ITALY! - Day 7

"Italy has always had a magnetic north pull on my psyche."
-Frances Mayes

I still love this quote, even though Italy hasn't completely always had a pull on my psyche. But it sure has since I left!

Before I left for this trip, I was excited to see Italy, but not any more than England, Switzerland, or Greece. I was probably the most excited for France. I'd taken years of French in high school, and just knew it would be my favorite. And it was beautiful, it completely met every expectation I had...but Italy blew me away. It is without a doubt the most beautiful country in the world. No question.

And now, two years later, Italy is all I can think about. Now, my high school French is nearly all but forgotten, and my college major is Italian.

All I've been doing the last two years is trying to get back. (Hopefully next summer for study abroad!)

Anyways, first up is stunning Verona, home of the story of Romeo and Juliette..

Arena of Verona
Italy's beautiful flag

Love notes from around the world, near Juliette's balcony below

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Lovely piazza

Suisse - Day 6

View of Luzern
Löwendenkmal - Lion Monument

Hofkirche

Luzern by night

So green!

Switzerland - Day 5

After taking the TGV across some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen, I landed in Bern where I spent a few hours strolling and taking photos before heading to Luzern, where I stayed the next two days.

Roger's country is certainly a charming one!

Pretty building near the Münster (Cathedral) of Berne
Zytglogge clock tower - Bern
Bear pit in Bern
Beautiful Jesuit Church
Kapellbrücke

I love Paris in the Springtime - Day 4

My last day in Paris two years ago included some more sightseeing at the Opera House, Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame, a visit to the Palace of Versailles, and a sunset cruise on the Seine.

Yesterday I was watching the film Sabrina (the newer version with Harrison Ford) and I heard this lovely quote I had forgotten about:

Sabrina: I used to walk everywhere in Paris. I used to walk from Montmartre down into the center of the town. Along the Seine there is a four mile walk that goes from Isle Saint Germain to the Pont de Bercy. Takes you past all the bridges of Paris, twenty-three of them. Then you find one you love and you go there everyday with your coffee and your journal, and you listen to the river.

Linus: What does it tell you?

Sabrina: ...That’s between you and the river.

I hope one day I can stay in Paris long enough to find my favorite bridge in Paris and listen to what the river has to say to me.

Les Invalides

View from a window at Versailles

Notre Dame

Sunset on the Seine, Notre Dame

I found myself in Paris - Day 3

The minute I stepped off the train at the Gare de Lyon, I fell in love with Paris.

I visited many masculine cities on my tour: London, Florence, Rome, Athens...but this city is beautifully and unmistakeably feminine.

Two years ago today, I was sightseeing around Paris, visiting the Louvre, and taking pictures of the Seine from the top of the Eiffel Tower... Oh, what I would give to be back in the City of Light right now!

I hope you enjoy these photos:

Arc de Triomphe
The Louvre is to me (having extensively studied art history) as Disneyland is to a six-year-old...

La Tour Eiffel

London, Day 2

As I mentioned in my last post, for the next three weeks I'll be "revisiting" (in my mind) the beautiful places throughout Europe I had the chance to see two years ago.

Two years ago today, I travelled to Windsor and got to see a bit more of thrilling London.

Buckingham Palace

Square outside of Buckingham Palace (I can never remember its name), London

A view from the side of St. Paul's Cathedral, London

Door, Windsor (many more of these to come, for some reason I love taking photos of different doors!)

The Queen's Garden, Windsor Castle

It is difficult to speak adequately, or justly, of
London. It is not a pleasant place; it is not agreeable, or easy, or exempt from reproach. It is only magnificent.

- Henry James

I left my heart in Italy...and France... and Switzerland and England... oh yeah and Greece.

Exactly two years ago today I took my first step in Europe after getting off the plane at the London Gatwick Airport.

As a senior in high school, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to England, France, Switzerland, Italy and Greece over the course of three months. This trip has changed my life in words I cannot express in and in ways I never knew I could. To say the least, it's completely a part of who I am today, and it's had an incredible impact in helping me realize what I want to do with my life.

In lieu of this life-altering three weeks I had, I'm going to post a few of my favorite photos from each of the days I spent there (many of them happen to be photos from the happiest days of my life) over the next few weeks.

First up is Day 1 in exciting London... enjoy