Part 4: All Good Things Must Come to an End

Day #10
Since it's taken me over a year to write this the rest of this may be a little sketchy, tragic I know. My own fault I don't take the time to write it down when it happens! From Bern we went by train down to Geneva. I think I felt most out of place in Switzerland and specifically on this train ride because everyone spoke German and that is one language I definitely can't get any sort of idea what they're saying. There was a cute family on the train and the kids kept trying to talk to us and all we could do was smile, pretty sure they thought we were idiots! From Geneva we went by bus over into France to Annecy where Tash had been going to school for the summer. Gorgeous town on a lake. Got ice cream at Tash's favorite place then went and sat by the lake and wandered through town before packing up Tash's room to head to Paris the next day then home!

 Day #11
Train up to Paris took most of the morning. Can I just say traveling through Paris with huge luggage to get Tash's stuff home was nearly a nightmare. All I'm going to say. After dropping off luggage we took off for more Paris sight seeing. Started off going to the Musee d'Orsay, had to hit up one museum while in Paris and didn't have the time to tackle the Louvre so we settled on Tash's favorite, mainly impressionist, Monet, Manet, Renoir, De Gas, and Van Gogh.

Then we crossed the Seine over to the Louvre and walked around the grounds then head down the Champs-Elysees which is essentially a schwanky street filled with shops and ends with the Arch de Triumph, the biggest mess of a roundabout you'll ever see but pretty cool. And it happened to be the 4th of July and they did a little military tribute under the Arch. And why not end the day and the trip with a performance of Les Miserables? In Paris. Yes that cool. I'll be honest I'm not the biggest fan of listening to broadway music, couldn't stand Wicked when all the music came out probably because I didn't know the story and was honestly turned off from getting to know the story by that dang song 'Popular', anyway, seen it twice now and absolutely love it. Not that I dislike the music to Les Mes but clearly didn't appreciate it until I saw it in person and love loved it! And it wasn't in French! Not sure if I was the only one surprised by that or not. 

Day #12 
Time to go home. Paris airport=nightmare. I swear I had to show my passport 5 different times just in case I got past the last guy since it is a little disorganized. Stood in the security line for for-ev-er to the point that they eventually called for anyone on my flight to get their butts to the front of the line or you'll miss your flight. Did happen to meet a missionary couple on their way home, recognized their Murdock Travel bags, and another two guys who'd been visiting one of their parents who are mission presidents in Sweden or Norway, can't remember. Don't worry that they were all on their way to Salt Lake as well but got on the non-stop flight, thanks for rubbing it in. So finally, after showing my passport one more time, getting patted down through security, did I mention that happened when we flew to Venice as well, anyway, I ran, literally, down the terminal to my gate, plane was already boarding and as they scan my ticket they tell me to wait and go talk to the ladies at the desk. I'm thinking they're not going to let me go home. Apparently there was a guy wanting to go to Cincinnati where my layover was so they wanted to move me from this flight to the non-stop flight to Salt Lake, would I be ok with that? Um hello, sign me up! Only down side, instead of my window seat I got one smack in the middle of two guys. Friendly guys but didn't really want to ask either of them if I could sleep on their shoulder. So it turned out my new flight leaves from the opposite end of the terminal and they're waiting for me there too so I start running to the other end while calling my mom (yes it was 2 in the morning at home i'm pretty sure) to let her know that I'm going to be in sooner but I don't know when and I don't know my flight number and I'm running and I'm sorry to wake you but can you find it all out and pick me up on time? My mom's the best, there and waiting when I landed.

Part 3: Goodbye Mediterranean Sea

Day #7 continued
Found a bakery in the first town, Riomaggiore where we were staying the night, and had yummy greasy focaccia bread. Mine was a tomato and Tash's onion. Cinque Terre is apparently where focaccia bread and pesto originated so it seemed fitting to try both while there. We walked over to the second town and took the vineyard walk that winds up the mountain through lemon and grape vineyards, found a restaurant and had pesto pasta then headed back to the first town for the night.

Day #8
Took the train to the 4th and 5th towns where it's a little more beachy and hung out for the day. The water was so clear but so salty, you could taste it on your hands for a long time after.

 

I figured since we were at sea level it would take a lot to get some sun so why bother with sunscreen especially when you’re only allowed a quart bag of liquids for carry-on right? Oh don't worry that we got fried, well I got fried and Tash just added to her tan. Pretty sure everyone was staring at my bright red legs when we were walking back through town.

Day #9

Woke up at the crack of dawn to catch our 5:30 train out of town, surprisingly with 4-5 other people-the crazies. Took the train to Milan then up to Bern, Switzerland. We didn't get into Bern until late afternoon but walked through town to our hostel then explored the town. It was probably one of my more favorite cities, really clean, good shopping, delicious chocolate, giant human sized chess sets randomly placed throughout the town and people just sit around and cheer the guys on, concert in the park, bear pit, yes I said bear pit. Oh and did I mention chocolate? Legitimate Swiss chocolate, so good.

Part 2: And it continues

Day #5 continued
Tash's dad has a mission companion who lives there and we were going to spend the night with them. We laughed and assured him we were in the right place.

Brother Marchisini came and picked us up, about got attacked by some flying bug that we were informed if bit/stung us we'd have to go to the hospital, and we had dinner with his family and another family from the ward. The food was great, real Italian food, and the dessert was amazing, still wondering if I can find out the recipe-some kind of layered mascarpone cake with cocoa on top. The area was beautiful and foresty and just a really comfortable place to be.
Day #6
Left early, after splitting the last piece of cake for breakfast, and headed on to Florence. Stayed with the cutest little Italian lady who went off in Italian and somehow you understood her. Wandered through the street markets, loads of leather jackets, purses, shoes, and scarves. Don't worry, I didn't even buy a purse! Went to the Duomo and walked through it, saw the replica of the David since my reservations were 1/2 hour after we needed to catch the train the next day so we missed the real thing. The main thing Florence is known for and we missed it! We met up with some of Tash's friends she studied with in France and had dinner and finished it off with some more gelato.
Day #7Got out early to hike up the Duomo. Wow, winding stairs and straight up, 400 and something steps to the top, did I mention it was hot and humid? We headed back to the market's in Florence to find some souvenirs: italian leather sandals and a couple scarves. Stopped at the fruit market for a pastry and some fruit for the ride to the Cinque Terre then headed to the train station and on to the coast. The Cinque Terre is five little villages that are on the Mediterranean coast of Italy just above Pisa. Each basically has a main road with buildings/houses up the mountainside on each side.
The mountains are covered with vineyards tiered up the sides. Trails connect each town that you can hike, between 20-90 minutes each. . .

Part 1: My flight flew!

Day #1
Flight flew. Yeahh!! I was able to get a nonstop flight from Salt Lake to Paris this time and oh man I can't imagine doing it any other way. Left SLC at 5:00 p.m., watched a couple movies, read my book, oh and didn't sleep at all.
Day #2
Arrived in Paris at noon, got lost in the metro, found Tash and made it to our hotel. Spent the afternoon walking along the Seine from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower, ate baguettes and cheese, yogurt, and fruit with the locals on the lawn in front of the tower, felt like we walked forever but I think I was just super tired and hot.Day #3
Had a yummy chocolate pastry on our way to the Palace of Versailles just outside of Paris, crazy big Palace and gorgeous gardens. Back in the gardens is Marie Antoinette's hamlet that is so picturesque. Each little building had flower or vegetable gardens surrounding it, looked straight out of a movie. So so cute.

Flew to Venice, found a bus to the island, figured out how to use the Vaporetto boat system at midnight, there are absolutely no cars after the bus station on the island, even the ambulances are boats! To get to our hotel we rode down the Grand Canal, so cool at night.Day #4
Happy Birthday! Yep, the big 24, the last respectable age before it all goes down hill at 25. Good thing I started it out in Venice. Spent the day wandering Venice which honestly you can do in less than a day so we got a little bored. Found the absolute best gelato shop thanks to our new friend Rick Steves. Went to St. Mark's square (opening scene on the Italian job) and walked through St. Mark's Basilica. Listened to the bands, more like small orchestras, outside the shops in the square that night.
Day #5
Took a boat out to Murano island to the glass blowing factories, watched a man make a horse out of a ball of glass and it took probably 5 minutes or less-way cool to see. Got some more gelato, don't worry, Tash surprised the boy and got the 5 scoops and thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.

Took the boat back up the grand canal and caught a train to Bologna then on to Pioppe di Salvaro. We're leaving the city and getting into some serious country side, a little nervous we're going to miss our stop but we find it and get off. Obviously looking out of place with our bags the man in front of us turns around and says, "This is Pioppe, did you mean to get off here?" Favorite quote of the trip. . .