The walkways in Venice were full of shops and restaurants making it nearly impossible to know in what direction to go next. I found myself going in circles and making it to dead ends trying to make my way across the island. After two days I managed to make my way through the city and took a train to Florence, a city known for its Renaissance art and architecture.
I ended up taking a day trip to Pisa where I managed to taking basic tourist photos and witness more of Italy’s beautiful architecture. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was definitely the highlight of this trip as well as watching the tourist desperately try and capture a great photo. I did not get to spend as much time as I would have hoped as the majority of the shops were closed on Sunday. From Pisa I was very excited to take a train ride and act like Lizzie McGuire in the beautiful city of Rome. Rome was truly magical and exceeded my expectations! It was as if I was walking in a museum where everywhere I looked I managed to get a glimpse of an important piece of history. I started my first day with a visit to the Colosseum and was impressed with its size and structure! As I walked inside, I could not stop but wonder how many performances and battles were held in this very location. It was remarkable that I was seeing all this in person whereas before I only imagined seeing it in photographs. Rome was VERY hot and waiting in lines with no shade made things tough! I waited about 45 minutes to enter the Vatican but it was totally worth it. The Vatican was beautiful and I was extremely honored to go inside. Rome was full of so many scenic areas such as the Spanish Steps, Fontana di Trevi, and the Roman Forum and I do not believe I spent enough time to grasp all this city had to offer! To end my time in Italy I decided to head south! I ended up in the breathtaking Sorrento, and managed to see the clearest beaches of my life. Sorrento was a small town full of amazing food and shops. It was full of colorful buildings and friendly people looking to relax. On my second day I managed to take a visit to Capri and I HIGHLEY recommend you visit this at least once in your life. Capri was absolutely gorgeous! The water was so clear and the caves were breathtaking! I took a boat tour around the island and could barely take pictures due to being caught up in the moment. I also managed to visit the wonder town of Positano and the Amalfi Coast. Southern Italy was extremely different to the other places I had gone to but they were so amazing. Positano laid right on the coast line where many could be found swimming in the clear waters or tanning on the beach. I am so happy I took two weeks to travel through this amazing country. I knew I would fall in love but I cannot wait to get back! The people, food, and history made me feel as if I was on a different planet. I am so grateful to have experienced this opportunity. Ciao Italy, you will always be in my heart.
-Ricardo
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These past two weeks have been AMAZING! Where do I even start? Throughout this time, I had the opportunity to visit so many wonderful cities! Each of which I have learned so much and have met people from around the globe. My journey has just begun and I can’t emphasize how excited I am for everything that awaits me! I started my journey in the famous city of London. As soon as I got off my flight I was terrified of getting lost and not making it to my hostel. The thought of using the metro (known as The Tube) was one of my biggest fears. As I planned my trip I remember looking at google maps and having a stern look on my face. I would ask friends “How do I do this?” and all they would say was “Oh, that is so easy! You’ll be fine.” As much as I kept my cool, I was freaking out inside. I couldn’t understand why this was so hard for me. Anyway, I ended up making it to the Tube station and asked for help as soon as I saw an employee. All I knew was that I had to make it to Tower Hill Station, where I would later walk about 5 minutes to my hostel. The worker was incredibly helpful and I eased my nerves. I ended up making it to my hostel without getting lost! What a champ right? LOL. My hostel was incredibly nice! It exceeded my expectations and made me feel very welcomed. I shared my room with 4 Aussies and 1 guy from California, all of which were lone travelers like myself. I began my day in London by walking alongside the River Thames, visiting the famous Big Ben tower and the London Eye. I was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of tourist but I quickly managed to adjust (I mean I am a tourist too right?). As I walked I was amazed by the different architecture London carried, from the Tower of London, to the Shard and Tate Modern. Each of which was different and from different time periods. The mix of this architecture gave the city a very unique look! As I prepared to eat my first meal I soon realized how expensive London was. At first I thought I landed in a tourist trap where everything on the menu was overpriced but I later found prices stayed fairly consistent in different parts of the city. Either way I was thrilled to be in a different country and begin my journey through Europe. My second day I managed to visit Piccadilly Circus and the Buckingham Palace, the home of the Queen. I was fortunate enough to catch the Queen in her residence as the Royal Flag was hung on top of the palace! This was definitely one of the highlights of London and was worth getting lost to see the impressive residence! Piccadilly Circus was the ideal place to see all my fellow tourists. This road junction was filled with travelers taking pictures of the statue and provoking advertisements. As I stood in this area I have no doubt I was in hundreds of stranger’s photos, photobombing their precious Instagram pictures. This was something that I struggled with so much! I could not get my perfect shot without having a ton of people in my picture, but it was okay because I enjoyed living my life in the moment and not worrying about capturing something for others to see. My journey in London later came to an end and I could not wait to get to Italy. I know I mentioned I would talk about Italy this week but I feel as if Italy needed its own personal post. I will talk to you all next week!
- Ricardo |
AuthorRicardo Perez Archives
October 2018
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