k
- Mood:
giddy
This is a most amazing place! It can transform your heart and your mind. It has filled wholes in my heart as it made new ones all at the same time. I have done SO much in such a short time yet it feels like i JUST got here! I will forever treasure each and every moment and look forward to yet many more the next time I come over here.
Bri and I look forward to being computer geeks when we get home, uploading and organizing our pics and videos so we can relive the moments all over again! So until then you will have to live with the teases we have left on our facebook pages.... just a little taste of what our days and nights have been filled with during our few shorts weeks here. There are definitely things that I treasure about this country and Italy that will forever remain....
Hope you have enjoyed our stories..... :-)
Caio!
Karygirl
PS I LOVE TAPAS!!!!
- Location:el piso-los corrales
- Mood:
sad - Music:El ultimo adios-Paulina Rubio
Hello all... due to lack of sleep and....stories I'd prefer to tell in person.... I am simply adding more to the "i'm in love with..." list. As before i have also added some things that are not necessarily a love....but I`'ll let y'all decide... :-)
- Sunsets in Santander
-Sunrises in Santander
-walks along the pier
- walks along the pier with a "new friend"
-Bells on bikes while riding through the city
- Not eating anything for dinner except the lemons that go with our tequila
- being a cheesy tourist
- singing songs while riding a bike or walking through the city of Santander and Los Corrales
- Having "huevos" for breakfast
-. meeting friends ENTIRE family, spending hours eating and talking and walking through pueblos!
-Not going out until eleven or midnight
-Accents
- Meeting new friends
-The way Spainiards say hello and goodbye...besos
- Los 40 Prinicpales
-Accents in whispered in your ear....
-VALE!
-Swinging on sing sets....because we can
-Seeing the house that was used in the movie The Others
- Bruises on inside of my knee....
-Bruises on my arm
- Friends that care enough about you to help you make good decisions... :')
-Thumbs up
- watching my "husband" Gerard Butler in the movie PS I love you in Spanish (Podasta...te quiero)
-The Piso
-getting only a few hours of sleep....but it was SO WORTH IT!!
- Living "Spain on the Road Again".....
-Someone dropping my camera and breaking the cover of the lens...so now the focus/ flash won't work
- Still using my camera to caputre those special moments...and people
-Men that look like Gerard Butler....
- Location:El piso
- Mood:
sleepy - Music:Podraste...te quiero (PS I Love you)
I would have liked to have titled an entry "When in Rome"... HOWEVER, As I mentioned in my earlier blog Rome was.....interesting. Those of you that have read Brianne's blog are familiar with the story...those that haven't SHAME ON YOU! Here is a breif recap:
We arrived in Rome around 9pm....threw our bags down and did a crash course in Roman history and tour of the Ruins (see whitty quote below). Thinking that we are world travelers and everything else has been so "easy" Bri and I take to the streets with an Italian map of Rome, not really knowing where we are going! (ps walking Rome at night.,..not so bueno!) We were finally able to find Trevie Fountain (side note-no, dad and sis I did NOT see Prince Lorenzo there or anywhere else in Rome!). It was PACKED with people....I was more mezmorized by that than the actual fountain! Although it was beautiful. A quick "Senior pic" moment and off we went!
Now this is where is got interesting..... we had NO idea where we were going...even WITH the map! And, by the way, EVERYWHERE you turn in Rome there is SOMETHING that "looks old".... (again, see quote below). Blah blah blah...we asked many cute Italians, bartenders, waiters etc to help us find the Pantheon... we were famished and decided to get something to eat when, low and behold, there it was! We had a nice dinner right in front on the Pantheon while we chatted and laughed with a solitary Italian man as we mad fun of the "tourists" . Well...by this time it was late (11;30) and busses and metro stop then...so we decided to schelp are full bellies to the Collosium... which was amazing!!! Yet... again...walking in Rome at night...no bueno. Blah blah blah so we were in a sticky situ.... long story short..l DON'T WALK AROUND ROME after midnight...heck after 2 am with just you and your travel amiga! NO BUENO! This tragedy has a happy ending though....we got a cab and made it back to our loud, high ceilinged hotel.... THE END!
On the BICICLETAS!!
Today was our first day in Santander.... its fun to see where bri studied and lived and where jorge is from. After a night of borracha where Brianne accidentally dropped my camera and broke the lens (JK, breezy!! we all know it was the spainiard trying to be cool by taking a pic of the americanas and he got so caught up in our beauty he dropped it!!) we were ready to explore this beautiful town.
First my travel partner decided to make us a lovely almuerzo of Gnocchi, salad, bread with YUMMY Spain olive oil and vinagre and DELISH Tempernillo wine THAT ONLY COST 3 EUROS!!! (iI love this country!!!) Santander is full of beautiful buildings and statues right on the beautiful CantabrianSea. Brianne, the master mind of finding new ways to torture and stretch my limits of comfort, decided we should RENT BIKES and ride around town! QUE BUENA IDEA! (actually it was really fun). So after we got our "pedal legs" we were off cruising... we even had our own basket on the front and bell! (We used that probably more often than necessary) . We rode along the beach up hills, down hills , through a park...it was great! We even rode to the "aquarium" area were there wre cute focas (seals) and pinguinos (penguins). After our touristic tour on wheels we decided to do some shopping! ...after we walked all the way back through town to find a cafe to have churros and chocolate, of course...YUMM!!!!!!
Brianne said it...."can you imagine being a kid here an asking mom forhot chocolate and this is what you'd get?!" (it's basically chocolate bar melted so you can dip the churro in it....yes i've gained too much weight on this trip! even with all the walking! ha!)
We got back to the Piso around 10:15 (yes...PM....that´s a lot of shopping!) and we were all too pooped to do anything. So we decided to go visit Tele Pizza Man (breezy will fill y'all in later) and walked around to a pub for a drink.
Its' an early night tonight (home by 1:30 am) but the next 2 days and nights are FILLED with LOTS of fiestas, friends and sight seeing! More stories to come from the Ladies in Spain!
Kary girl :-)
Quote from Rome - "If they RUINed why don´'t they just fix them!?" - Brianne commenting on the Ruins in Rome (guess you had to be there)
- Location:The Piso
- Mood:
thankful - Music:someone whisteling on the streets...and, no, not at me!
First of all...I am posting from Jorge's Piso...which means we MADE it to Santander, Spain! This is a whole other blog! I am a few days behind.... so i'll try and recap...
we ended in ROme.... and all i'm going to say is... thank goodness i wrote my "story" on the train ride from Cinque Terra to Rome.. because I was left with a sour taste in my mouth... no worries! Enjoy my recap of CInque Terre.I am truly blessed to be able to view these beautiful sites!!! They are incredile and find myself pinching myself often....!
CINQUE TERRE
This is the 3rd most beautiful place I have visited yet on this trip... possibly the second...simply because Tuscany has always been a dream of mine to visit....no matter...
Cinque Terre (5 lands)... although our visit was short (only a day) it was most certainly sweet...and i', not talking about the Gelato!
Cinque is built on a hill...so no matter where you're tryinfg to go it's an uphill climb! After being pleasantly surprised by our "DISCOUNTED" room ...with a kitchen and aterrace...with a view of the beautful sea..we droped our heavyn bags and headed on our first hike adventure (well, first for cinque!!). Of course we had to choose the MOST DIFFICULT route out of all 5 towns!! (Vernazza to Montessoro) up, DOWN,UP, DOWN, UP UP UP UP!! BUt the views were TOTALLY worth the nearly constant sweat dripping down our bodies!
We FINALLY arrived Montessoro, the biggest of all 5 towns., The water is crystal clear blue-.it looked so inviting after our 1 and half hour hike..! Yet we decided to get water and, of course, gelato to cool off first. (we rewarded ourseles...those of you that are reading and know jackie...she would have LOVED this! probably would have ran it... with weights!! LOCA!!)
After we decided to catch the last ferry out of town and headed towards Romiggiano... the first and most " romantic" of the 5... the ferry was great! it cooled us off and gave us INCREDIBLE views of all 5 towns! ! We got off and walked, yet again!, up the HILLS of this little town... The sun was going to be setting soonh.ll so we decided to hit the hiking trail...and pass the Via dell AMORE (Road of romance...no there was no kissing between bri and myself!!) ANyway, my "romance" partner, Bri, and I walked through the graffiti plastered tunnel... reading all the stories left by those that passed before us... and writing some of our own (yet again... NOT to each other!)... As we were strolling towards the next town we decided to stop at the "Bar di Amore"...for...you guessed itt.....VINO! and why not?! SO, yet again, my "pareja romantica" and myself sat on tables, over the cliff, gazing at the beautiful sea and sunset! gorgeous!!! After our 250 euro vino and snacks we continued the adevnture to the next town...
We made it in time to watch the breathtaking sunset,..enjoy more vino and brusccheta (yet again!) . This was one of the amazing sunsts I have been able to see during my European adventure! Absolutely breathtaking!
Afterwards we grabbed some pizza, climbed the 100 plus steps to our place...climbed to the terrace and watched the last threads of sunset dissapear. The Chianti purchased in Tuscany came in handy as we chatted about unmentionables and with our australian neighbors... :')
However, after our 7 train changes and our " hike" we retired "early! (Midnight)....and fell asleep to the sound of the surf below and the cool sea breeze.... it was perfect!
so..that´'s all or now.... more adventures to come...epecially now that we are now back in España!
Until then...buena sera... caio! BESOS!!
K
- Location:The "piso"
- Mood: tired
- Music:Reik....
- Brusccheta!
- Small, hot busses
- Crazy Finnish ladies
- HOT Italian policemen!
- Pistachio Gelato
- Chocolate Gealto
- WHO AM I KIDDING?! ANY Kind of Gelato!!
- A pitcher of Italian wine for only $12 Euros!
- Statues
-Fountains
- Bus drivers and tour guides named Sandro and Sandra respectively
- Italian history and culutre
- Italians with an English (british) accent
- Brusccheta- AGAIN!!
- blisters, chaffing and sweat dripping down your legs
- 4 course meals for lunch, including a different wine with each meal while looking out on the Tuscany hills
- Organic olive oil from the farm your having lunch at overlooking the Tuscan Hills
- 4 glasses of wine for lunch.... PLUS refills!
- Cheesy tourist radios to hear tour guides
- Visiting BIG WHITE COWS on the Italian farm
- Cappuccino and foccaccia at the counter of an Italian cafe
- Eating LOTS and LOTS of authentic Italian food!!
- HOT...I mean HOT... Italian (aka my future husband) setting up sound stage in the middle of the Piazza
- Listening to Michael Buble while driving through Tuscany
- Rainbows in Pisa
- Sipping cappuccino in Italian cafe served by cute barrista
- Sunset in Tuscany
I'm sure there is much more to be added to the list...this place is magical and gorgeous! It is unbelieveable to the eyes, heart and mind. I can't WAIT to come back!
That's all for now...check out Brianne's blog for the latest Tales from Tuscany....
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=91.7){kind=small}
travelbreezy Quote of the day: " Now we know who the lushes of the group are...." -Said by the canadian woman traveling with our group. Pictures to be revealed in good time... BTW I'm and EPLEY so....DUH!!!
- Mood: excited
- Music:People chatting on the streets of Firenze
A few quotes from the trip....
"Um are those bag pipes or police sirens?!" -Karyn
" I think its bagpipes"- Karyn
" no...its the police!"- Brianne
"Hey could you tell me where the nearest Gelatto place is?" -Brianne (BTW there is one basically on every corner!! HAHA)
"I shouldn't..." -Brianne "But we're in Florence!" -Karyn "WHY NOT!!" -shouted together in unison!
more to come...besos a todos!!
- Mood:
pensive - Music:some loud russian talking on skipe!
check it out!
Granada will forever have my heart! I LOVE this town! It is so quaint and beautiful! The next day we woke up refreshed and ready for ALHAMBRA! Let me just say this place is soooo tranqil and peaceful! Brianne and I have planned our secret weddings there so y'all better start saving! OH yah...and work on finding us the men! HAHAHA! This place is MASSIVE yet not overwhelming...
We both took so many pics,...just wait! But they don't do this beautiful place justice! Every turn brought new beauty would literally, at times, take my breath away and bring tears to my eyes! The "no rush" attitude of the town in evident in La Alhambra. We didn't want to leave and found ourselves walking around in circles just so we could stay longer.
In our search for the perfect beauty we encountered 4 guapos.... We kept running into them...which, for those that don't know... is hard to do in La Alhambra,.. this place is MASSIVE! But almost at every turn there they were! Hmm.....destiny? Well.... we began to wrap up our Alhambra adventure and decided to eat at this ADORABLE restaurant/hotel IN the Alhambra!! WOW! (This was going to be the first wedding desitnation place until we discovered there was yet <ANOTHER ginormous hotel next door!! BELLISIMA!)
So after our quaint bocadillo with sangria and wine we decided to wander on...circles because we didn't want to leave....! Sadly...we had to...our stomachs and bodies were calling for attention-sweat had dripped down our legs long enough!
On our walk back to the hostel from the bus Brianne was sad...and said "the only that would make this tarde better is if we could run into the 4 guapos again". She then sai "why don't we stop in at our fav place (La Bella y La Bestia) for tapas and vino before we get ready." "Claro" said Karyn.
AS we were walking up to the bar what did our eyes see...?? THE 4 GUAPOS!!!!
YES! There they were...and BTW they DID NOT speak Spanish! They were from ENGLAND!! Many more exciting moments ensued...including lots of beer, cider (which ended up all over my pants -and NO i wasn't the one that spilled it!!-that should be added to the list of "I 'm in love with...")
However...our beautiful time in Granada had come to an end....and we had to be ready for Italy!
ok....arrival Italy! We arrived in Bologna and luckily found our way via bus to our B&B. Which was OH SO adorable! HE had wine chilling for us and gave us great directions for dinner...which was OH SO YUMMY! I even ate the GIANT green olives they gave us as appetizer! YUM! This is where we met Papa Smurf-our waiter....who was 75....! but teh food and atmosphere were SO worth it!!
Next day...was the crayz adverture on the train to Florene...stading room only! Thank God the ride was only 40 minutes!
SO...here we are in Florence! we stopped at a place where there is internet and fell in love with the rooms so...here we are! !!
Although I was sad to say goodbye to Granada ( I seriously LOVE that town!!! can't wait to go back!!) I am happy to be in ITALY! I can't believe I am here! We are going to head into the town and look for more yummy Italian food!
Ok.....enough said...we need to get out and have more adventures to write about! READ brianne's blog too! she has GREAT stories!
Ciao!!
" I feel like I'm in middle school again.. you know, without a phone, meeting my friends at the mall, hoping that they are there...." -Brianne
- Location:Florence
- Mood: excited
- Music:99 Luft balons
I'm in love with.....
-Alahambra
-Fountains (did you know there are 4 in Granada??!!)
-Bus drivers that call you guapa
-Waiters that give you LOTS of free food...but you'll have to kiss him for it....on the mouth!! BTW he's in his 70's!!
-Papa Smurf (refer to waiter above)
-Italian students (men) on their way to get a beer but instead randomly show you around the town and get Gelatto.
-Discoteca......el fin!
- Zumba in the discoteca!
- The way an Englishman says "Literally"
-The way and English man says ANYTHING!
- The 4 guapos!
-Figuring out Italian "coffee pots"
-WIne in the fridge left for us by the B&B host
-Drinking this wine while listening to Italian Opera...that was featured in the movie Pretty Woman
- Alhamabra..... SI!!!!
-Spanish wine
- Italian wine
- Oh heck..ANY kind of wine!!
- FInding your way in a city you've never been to...on a bus....
-Senior Pics! (more details to come)
- Beautiful waiters..... el fin!
- Location:Florence
- Mood: happy
- Music:busses and trains
Alhambra = amor de la vida!
I´m moving here.....
- Location:hostel sofia
- Mood: rejuvenated
- Music:people talking....
