September 19th, 2004

Oiy! I’m so annoyed at this computer. I keep trying to send emails but it won’t let me... for security reasons! So, I thought since I found this free Internet I should write on here. Holy! It’s been a long time! It’s been pretty hard to find any Internet and when we do its like 2103 Euros.

So, I’m in Italy right now! Were in Rome... oh and I cant find some keys on this Italian keyboard so don’t mind some mistakes. Anyway, yes! Italy! Unfortunately the first three days we’ve been here I was sick... I think I had something like the flu. And also... it was raining. Haha, but yesterday I fell in love with Italy again. We took a ferry to the island of Capri and it was exactly what I imagined Italy would be like. It was awesome. It’s this lovely island where the mountains just turn into a cove and the hills are full of lovely little villas. It’s awesome.

The first place we went in Italy was Pisa and I saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa. That was very cool... but also funny. I mean, its leaning! It started leaning after 25 years. Imagine how sad the architects were. But, now it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Other than the tower Pisa was a little scary! Tons of men trying to sell fake watches, glasses and Louis Vetton bags. After that we went to Florence and I saw Michelangelo's David, which was probably one of the highlights of this trip for me.

Today we went to St. Peters Square and into St Peters Basilica. Did you know that Vatican was its own country? I didn’t! That’s crazy, I think. Anyway, I saw where the pope lives and also in St Peters we saw Michelangelo's Pieta! It was very beautiful... and that whole basilica is incredible. Unbelievable actually. Tomorrow morning we're headed to the Sistine Chapel. That is what I've been most excited about so I'm pumped!

Well, I wanted to write something to Steph and Ern here since I can't seem to send email. Hey girls! Did you guys buy Eurorail passes? Which one did you get? And about meeting... you fly in on the 1st right? Mom and I are going to be in London then so maybe you could just come to our hotel? Mom said you could sleep there if you want. That’s what we did when we flew in so maybe you’ll want to too. Anyway, let me know what you’re thinking or where you want to go when you get in, but just so you know were going to be right in London and we could meet you or you could take the Tube to our hotel! Ohh boy! I can't wait to see you!

Ok... I’m outta here! I'd like to write more... like, for example, this bus tour is the funniest thing in the world. I’m the youngest person on this tour and I would say that average age is probably hmm... maybe 55. Haha, somewhere around there. And some nights we go out to dinner and there's as much of any alcoholic drink you want. So, imagine a group of 48 people, average age 55, getting hammered! Its the funniest thing...we went to this one restaurant in Nice where at the end of the meal they served this alcohol that you drank in shots. So, here is this 60 something year old man standing up, with everyone cheering him on, doing a shot. I guess you have to know this man... no a shot drinker. Haha. It’s been pretty fun, but I am excited to drink with people my own age.

Wait, I guess I can write more... I forget when I wrote last but basically what we’ve done so far on this trip is travel from England across the English Channel to France where we went to Paris which I really liked. Oh, the Seine River is beautiful! And the Eiffel Tower was awesome! We left Paris and went to Biarritz, which is the best surf place in Europe! I walked around in the Atlantic Ocean, in France! Oh, and on a side note women go topless here on the beaches. Well, in France and Spain they did.

We left France and headed to Spain. Ohh... I really liked Spain a lot. We went to Madrid, which had a lot of fountains and to Barcelona, which was awesome! It has this huge, long street where people stay out sitting in cafes, walking, and hanging out all night! They have siestas in Spain (where shops and cafes close down so people can go chill out for a few hours in the afternoon) and then stores stay open until about 830. Very cool! And then we headed to Nice, which was pretty nice and also to Monaco, which was crazy! Oh man, what money can buy! And then from there we headed to Italy! The trip has been getting better with every day. There's just so much to see... it’s unreal.

Well, I gotta get going but thanks for the emails everyone and I hope you're all doing well!