan that night and sat outside the Milano Train Station till 5 in the morning, put Alan in a cab, hopped on a train to the Cinque Terra and here we are now. It is beautiful here, tomorrow we are going to hike to the next city and then take a boat tour to the remaining 4 cities. The people here are much nicer, and we love it! We're going to make a picnic and get a bottle of wine and sit on the beach tonight. [view photos of Venice and Cinque Terra]
Wed 8/8/2001
Hey all,
I love the Cinque Terra. Angela and I decided today to hike to the next city. Well, all of you who know and understand my sense of direction will appreciate this. The hike started pretty crazy, a million stairs, and then somehow I missed the sign for the next city and we hiked into the middle of the mountain range sliding down rocks, clinging to vines so we wouldn't fall, blackberry bushes attacking our feet. At one point I was inching along this edge, bushes so overgrown they were pushing me over, ducking beneath the thorns and staring down twenty feet. The whole time Angela's telling me this is not normal, so then we decide to turn around because it gets too crazy, and I take the wrong turn getting back and we're circling around the cliff and we get to an avalanche area. I have no idea what was going through my mind but I was about to crawl over rocks that tumbled hundreds of feet into the ocean below and Angela finally put her foot down. Night was closing in on us and we thought we were going to get stuck in the wilderness in the night. Well, we made it back safely, scratches all up and down our legs and grime under our fingernails. It was definitely an experience.
We are headed to Interlaken tomorrow, it's supposed to be amazing. And last night we met these guys who knew Mary! How crazy…(Mary, George from Chico says hi).
Sat 8/11/2001
Hey all
We left the glorious Cinque Terra and started off to Interlaken. Unfortunately, we got into Milan too late to take the next train to Switzerland and had to stay another night in Milan. We were able to see the Duomo and it was amazing, and we got to see all the shops. We took a train yesterday into Interlaken and it was the most beautiful train ride I have ever experienced, the scenery was breathtaking. Today we are going canyoning and tomorrow we will be jumping out of a plane into the Swiss Alps. [view photos of the Swiss Alps and Interlaken]We are so excited, but a little nervous at the same time. We're planning on leaving tomorrow night to Munich. Hope all is well with everyone.
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| Above left and right taken somewhere above the Swiss Alps. Below left taken after a successful soft landing in Switzerland. | |
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Mon 8/13/2001
(photos from 42zero@gmx.net)
Hey all!
We are safe, it was amazing. Quite possibly the best experience of my entire life. We're in Munich now waiting to take a bike tour of the city and castle. Canyoning was also so much fun. We jumped off cliffs, slid through rocks and repelled down the wall of a mountain in the Alps. Angela hates me still for taking her, but we had an awesome time, an experience that will never be forgotten, Angela with a huge bruise, but we're superstars! Pics are actually of me flying out of the plane.
Wed 8/15/2001
Hey all!
Well, went to Munich after Switzerland and had fun on Mikes Bike Tours. It was a really fun way to see most of the city in one day. I'm in Prague now, and it is beautiful here, the architecture is absolutely amazing! Going to a concert in an opera house tonight and for the castle tour tomorrow. I will probably stay here for 2 more nights and then head to Amsterdam. I'll be leaving on the 20th and am so so so ready. [view photos of Munich and Prague]
Sat 8/18/2001
Hey all!
I got into Amsterdam this morning, so far not very impressed with the city. Everything is so expensive and so crowded and we spent 4 hours finding an absolute dump of a place. Gotta go, coming home in a couple days, I am so excited. Talk to y'all soon!
Sun 8/19/2001
Well, it seems that my Europe trip is approaching its end, and I am so ready. As wonderful as it has been, the travelling has taken its toll on my mind and body. Hope you all are well and I'll talk to ya soon!