Sike- I had to rub in the ‘cliff’ jumping.

I actually went twice. Once while the Fs and locals watched… and another time completely by myself while only other tourists watched (I traveled to the Liguarian Coast by myself for one night so I really had no other choice and this ledge looked to jump-off-able, plus I knew so many people would be watching the extremely white girl jump that they could help if needed)

Here are the pics. The first is from Livorno on the Med (I mentioned already) and the next is from the 4th of the Cinque Terre on the Liguria Sea. I could only take the picture of the scene and not the actual jump, but hopefully you can picture it.

Now that is all. I will see you stateside soon. I visit Kasi’s first father tomorrow before my flight across the pond. I even get to watch a German futball game with him!

All 26 found!

S, A dragon enhanced light in Volterra. Volterra was my favorite Tuscan city besides the little town we stayed in. It had many fun, interesting little ‘touches’ like this dragon all over the city.

T- I really wanted to find my T in Volterra because of Twilight (you see, it begins with a T). I know what you’re thinking and that is completely fine with me! I’m pretty excited that I have not only seen Forks but also Volterra. For most of you out there that have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s ok. You either get it or you don’t. And if you get it, you like it or you don’t. I get it and like it. So with out anymore delay…

T is for Twilight in volTerra. Like I said before Volterra, the Alabaster City, was my favorite Tuscan city and I thought it was pretty interesting to see these ‘old school’ (in American terms) TV antennas all over the sky line. Interesting because ‘we’ think that might be ugly as tourists, but it shows that this city is still lived in and is not a tourist destination to many. It also proves my point that it will take a very long time before high definition takes over the world.

U and V – these two are both staged, but I had to give tribute to the pizza and wine. In case you can’t find the U, it’s the glass (the nice red wine glasses were already being used by other tenants, but i bet you get the point). For those of you wine experts out there, did you notice the rooster label? Fireball actually bought this bottle, but I helped drink it. It is sitting on the table where we spent many hours outside our apartment overlooking the olive grove and vineyard.

This V was taken from my first meal in Italy and it turned out to be one of my favorite. I ate at this same place two more times!

W – from the Duomo of Siena, the most amazing cathedral I saw. Period. I hope to write an entire update on my day in Siena. We were in Siena during the time of the Palio, a famous horse race that has been a tradition for hundreds of years.

X – as seen on the trail between the Cinque Terre (‘five cities’ in Italian).

If you have really good eyes, the same trail from the same angle is seen in the following picture. Amazing scene, huh?

Y – a Statue outside the Archaeological Museum of Tuscany in Castellina in Chianti, the little town we stayed in.

Z – On the Albatros I, a ferry I took to access Isola Palmeria from mainland Italy in the Ligurian Sea.

And now I know my ABCs, next time won’t you sing (dance, travel, laugh, cry) with me.

Due to time constraints and internet access, this will be my last update in this time zone. I will write a few more when I get home about my day in Siena, Cinque Terre, etc. I will see you soon!

A small update from Italy

I decided to take a day trip by myself outside of Tuscany and the hotel has free internet! I will not write long because there is much to see, nor will I post any pics!

Here are some facts of my Italian/Tuscan adventure so far.

I went cliff jumping in the Mediteranean. Technically, it was just a tall jumping point (just slightly bigger than the top of Mountain Gravel for those of you lucky enough to understand that reference)... but I will consider it cliff jumping because everyone around me was local and even my friends did not do it with me... so that adds about 20m to the jump. And it was in the Med Sea which is extra bonus points. One of the best experiences so far.

I know that blowing bubbles is an international language. I made friends for life because I entertained a French toddler that was staying next door in our Tuscan apartment with bubble solution and a bubble wand.

Nav was the way to go in Tuscany. My Auburn friend in NB was right, the streets are tiny and very (very) windy and hilly. I have had some of the best runs of my life due to the scenery and topography.

There are no vampires, that I saw at least, in Volterra.... damn.

I eat gelato at least once a day.

Americans eat more pizza than Italians and I do not understand why because it is leaps-and-bounds better here. (OK OK, there was one spot near the Brooklyn Bridge that is comparible)

I have yet to find olives in olive oil in cans, so my 'souvineres' had to change. Do not worry Roomy, I think you will still like it.

I want a Vespa even more than before.

Lightning, a Hamsterville friend, told me about Cinque Terre so that is where I am currently. I have not seen any of them yet but I am about to catch a train.

Ciao

This just in

We are not bringing a computer with us to Italy. If I get a little internet time, I hope to write something, but I will not be posting any pics. I will have S-Z when I get back to Germany, then I only have a few days until I fly home. "See" you next week!

Stinky cheese man

No one caught that I didn’t actually post a P with my last update, including me. I am actually glad about this because the P I was going to use is subpar to the one I took today.

This is pic is self explanatory once you know the P is the flag. It was actually pretty comical. We looked for Karl Marx house for quite a while. We finally asked a shopowner and she basically just pointed 3 doors down and to this flag. Ha. If it was a snake it would have bitten us just about 4 times.

Q- taken in a German Beer Garden where I drank my new favorite drink: a rattle snake. YUM! Everyone please plan on drinking one with me because the ingredients are found all over the US as well.

R – I know I know, this is not very interesting but I wanted to document my favorite place in Luxemburg (where we went instead of Holland, though we hope to go to Holland after Italy). This was taken in a very cute and very yummy little café in the Neideranven district. Next door is where I purchased the most rank cheese I have ever smelled. It took us about 15 minutes to realize where the smell was coming from. O. M. G. Multiply stankass socks to the 32nd power and you might understand. I think after this experience with ‘fine’ French cheese has proven that I need to enter in the shallow and maybe swim very (very very) slowly to the ‘fine’ cheese deep end. I have been told it’s an acquired taste.

That is about it. We are relaxing, organizing and packing for Italy. We leave tomorrow!

Oh yes- I have bought a really cute pair of pants that I love even more because they are a size 2! I love European sizing, it doesn’t remind me that I won’t be able to fit into my jeans when I return. J I hope to be able to update from Italy, but I make no promises.

You can take the girl out of NB but you can’t take NB out of the girl

Today was a great Germarkable day (I do like melting words together, don’t I?). We were planning on taking a boat tour to see castles from the Rhine but we woke up to typical Hamsterville fall weather: misty, foggish, and chilly. Terrible weather to view distant structures! Fireball decided it would be a good day to take a historical tour of the town she currently lives in and also visit our hometown’s origin: Braunfels, Germany.

This is one pronoun I can not ignore. In 1845 Prince Carl Solms from Braunfels, Germany founded New Braunfels, Texas and I am one of many river-rats that have visited the mothership. It was everything I pictured and more! Braunfels is a quaint little German town nestled in a region that looks exactly like the Texas Hill Country. I even had my first German made apple strudel here! Lecker!

Then it was time to tour the Castle. The people responsible for the tour are not the biggest fans of English-only-speakers so I had many watchful eyes on me, but I managed to ‘steal’ two quick pictures from inside the castle. Please note that I risked loosing my hand or camera for this picture and I just love it. Out of all the armor, posh antique furniture, and famous art, I decided to take a picture of the stained glass window that had SOLMS and the family crest. I also took a picture of Carl himself (but that is not making the blog, just the private memory album).

Then we went to a different town for a celebration, though I have not figured out what it honored. Let’s just say it was the closest thing I have had to Wurstfest (ten day salute to sausage festival in New Braunfels every November) in over 5 years. It was amazing. Potatoes pancakes, bratwurst and beer… what more could a girl ask for? Oh yes, I know! An amazing fireworks show over the Rhine with a castle and ships all around. Could this day get any better? Yep- while the fireworks went off, the band played La-la-la-la-bomba, and Glory-glory-halleluiah (his truth is marching on…).

Tomorrow we’re taking a day trip to Holland then we're off to Italy midweek. I have had issues uploading pics and I'm not sure of the internet availability in Italy (FYI).

Elle Emin Opee

L
This one is ‘left over’ from Prague and is the West Entrance to St. Charles’ Bridge.

M
Is found in the ceiling of a church in Andernach, the town Fireball lives in. The church was built in the mid 1200s. It is the first church I have seen the inside of in Europe. One of F’s friends attends here (thus the reason I thought it was ok to walk in since the friend was with us). There is another story of this same woman in ‘O’.

N
When I think of Germany, I picture fachwerk houses. Fachwerk is constructional design of a house that is from medial times with cross word work This N was found in the main center of Braunfels, Germany. An entire update will be dedicated to this town. Check back later.

O
One of Fireball’s good friends is a direct descendant of one of the oldest families in Andernach (second oldest town in Germany). The shop she owns has been in her family for over 300 years and is the oldest store of its kind in Germany. She even lives in the castle’s wall! Her mother is the last candle-master in Germany (though the shop doesn’t sell candles, which I find odd). This O is the front door to the house she lived in as a girl and was also the storefront’s door for many (many) years. Even though I have found many O’s, I thought this one had a good story.