Brussels

Just got home from a long, crazy, not long enough vacation through Europe. I suppose I'll start at the end and work my way back, I ran into a couple of friends on the train ride back to florence and we were able to share a couple bottles of champagne together and now I'm attempting to record my wanderings (so bear with me).

1st stop Brussels. Not a very popular tourist stop, and I probably wouldn't have gone there except that the flight was 10 Euro's, but Brussels was a grand time. I stayed in a hostel called Van Gogh Hostel, in a 10 person dorm. My travelling buddy took a later flight than mine and never showed up at the hostel, of course I was worried, but I though perhaps she had just missed her flight so I decided not to worry. I spent the first part of night one at the hostel bar where I met many kids my age (plus older and younger) from all over europe. I ended up going with a french girl (who had an extreeeemly thick accent) and a swiss girl to a blues bar in downtown Brussels. The next day I explored  Brussels a bit and this is what I saw...

Somehow the most famous statue in Brussels is of this small boy peeing. Down the street they put a small girl peeing (for equality...) I think they have gone a bit mad.

Greetings from Spain!

A little bits about italy/italians.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHWBL9_alKshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHWBL9_alKs

View of Firenze

Wine country

Spent the day in Chianti yesterday at a CASTLE! Not just any castle either, a castle that has been producing Chianti wine for over 800 years. We learned a but of history about wine, particularly Chianti wine. This Tuscan wine is the red wine that comes form the vineyards only in Chianti. A long time ago others were trying to use the Chianti name for their red wine as well because of the great reputation that it carries, but winegrowers in Chianti didn't approve and this started a bit of a fight. The fight resulted in the black rooster that you will see only on authentic Chianti wines (as well as a pink seal on the bottle).

We were able to sample many different wines made at this vineyard as well as a delicious Italian meal including homemade balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil! I also had the chance to tour the beautiful castle and enjoy the wonderful views!

View on the way.
Wine Tasting!
Our guide stressed that wine is life and you have to love and respect it.

Venice!

Just got back from the most beautiful city in Italy, Venizia! Its almost magical to be in a place where the roads are full of boats instead of cars... I felt like I was swaying back and forth the whole time from being on so many boats. They have boat busses, boat taxi's, gondolas (of course) even boat limousines (although I only rode on the busses). I also had a chance to explore the beach on the island of Lido (which is the island our hotel was on).

But the most spectacular thing I did in Venice was a trip to the Bienalle, an international art show.  For those of you who have ever been to epcot you would know that it is a grouping of different buildings each representing a country and the insides contain representative shops and restaurants of that place. The Beinalle was similar to this only inside of each was filled with artwork from each country. There was so much amazing artwork and inspiring ideas my head was spinning.

The last thing we did in Venice was a trip to Murano to a glass blowing demonstration. In order to be a glass blower you have to be very talented, then go through about 25 years of training! In Murano the whole city is just shops full of glass. They had glass jewelry, glass sculptures, chandeliers, animals, anything you could think of, I even saw a glass violin.

http://www.labiennale.org/en/Home.html