When is waking up at 4am fun?

When you are waking up to fly to Italy! Yep today is the day I arrived in Italy. Venice actually. So here I am, a little tired and a little loopy. But I am very excited to be here. We are staying with Josh, a friend of Karen's. He's got a great little place real close to Venice. I think we are heading over there tomorrow. Probably won't go on a gondola...since it cost 200 Euro...not worth it. Maybe I can jump into one fast enough to get a quick photo before I have to pay anyone for a ride.

Well..I am off to drink more italian coffee, and probably grab a gelato or two.

Ciao....

back to athens

Well we just arrived back to Athens. The Greek Islands were AMAZING. Everyone is so nice there. I guess waking up to the gorgeous beaches and mountains just puts people in a good mood. We visited Santorini and Ios. There are only 1000 locals that actually live year round in Ios. But during the months of June - August they get about 15,000 visitors. I think during winter it must feel like a ghost town to the locals, and they probably really enjoy it. The towns are just as beautiful as you would think...white walled buildings and blue topped roofs against the bright blue sea. It was breathtaking.

I will say that the locals drive like mad men. The guy who drove us to the port this morning flew around the corner so fast he hit this other van and ripped the whole side mirror off. It was an experience and I had to just shut my eyes and not think about flying off a side of a mountain in some beat up van... but the only other option was taking a donkey down. I think the mad man in the beat up van was the lesser of two evils...

We meet so many people while we were there. Some from America, some from Australia, and some that have decided to move to Ios and make it their home. I will say that they know how to party in the Greek Isles. They don't even go OUT till 2am. Crazy!!!

Today we are resting up since we fly out to Venice really early tomorrow morning. I can't believe that my semi-retirement is coming to a close. I am both excited and sad.

New friends we hung out with at the hostel:




Lunch in the park:



the view from the top:

just another day

Seriously this is the greatest hostel I have every stayed in....it is such a chill atmosphere and everyone here is so friendly. Anyone that wants to visit Spain, please stay at Mambo Tango. I will be their number one PR girl!!!

Today we slept in. Yesterday was a little stressful - so I think we needed the sleep. We were supposed to meet Karen at the airport yesterday, but that was the plan before we found out it was an hour and a half trip each way plus 30 bucks round trip. So we decided to call the airport and leave a message for Karen to meet us at the hostel. We just prayed that she actually did get the message. Well, it all worked out and Karen meet up with us last night.

Today we walked all over Barcelona, and had some sangaria at a little cafe in the streets. The weather here is great. We walked to the beach but I think I am spoiled by the beaches in south Florida, so I wasn´t too impressed. hahahahaa.

Also I saw a new hair style today....I call it the drullet. It´s a dread-mullet. hahahaha. short on the top, long dreads on the back. Hopefully this hairstyle catches on in the states soon!

Espana

Jess and I just arrived in Spain. We are staying in the most amazing little hostel called Mambo Tango. It´s very artsy and the owners are so incredibly nice. I love it here. Now I just need to brush up on my spanish... hola...como estas....muy bien... :)

London was so fun. Jess and I found so many things to do there and we didn´t pay a dime!!! Which is great cuz are dollar isn´t worth anything compared to the british pound!

Yesterday we went to the Tate Museum...it´s all modern art...I saw many pieces by Picasso, Kandisky, Pollack, and many others. That place is HUGE and it´s FREE. Yep...FREE.

We also checked out the Hillsong church. Its a church based out of Australia, but they have a church base in London. They meet in this beautiful theatre where the musical Queen is playing right now. It was amazing!!!

We ate at the best meditteranean restaurant. It was right by our hostel in Picadilly Circus - which is London´s mini Time Square! Anyway, this restaurant was called Jumbos, and they had homemade hummus and tabouli. Jess and I fell in love. And actually the owner fell in love with me. hahaha. His name was Rosario. He told me that I stole his heart and he will throw away the key until I come back... oh by the way, he was Italian. So I had my first little taste of the ´´italian playa´´

well i am off to dinner. hopefully i can upload some new pics soon....

I arrived in London yesterday at 8am, after an 8 hour flight + 5 hours lost in time travel space. I just wanted to sleep, but couldn't check into the hostel till 2pm (I arrived at 11am) I fell asleep for an hour in the lobby, and I think I was drooling on myself when a couple other travelers walked in and looked at me funny. I just sighed *jet lag* and they nodded in agreement.

Well today I am rested!!! And Jess and I walked all over London. Our hostel is one block from Hyde Park. And we lucked out with really amazing weather. It was sunny and breezy, perfect walking weather. Although, I think I am a little out of shape, because toward the end of the day, my hip started hurting like an old grandma!

So I am still trying to get used to the European way of thinking. Jess and I ate in this cute little cafe today. And when we finished our meals, I looked over at the waitress to tell her we were done, but she was sitting having lunch with the other staff!!! They had a seven course lunch, and 40 minutes later she came over to ask if we wanted anything else. Yeah, the check would be nice. ahahahhaa. I have to get out of the rush rush mentality!

We walked to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. And stopped for a bit in the Buckingham Palace Gardens. The gardens here are gorgeous! Everything is in bloom and the flowers smell like heaven. Every couple steps I have to stop to smell the roses!

Well, we are off to hang out in Covent Garden and see some street performers...

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

...don't know when I'll be back again!

I fly to Europe in three days!