Dear Home:
So Three days after my intended date departure, a few rude ticketing agents, and many hours on a train later, I arrived in Frankfurt last night at about 11:30. My Hostel was luckily across the street from the train station, with hot showers, free wi-fi and a 24 hour bar. A necessary reprieve from the grueling day behind me.
When I arrived at the train station early Monday morning, the first ticketing agent I spoke to, was even less helpful than the one on Friday. After trying to explain that there had been a mistake with the computer system and my seat had been double booked, he proceeded to tell me that there was no way to get into Germany on Monday, let alone Frankfurt.
I left disgruntled but not defeated. I crossed the hall to the OTHER ticketing office and approached another agent. I may have exaggerated my situation, saying that my flight left Tuesday and I HAD to be in Frankfurt as soon as possible (which is basically true), but I got my way. Two regional trains to Basel, Switzerland (where there was absolutely no passport control whatsoever) and then I was on my 3 hours ride to Frankfurt. I met two sisters from Indianapolis who were very nice. They are travelling around Europe with a Eurorail pass. We parted ways at Basel.
Today my plan is to take a train in a few hours up to Kassel where I will meet Franzisca, my couchsurfing host, and tomorrow I will do most of my filming. Thursday I will try to get my interview at the museum and then head back to Frankfurt and Friday I fly out.
France exhausted me so much. I am reluctant to say that I disliked it because it is such a beautiful city, but I was never more relieved than when I pulled into Basel and heard German and saw the beautiful German countryside on the train up to Frankfurt. Feels so much like home here.
Can't wait to be in my own bed in about 4 days.
Pictures later.
Em
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Changing plans and a nervous nancy
Dear Home:
Sorry about the wait. I've been otherwise occupied with interesting and intriguing tales of adventure, awkward advances, and arrondisements.
Friday morning after a relatively long night's sleep (10:30 to 10, yes!), I left the apartment to go walk around Jardin du Luxembourg. Very pretty and saw the Palais and fountain. A little touristy but on the outskirts of the park are a lot of locals, fitting in a morning run, match of tennis or some balancing tai chi.
I then "metro-ed" up to Gare de L'Est to inquire about my ticket from Paris to Frankfurt. Nothing for Saturday, nothing for Sunday. Great...but wait! Tonight at 10 p.m. I can go to Stuttgart and at 6 a.m. head from Stuttgart to Frankfurt. I'm in.
So then I make my to Sacre Coeur, stopping to film libraries along the way. Sacre Coeur, while being a pretty touristy destination, is also amazingly beautiful. The highest place in Paris, one can see for miles all around. I went inside the church and lit a candle for Grandpa Ralph and Grandpa Art. I'm not catholic and neither were they but prayer has no denomination.
I captured some film footage from the top of the Dome and just sat to absorb the feeling of being at the top of the world.
Then I headed to Notre Dame and the National library for some more footage and personal pictures. As I walked along the Seine to see the Louvre, I realized how incredibly massive it is. I think it literally stretches for at least an entire kilometer, if not more! Took some pictures in front of the pyramid and all around the perimeter. But I had to be back by 8 so that I could get into the apartment so I didn't linger. I'll be back though to go into the museum. I'm sure of it.
Back at the apartment I said goodbye to Katie and prepared to leave. I took my bags to the Eiffel tower for some pics but left soon. It was so crowded and I'm pretty sure that even though I haven't gained any extra luggage, my pack is increasing in weight.
At the train station, mere minutes before the train leaves, as is Emily's luck, I find that my seat has been double booked. Since the other person was travelling with family and I was alone, I thought it only chivalrous to allow them to have the seat and book another train sometime later. HOwever at this point the ticketing office was closed (and as I found out yesterday, doesn't open to til MOnday, I'm stuck in Paris for the weekend. Luckily, Katie graciously allowed me to stay for a few extra nights so I'm not stuck in the airport like last time.
Emily's having the best luck, aren't I?
Yesterday, Katie, her friend-Rachel-from Georgia, and I went to a local's park and walked around. I now know why Parisien women are freaking skinny: they walk around mountain and climb a skyscraper's worth of stairs each day. My legs are gonna be ripped when I get back.
Katie made a really great Vegetable-Mint stir fry. Delicious! And then we chatted over wine for a few hours. This morning, Sunday, was a lazy start and I've been popping in and out of cafes to do work, LSAT prep, and just relax. Unfortunately it is redonkously hot outside and thus I've been cooling off with Strawberry juice. Mmmmmm.
Sorry about the wait. I've been otherwise occupied with interesting and intriguing tales of adventure, awkward advances, and arrondisements.
Friday morning after a relatively long night's sleep (10:30 to 10, yes!), I left the apartment to go walk around Jardin du Luxembourg. Very pretty and saw the Palais and fountain. A little touristy but on the outskirts of the park are a lot of locals, fitting in a morning run, match of tennis or some balancing tai chi.
I then "metro-ed" up to Gare de L'Est to inquire about my ticket from Paris to Frankfurt. Nothing for Saturday, nothing for Sunday. Great...but wait! Tonight at 10 p.m. I can go to Stuttgart and at 6 a.m. head from Stuttgart to Frankfurt. I'm in.
So then I make my to Sacre Coeur, stopping to film libraries along the way. Sacre Coeur, while being a pretty touristy destination, is also amazingly beautiful. The highest place in Paris, one can see for miles all around. I went inside the church and lit a candle for Grandpa Ralph and Grandpa Art. I'm not catholic and neither were they but prayer has no denomination.
I captured some film footage from the top of the Dome and just sat to absorb the feeling of being at the top of the world.
Then I headed to Notre Dame and the National library for some more footage and personal pictures. As I walked along the Seine to see the Louvre, I realized how incredibly massive it is. I think it literally stretches for at least an entire kilometer, if not more! Took some pictures in front of the pyramid and all around the perimeter. But I had to be back by 8 so that I could get into the apartment so I didn't linger. I'll be back though to go into the museum. I'm sure of it.
Back at the apartment I said goodbye to Katie and prepared to leave. I took my bags to the Eiffel tower for some pics but left soon. It was so crowded and I'm pretty sure that even though I haven't gained any extra luggage, my pack is increasing in weight.
At the train station, mere minutes before the train leaves, as is Emily's luck, I find that my seat has been double booked. Since the other person was travelling with family and I was alone, I thought it only chivalrous to allow them to have the seat and book another train sometime later. HOwever at this point the ticketing office was closed (and as I found out yesterday, doesn't open to til MOnday, I'm stuck in Paris for the weekend. Luckily, Katie graciously allowed me to stay for a few extra nights so I'm not stuck in the airport like last time.
Emily's having the best luck, aren't I?
Yesterday, Katie, her friend-Rachel-from Georgia, and I went to a local's park and walked around. I now know why Parisien women are freaking skinny: they walk around mountain and climb a skyscraper's worth of stairs each day. My legs are gonna be ripped when I get back.
Katie made a really great Vegetable-Mint stir fry. Delicious! And then we chatted over wine for a few hours. This morning, Sunday, was a lazy start and I've been popping in and out of cafes to do work, LSAT prep, and just relax. Unfortunately it is redonkously hot outside and thus I've been cooling off with Strawberry juice. Mmmmmm.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Frustrated in Paris
Dear Home,
I hate to say it but stereotypes exist for a reason. Just like there do exist a lot of loud and obnoxious Americans (though it most certainly doesn't apply to everyone), there also exists a lot of rude and mean people in France (though it doesn't apply to everyone). Nearly every Parisian or French person I've come into contact with has been rude. It was a bit disheartening at first as an American who actually wants to try to learn about the culture as much as possible. This morning, I even wanted to cry, but that was also from a bit of lack of sleep.
Let me fill you in...
After a sleepless night on Tuesday, I got up Wednesday, had breakfast and said goodbye to Aydan and Sara and hit the train station. A pretty uneventful ride from Rome to Milan. I got a sandwich and transferred trains. My seat mate was a very nice Egyptian man who lives in Italy and was going to visit his brother in Paris. Okay, yes I made up a story about being married and having a daughter because he was coming on a little strong and that seemed to ease the situation.
I had hoped to start sleeping on the train right away and sleep all the way to Paris but then we hit the Alps and they were freaking insane. Next time I'm here, I'm staying in Switzerland near in the Alps. Stunning.
Well about 10:15 rolls around and the speaker overhead says something garbled in French, of which I pick up on, "Lyon" and "Paris". Wanting to be sure that it was "Gare du Lyon" that I heard, which was my stop in the city of Paris and not just "Lyon" which is a city two hours AWAY from Paris, I asked the conductor and he nodded and said yes and shuffled me off the train.
So I was thinking that I was set.
Then I realize that there is no metro station in here and everywhere around me, I see the signs for "Lyon".
Wonderful.
I trekked up to the airport connected to the train station and the guy at the information booth took pity on me by giving me a free internet card so that I could let ma famille and Katie (my host) know that I would not be arriving last night. No other trains were leaving until the next morning and thats when the ticket booth opened as well.
So airport floor it is!!
Luckily there were two other college age guys in the same boat and we ended up having some lovely chats. One guy from Sweden who was headed up to Germany and another from New York doing a summer program in Paris at the NYU campus. I felt bad for him because he was stuck in the aiport due to circumstances outside of his control. :(
In the morning, I got some awful coffee which was not a good start and went to the ticket booth. Well, try as I might to be as polite as possible and start speaking in French as best I can, apparently, that's not good enough. My Eurorail pass was apparently "invalid" until next Tuesday. (Well, I leave next Friday so that ain't an option). I ended up having to shell out 66 euros for a train ticket that I'm NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO PAY!!!
Grrr...This was when I had to hold back the tears. I said, "buck up, it's only three days" You'll be fine."
Got on the train. Took the metro to Katie's place. She showed me around. Her apartment is freaking sweet but at least 8 floors up which means my calves are going to be sore toomorrow. We walked around town so she could show me the libraries and metro station to get to Sacre Coeur tomorrow which is where I will get the first of my visuals for the documentary. FINALLY!
The saga begins.
Katie is an au pair and now at work til midnight. Meanwhile, I am enjoying some wine and tea, writing to ya'll and finishing up my storyboard for tomorrow.
I think I will take a nap shortly. Two nights in a row with minimal sleep. Not good for Em.
No pics yet.
Em
I hate to say it but stereotypes exist for a reason. Just like there do exist a lot of loud and obnoxious Americans (though it most certainly doesn't apply to everyone), there also exists a lot of rude and mean people in France (though it doesn't apply to everyone). Nearly every Parisian or French person I've come into contact with has been rude. It was a bit disheartening at first as an American who actually wants to try to learn about the culture as much as possible. This morning, I even wanted to cry, but that was also from a bit of lack of sleep.
Let me fill you in...
After a sleepless night on Tuesday, I got up Wednesday, had breakfast and said goodbye to Aydan and Sara and hit the train station. A pretty uneventful ride from Rome to Milan. I got a sandwich and transferred trains. My seat mate was a very nice Egyptian man who lives in Italy and was going to visit his brother in Paris. Okay, yes I made up a story about being married and having a daughter because he was coming on a little strong and that seemed to ease the situation.
I had hoped to start sleeping on the train right away and sleep all the way to Paris but then we hit the Alps and they were freaking insane. Next time I'm here, I'm staying in Switzerland near in the Alps. Stunning.
Well about 10:15 rolls around and the speaker overhead says something garbled in French, of which I pick up on, "Lyon" and "Paris". Wanting to be sure that it was "Gare du Lyon" that I heard, which was my stop in the city of Paris and not just "Lyon" which is a city two hours AWAY from Paris, I asked the conductor and he nodded and said yes and shuffled me off the train.
So I was thinking that I was set.
Then I realize that there is no metro station in here and everywhere around me, I see the signs for "Lyon".
Wonderful.
I trekked up to the airport connected to the train station and the guy at the information booth took pity on me by giving me a free internet card so that I could let ma famille and Katie (my host) know that I would not be arriving last night. No other trains were leaving until the next morning and thats when the ticket booth opened as well.
So airport floor it is!!
Luckily there were two other college age guys in the same boat and we ended up having some lovely chats. One guy from Sweden who was headed up to Germany and another from New York doing a summer program in Paris at the NYU campus. I felt bad for him because he was stuck in the aiport due to circumstances outside of his control. :(
In the morning, I got some awful coffee which was not a good start and went to the ticket booth. Well, try as I might to be as polite as possible and start speaking in French as best I can, apparently, that's not good enough. My Eurorail pass was apparently "invalid" until next Tuesday. (Well, I leave next Friday so that ain't an option). I ended up having to shell out 66 euros for a train ticket that I'm NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO PAY!!!
Grrr...This was when I had to hold back the tears. I said, "buck up, it's only three days" You'll be fine."
Got on the train. Took the metro to Katie's place. She showed me around. Her apartment is freaking sweet but at least 8 floors up which means my calves are going to be sore toomorrow. We walked around town so she could show me the libraries and metro station to get to Sacre Coeur tomorrow which is where I will get the first of my visuals for the documentary. FINALLY!
The saga begins.
Katie is an au pair and now at work til midnight. Meanwhile, I am enjoying some wine and tea, writing to ya'll and finishing up my storyboard for tomorrow.
I think I will take a nap shortly. Two nights in a row with minimal sleep. Not good for Em.
No pics yet.
Em
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Holy See, Batman!
Dear Home:
I don't know how to even describe today. Somehow the phrase: I have been rendered speechless: doesn't compare to the awesome accomplishment I feel.
But first, let's start where we left off.
I was waiting to here back from Ian's band manager, right? I was going to go see him perform, correct? Didn't happen. Not a bit.
Major bummer.
I did however wait in their hotel for 3 hours...nearly falling asleep on couch in the lobby. I also nearly passed out as a I walked back to my hostel. But I finally made it. Took a shower and a short nap.
Rejuvenated I got on skype with mi madre finally and coordinated a three-way phone call with me and her and then via her phone, the verizon wireless help guy. No jokes please. My phone, which hasn't turned on since I got here, apparently has a hardware malfunction. New phone coming when I get back to the states. Hooray! *eye roll* Because this totally helps me now...
So I after that I discuss with my parents about how I want to work the rest of my trip. We ended up changing my flight back to the 1st of July. So I will be home in about 10 days. I just have to survive till then.
Then I decided to clear my head and took the metro up to Piazza del Popolo. Beautiful. I walked through the main shopping district down to the Spanish steps and also saw the Trevi Fountain again. Got some gelato and walked back to the hostel to get to sleep. I was exhausted.
I woke up with Aydan, Kathy, and Louise for breakfast this morning where we met Sara from Boston who has been travelling around Europe after studying abroad for a semester. She was off to the Colloseum and we were off to the Vatican so we decided to meet up with her later for dinner.
Then A, K, L, and I left for the Vatican. Crazy huge. We walked in the main piazza and I couldn't believe my eyes. It is everything you would expect and more. But perhaps the best part was inside the Basilica. It is bigger than any building I've ever been in. Yes, even ResREc...you could easily fit 4 or 5 of them in here. And so intricate. Louise and Kathy left and Aydan and I went into the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel. I took TONS of video clips inside the Vatican museums. Unfortunately, no luck inside the Sistine, but the memory of it is worth is good enough. It really is almost overwhelming seeing everything in the Vatican in one day.
Afterwards, tired and nearly stumbling the streets outside the Vatican, we found some gelato and espresso and then walked around towards Castel Sant Angelo and down the Tiber, got lost, and finally found the Colloseum. Also amazing.
I'm finding that I am running out of adjectives because literally everything is breathtaking. It's so difficult to describe the culture. Around every corner there is a masterpiece of culture and history. It's a bit exhausting after a while.
We got back to the hostel. Showered. Talked with mom and G-ma and Dad. And also with Brian, another one of our roommates from Vancouver. Met up with Sara and headed to Trastevere for food. Delicious pizza, some liters of wine and fully belly later, we milled around the fun bar district for a bit and found to stop for a drink.
Couldn't stay long because Sara had to get up early. As do I but we did end up finding a bar and saw a bunch of Guido-americans being loud and obnoxious. Thanks. That's why we get a bad rap. Aydan did mention, however, that his perception of Americans is actually changed a bit because of Sara and myself. YAY! A little diplomacy and good manners can go a long way.
Now I'm sitting up at 5:20 in the morning. Can't sleep. Still have to pack. A little hungry. And posting to you lovely people.
Pictures soon.
EM
I don't know how to even describe today. Somehow the phrase: I have been rendered speechless: doesn't compare to the awesome accomplishment I feel.
But first, let's start where we left off.
I was waiting to here back from Ian's band manager, right? I was going to go see him perform, correct? Didn't happen. Not a bit.
Major bummer.
I did however wait in their hotel for 3 hours...nearly falling asleep on couch in the lobby. I also nearly passed out as a I walked back to my hostel. But I finally made it. Took a shower and a short nap.
Rejuvenated I got on skype with mi madre finally and coordinated a three-way phone call with me and her and then via her phone, the verizon wireless help guy. No jokes please. My phone, which hasn't turned on since I got here, apparently has a hardware malfunction. New phone coming when I get back to the states. Hooray! *eye roll* Because this totally helps me now...
So I after that I discuss with my parents about how I want to work the rest of my trip. We ended up changing my flight back to the 1st of July. So I will be home in about 10 days. I just have to survive till then.
Then I decided to clear my head and took the metro up to Piazza del Popolo. Beautiful. I walked through the main shopping district down to the Spanish steps and also saw the Trevi Fountain again. Got some gelato and walked back to the hostel to get to sleep. I was exhausted.
I woke up with Aydan, Kathy, and Louise for breakfast this morning where we met Sara from Boston who has been travelling around Europe after studying abroad for a semester. She was off to the Colloseum and we were off to the Vatican so we decided to meet up with her later for dinner.
Then A, K, L, and I left for the Vatican. Crazy huge. We walked in the main piazza and I couldn't believe my eyes. It is everything you would expect and more. But perhaps the best part was inside the Basilica. It is bigger than any building I've ever been in. Yes, even ResREc...you could easily fit 4 or 5 of them in here. And so intricate. Louise and Kathy left and Aydan and I went into the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel. I took TONS of video clips inside the Vatican museums. Unfortunately, no luck inside the Sistine, but the memory of it is worth is good enough. It really is almost overwhelming seeing everything in the Vatican in one day.
Afterwards, tired and nearly stumbling the streets outside the Vatican, we found some gelato and espresso and then walked around towards Castel Sant Angelo and down the Tiber, got lost, and finally found the Colloseum. Also amazing.
I'm finding that I am running out of adjectives because literally everything is breathtaking. It's so difficult to describe the culture. Around every corner there is a masterpiece of culture and history. It's a bit exhausting after a while.
We got back to the hostel. Showered. Talked with mom and G-ma and Dad. And also with Brian, another one of our roommates from Vancouver. Met up with Sara and headed to Trastevere for food. Delicious pizza, some liters of wine and fully belly later, we milled around the fun bar district for a bit and found to stop for a drink.
Couldn't stay long because Sara had to get up early. As do I but we did end up finding a bar and saw a bunch of Guido-americans being loud and obnoxious. Thanks. That's why we get a bad rap. Aydan did mention, however, that his perception of Americans is actually changed a bit because of Sara and myself. YAY! A little diplomacy and good manners can go a long way.
Now I'm sitting up at 5:20 in the morning. Can't sleep. Still have to pack. A little hungry. And posting to you lovely people.
Pictures soon.
EM
Monday, June 20, 2011
Day 1 and 2 pics!
Aidan and I at the Scottish Pub
Trevi Fountain by nightlight!
Spanish steps! Hella busy
Piazza del Poppolo
P.S.
Sorry for the bad grammar in the last post, this one, and future. Im trying to get used to the keyboards.
Em
Em
oh hostels...so much more fun than hotels
dear home:
so yesterday (technically sunday) for me, i arrived in rome at the leonardo airport (aka fiumincino or something to that affect). it was pretty glorious outside, weather wise, and everything that those tourist books say about really confrontational taxi drivers, etc...is a load of bull! people are super nice and it was very easy to find the bus outside (6 euros to get to the station that would take me for 1 euro to Termini, the main train station). I nearly got onto the wrong metro train, no scratch that, I DID get onto the wrong metro train and then spoke to the person next to me asking---"Termini Stazione?" (as a pointed to the train we were on. The lovely ladies across from me were like "uhhh...no" and pointed to the tracks on the OPPOSITE side.
Wonderful!
So just as the doors closed, I made it off the train and booked it to the other side of the tracks and all was well.
Termini is huge. Such a hustle and bustle station. I still needed to activate my Eurorail pass but I wanted to get to the hostel first because my bag is approximately the weight of a medium sized child (meaning, Im going to be freaking buff when I come back. My arms are already sore.) The hostel was also super easy to find but my checkin wasnt until 2:30 and it was only about 11 in the morning. So I stowed my bag in the closet and headed back the two blocks to Termini to activate my pass and buy my Eurorail ticket for Paris on Wednesday.
The plan was to purchase an overnight ticket that would have gotten me to Paris Gare de Lyon on Thursday morning but that was, naturally, booked full. So Im on the day train that gets me to Milan at 1 pm and Paris at 11:30 pm. Great! I emailed my host in the hopes of squeezing an extra night onto her couch...sorry! Otherwise I may be spending the night at the train station.
So after I got my tickets squared away. I explore some of the sights nearby: a really beautiful piazza and fountain, a very old church, etc...I took lots of pictures but unfortunately I was too tired to upload them just yet.
Here is where things get interesting: Then I got back to my hotel and tried to turn on my phone for the first time, which was activated before I left to be international. It wont turn on! I had left it off at the airport because I figured I wouldnt need it so I dont know what happened or when or why.
Needless to say, Im thrilled at this point. But also exhausted, so I napped for about 3 hours and woke to one of my roommates, Aidan from Austrailia coming in. I went out to chat with Kathy and Louise from the UK (they go to Lancester) and Aidan (who lives in Melbourne) and we decided to go to find some pizza. Of course we found a few pubs on the way, including a Scottish one with this old guy who kept hittin gon Kathy. Classic!) On our way back to the hostel, after getting lost a few times, we realized that we were really close to the Trevi fountain and wanted to see it at nighttime so we walked there. It is incredible! So beautiful and amazing and really awesome sight. Im so glad that we got to see that...even though I was super tired at this point.
We headed back to the hostel and chatted for a bit. The three of them decided to go out to some clubs with Kathy and Louise s roommates but I was super tired at this point and needed to call home to discuss some complications that have arisen. I ll get to those later.
So I got my laptop out and was working for a bit trying to find mi madre when Helene from Russia came out and started getting ready to go out (Its nearly 2 at this point...maybe Im a grandma but I could never START at 2 am). We chatted for a bit which was nice and then she left. Finally called my mom only to realize that it was super loud and most people were sleeping in my apartment so I went to bed hoping to call today.
After breakfast with Aidan which was short and sweet (coffee and yogurt), I hiked over to Ians hotel and stopped by some churches on the way. Again, amazing. I found his hotel but they are not there yet. I tried calling his band manager but no answer. I just need to know when to meet them so that I can ride with them out to their concert tonight...Ill call again in a little bit.
For now, Im waiting to hear from mom in an internet/phone cafe.
So onto the complications. Turns out, if I can wangle it, Emily might be coming home sooner rather than later. I dont think I can afford to be in Paris as long as a week, nor do I want to. I really just want to get to Kassel and Berlin for a day trip. I just need to get some interviews and video footage. So Im going to try to move my flight to return home on the 2nd of July instead of the 12th. Plus, without a phone, it would be much less nerve-wrecking for me.
Ill post pictures later.
Ciao!
Em
so yesterday (technically sunday) for me, i arrived in rome at the leonardo airport (aka fiumincino or something to that affect). it was pretty glorious outside, weather wise, and everything that those tourist books say about really confrontational taxi drivers, etc...is a load of bull! people are super nice and it was very easy to find the bus outside (6 euros to get to the station that would take me for 1 euro to Termini, the main train station). I nearly got onto the wrong metro train, no scratch that, I DID get onto the wrong metro train and then spoke to the person next to me asking---"Termini Stazione?" (as a pointed to the train we were on. The lovely ladies across from me were like "uhhh...no" and pointed to the tracks on the OPPOSITE side.
Wonderful!
So just as the doors closed, I made it off the train and booked it to the other side of the tracks and all was well.
Termini is huge. Such a hustle and bustle station. I still needed to activate my Eurorail pass but I wanted to get to the hostel first because my bag is approximately the weight of a medium sized child (meaning, Im going to be freaking buff when I come back. My arms are already sore.) The hostel was also super easy to find but my checkin wasnt until 2:30 and it was only about 11 in the morning. So I stowed my bag in the closet and headed back the two blocks to Termini to activate my pass and buy my Eurorail ticket for Paris on Wednesday.
The plan was to purchase an overnight ticket that would have gotten me to Paris Gare de Lyon on Thursday morning but that was, naturally, booked full. So Im on the day train that gets me to Milan at 1 pm and Paris at 11:30 pm. Great! I emailed my host in the hopes of squeezing an extra night onto her couch...sorry! Otherwise I may be spending the night at the train station.
So after I got my tickets squared away. I explore some of the sights nearby: a really beautiful piazza and fountain, a very old church, etc...I took lots of pictures but unfortunately I was too tired to upload them just yet.
Here is where things get interesting: Then I got back to my hotel and tried to turn on my phone for the first time, which was activated before I left to be international. It wont turn on! I had left it off at the airport because I figured I wouldnt need it so I dont know what happened or when or why.
Needless to say, Im thrilled at this point. But also exhausted, so I napped for about 3 hours and woke to one of my roommates, Aidan from Austrailia coming in. I went out to chat with Kathy and Louise from the UK (they go to Lancester) and Aidan (who lives in Melbourne) and we decided to go to find some pizza. Of course we found a few pubs on the way, including a Scottish one with this old guy who kept hittin gon Kathy. Classic!) On our way back to the hostel, after getting lost a few times, we realized that we were really close to the Trevi fountain and wanted to see it at nighttime so we walked there. It is incredible! So beautiful and amazing and really awesome sight. Im so glad that we got to see that...even though I was super tired at this point.
We headed back to the hostel and chatted for a bit. The three of them decided to go out to some clubs with Kathy and Louise s roommates but I was super tired at this point and needed to call home to discuss some complications that have arisen. I ll get to those later.
So I got my laptop out and was working for a bit trying to find mi madre when Helene from Russia came out and started getting ready to go out (Its nearly 2 at this point...maybe Im a grandma but I could never START at 2 am). We chatted for a bit which was nice and then she left. Finally called my mom only to realize that it was super loud and most people were sleeping in my apartment so I went to bed hoping to call today.
After breakfast with Aidan which was short and sweet (coffee and yogurt), I hiked over to Ians hotel and stopped by some churches on the way. Again, amazing. I found his hotel but they are not there yet. I tried calling his band manager but no answer. I just need to know when to meet them so that I can ride with them out to their concert tonight...Ill call again in a little bit.
For now, Im waiting to hear from mom in an internet/phone cafe.
So onto the complications. Turns out, if I can wangle it, Emily might be coming home sooner rather than later. I dont think I can afford to be in Paris as long as a week, nor do I want to. I really just want to get to Kassel and Berlin for a day trip. I just need to get some interviews and video footage. So Im going to try to move my flight to return home on the 2nd of July instead of the 12th. Plus, without a phone, it would be much less nerve-wrecking for me.
Ill post pictures later.
Ciao!
Em
Saturday, June 18, 2011
And we're off...
Dear Home,
At the airport in Chicago.Plane Leaves at 1:20 p.m. Get in to Montreal at 4:30 p.m. Plane leaves for Rome at 7:45 p.m. Get into Rome at 9:40 a.m.
It's gonna be a long day.
I shall try to post something new at least every other day. If I don't, please assume that the plot from the movie "Taken" has taken over my life and feel free act as Liam Neeson's character.
Not to scare anybody or anything. I'm just being cautious.
More when more stuff happens.
Em
At the airport in Chicago.Plane Leaves at 1:20 p.m. Get in to Montreal at 4:30 p.m. Plane leaves for Rome at 7:45 p.m. Get into Rome at 9:40 a.m.
It's gonna be a long day.
I shall try to post something new at least every other day. If I don't, please assume that the plot from the movie "Taken" has taken over my life and feel free act as Liam Neeson's character.
Not to scare anybody or anything. I'm just being cautious.
More when more stuff happens.
Em
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
On the Road Again!
Hey there!
It seems travel has become a summer theme. (And I hope it stays this way for years to come.)
Last time on "Em and her Backpack," we found our heroine trekking Mt. Wilhelmshoehe in 103 degrees, getting hit on by very forward German men, and witnessing a massive Bonobo group therapy (look it up). Let's see what the preview is for this summer's expeditions...
This Saturday (merely 3 days away), I leave for Roma!! Three days to explore the eternal city and see what my 3 years of latin and classical civilization studies have taught me. My brother is performing with his youth symphony orchestra just outside of Rome on the 20th. How many people can say that they have seen their sibling perform music abroad? So excited.
I have the expertise of Dr. de Brauw on which Gelato place to attend. Though I think it is safe to say that this will not be a one time experience. Heehee.
On the 22nd (or a week from today!) I head to Paris, taking the train to Milano and then along the border to the city of love. This is where the research and filming begin. I've got about a week to explore some of the libraries which Jacob Grimm dived into in 1804. Perhaps I'll discover some sort of gem that I can record. I can't wait to walk along the banks of the Seine, dance in a gypsy carnival, and carve little wooden figurines of the townspeople...okay, I might be describing a Disney movie but if I've learned one thing, it's that Disney films are always culturally accurate, right?
Then I make my way to Kassel, Germany, the home-city of the Brothers Grimm and home to one of my favorite places in the world, Herkules Denkmal. (For those of you who tuned in last time, this is the statue at the top of the "mountain" that I hiked to in gladiator sandals, carrying about a quarter liter of water, and nearly paralyzed my legs on the way up...but it's totally worth the view!) This is where the majority of my filming will take place and hey, maybe the museum will actually be open this time. One can only hope.
After Kassel, I train it up to Berlin, business capital of Europe and hopefully the site of my next summer's adventures (if all goes as planned with the Fulbright committee...and that's a big IF...but I can dream). I will be visiting their grave sites and doing some interviews at the libraries here.
What a dream! I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and relaxed all at the same time. Travelling is what I live for. I'm so lucky to be able to do what I love.
Stay tuned in for regular updates. I'm sure this experience will be just as plot-twisted as the last.
Cheers,
Em
P.s. Oh and did I mention that I'm couchsurfing the whole time?
It seems travel has become a summer theme. (And I hope it stays this way for years to come.)
Last time on "Em and her Backpack," we found our heroine trekking Mt. Wilhelmshoehe in 103 degrees, getting hit on by very forward German men, and witnessing a massive Bonobo group therapy (look it up). Let's see what the preview is for this summer's expeditions...
This Saturday (merely 3 days away), I leave for Roma!! Three days to explore the eternal city and see what my 3 years of latin and classical civilization studies have taught me. My brother is performing with his youth symphony orchestra just outside of Rome on the 20th. How many people can say that they have seen their sibling perform music abroad? So excited.
I have the expertise of Dr. de Brauw on which Gelato place to attend. Though I think it is safe to say that this will not be a one time experience. Heehee.
On the 22nd (or a week from today!) I head to Paris, taking the train to Milano and then along the border to the city of love. This is where the research and filming begin. I've got about a week to explore some of the libraries which Jacob Grimm dived into in 1804. Perhaps I'll discover some sort of gem that I can record. I can't wait to walk along the banks of the Seine, dance in a gypsy carnival, and carve little wooden figurines of the townspeople...okay, I might be describing a Disney movie but if I've learned one thing, it's that Disney films are always culturally accurate, right?
Then I make my way to Kassel, Germany, the home-city of the Brothers Grimm and home to one of my favorite places in the world, Herkules Denkmal. (For those of you who tuned in last time, this is the statue at the top of the "mountain" that I hiked to in gladiator sandals, carrying about a quarter liter of water, and nearly paralyzed my legs on the way up...but it's totally worth the view!) This is where the majority of my filming will take place and hey, maybe the museum will actually be open this time. One can only hope.
After Kassel, I train it up to Berlin, business capital of Europe and hopefully the site of my next summer's adventures (if all goes as planned with the Fulbright committee...and that's a big IF...but I can dream). I will be visiting their grave sites and doing some interviews at the libraries here.
What a dream! I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and relaxed all at the same time. Travelling is what I live for. I'm so lucky to be able to do what I love.
Stay tuned in for regular updates. I'm sure this experience will be just as plot-twisted as the last.
Cheers,
Em
P.s. Oh and did I mention that I'm couchsurfing the whole time?
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