Italy vs Europe

Anywhere but here

Looks like Mother Nature decided to play a trick on me today. Snow in April? Really? Right now, more than ever, I'd give anything to be back near the Mediterranean.

(Preferably Italy, of course...)

(Photos 1,2,3 - mine; photo 4 - Venice Daily Photo; photo 5 - unknown)

Athens - Last Day

Well, it was two years ago today my incredible trip ended (sigh)....

So, this ends my reminiscing about the beautiful places I dream of one day returning to. I'm kind of excited to get back to my usual posting about things that make me happy and other random stuff! (Although this probably won't be the last you'll hear of my trip...)

I hope you like these photos of extraordinary Athens!

View of Athens from the Acropolis

The Parthenon - may I also mention this day was the hottest Athens had experienced in over 100 years?! And there was no shade ANYWHERE. It was still beautiful though.

The Erechtheion

At the markets--me and my friends: all colors, shapes, and sizes

Old door near the markets

Greece!

I'm sorry I have been a bad blogger, this week has been crazy busy. Here are some of my photos of my last day in Italy (Sorrento and Pompeii) and my Greek cruise to Mykonos, Patmos, and Santorini!

Sorrento Harbor

more Sorrento

Pompeii

Ancient streets of Pompeii

One day will erupt again...

Beautiful street of Mykonos

Windmills of Mykonos

Grecian sunset

Don't you wish this was your patio?

Patmos

Bright little jollyboats - don't they look like toys?

The caldera of Santorini - I hiked it! And went swimming in the hot springs around it!

Easily one of the best days of my life... It was incredible.

View of Santorini

Classic blue and white church

Stay tuned for pictures of Athens tomorrow,

Kalispera!

Capri

"You may have the universe if I may have Italy."
-Giuseppe Verdi

I feel the same way, Verdi.

Capri (pronounced CAH-pri, not like the pants) is a beautiful, ritzy island off the coast of Sorrento, where lemon trees and buganvilla flowers are literally dapertutto (everywhere)!

enjoy

Mt. Vesuvius

The Blue Grotto (learn more here)

the Harbor

Can you believe how blue this water is?!

La Bella Roma - Day 12

Rome is so beautiful, I'm not even going to try and explain it in words. I'll let these pictures speak for themselves.

Colosseum

La fontana Trevi

St. Peter's blew me away

The Mouth of Truth

Una ragazza in the Piazza Navona

Siena - Day 11

"Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life. "
- Anna Akhmatova

Siena is a beautiful hillside town in Toscana where I will hopefully (fingers crossed!) be living next summer. I was captured by the beautiful architecture and the tranquility I felt after just having visited tourist hot-spots such as Florence and Venice. It was to get away from big crowds for a day.

Sorry my photos are not the greatest--these are completely raw and have gone straight from my camera to this blog. I'm hoping to get Photoshop in the near future so I can show beautiful places with justice!

(read more about my reminiscence of my trip here)

Palazzo Publico (town hall) - I climbed all the way to the top of this tower!

View from the Torre del Mangia

Duomo of Siena

San Domenico

A serene street of Siena

Firenze - Days 9 & 10

As nearly impossible as it is to choose a favorite city, I think Florence is mine (with Rome in a very close second place). I love all the history that is rooted here: from the Medicis, to the many architects and artists, old palazzi (palaces), and famous writers such as Dante and Machiavelli. This city is, after all, home of the Renaissance.

There is so much to do here almost overwhelming. One could spend a month in Florence visiting museums, churches, and landmarks and still not see everything!

Best. Lasagne. Ever.
Michelangelo's David

Ponte Vecchio

Brunelleschi's Duomo

View of Firenze

Venezia - Day 8

"Travelling is the ruin of all happiness! There's no looking at a building here after seeing Italy."

-Fanny Burney

So true.

Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs)

Piazza San Marco

San Giorgio Maggiore

Ponte Rialto