When in Rome

It’s hard to believe that in just over a month I will be journeying back to the United States. Although I feel like I have been in Austria for a long time it also feels like just yesterday I was getting on the plane to Austria. My time here has been eye opening and everyday I feel myself being challenged by cultural differences. I think part of me thought I was already pretty accepting of differences. I had always talked that way but while in Europe I find myself constantly wishing for the United States and rejecting some of the culture in Europe. Although I feel like I’m doing a better job of adapting then when I first got here I of course have plenty of room to grow.

Over this past week I did not have class so I took a trip to Italy with my friend from Turkey. We went to 4 cities in 5 days. Although it was doable I am completely exhausted after my travels. I started off my journey by taking my first ever night train from Linz to Venice. I didn’t get much sleep on the train but the time did seem to go by pretty fast. We arrived in Venice at 8:30 in the morning and all I wanted to do was eat some food and find a bet. Due to the limited time and the cities we wanted to see we were only in Venice for the day. Luckily, with the right plan and motivation seeing a lot of Venice in one day is completely double. 

enjoying the canals

The canals are absolutely beautiful and getting lost in the small streets is very peaceful. If you go to Venice I do suggest doing the water taxi especially if you don’t like walking. Navigating the streets of Venice can be very confusing even with a map. There are many small ones that dead end and finding your way around can be difficult. My friend and I didn’t use the water taxies. For one, they were not running because of a rowboat event, and secondly we were trying to save money any way we could! Needless to say we took the wrong turn often but, honestly it was okay because it would lead us a way from the really touristy areas and into peaceful streets. The day in Venice was great; we had great weather, great pizza, and great gelato. The sights were beautiful, and we left more tired than we came with sore backs from carrying our bags and worn shoes from all the walking.

In order to have the most efficient trip ever we took a night bus from Venice to Rome. I know crazy right two days with no bed, shower, or privacy! The night bus was not bad but I arrived in Rome at 6 am and if any of you have seen me sleep deprived you know I turn into a 5 year old when I have not had enough sleep. Luckily the friend I was traveling with was patient with me and we found food and Wi-Fi before embarking into Rome.

hope my wish comes true

 Our first stop in Rome was the Vatican. After figuring out the Roman metro system we reached our destination and got into line. Now if I had had a little more sleep and done a little more research on getting into the Vatican I would of just stayed in the line I was in and gotten into the Vatican without problem. The key is to get there early before the lines. This was not the case; my friend and I were persuaded into taking a guided tour through the Vatican and the Basilica. We probably paid double the amount we normally would but my brain was not fully functioning so you live and you learn. The Vatican museum was very impressive; I especially loved the hall of maps. Knowing my dads love for maps I wanted nothing more than him to be there with me boring me with his knowledge of them. I would of enjoyed to have been “bored” with map knowledge. After the Vatican Museum we ventured into the Sistine Chapel. The chapel was beautiful but in my honest opinion it was anti climatic. Yes the portraits were beautifully painted but I have seen much more impressive churches and chapels in my time in Europe. In fact right after the chapel we entered into St Peters Basilica which I found much more impressive with the enormously high ceilings and extravagant architecture. After the time in the Vatican we made our way to my favorite meal of the trip. 

At Piazza Venezia 

We went to a restaurant not far from the Vatican so yes it was a tourist spot but I had the best pizza there. After the Vatican we made our way to our first hostel, Mr. Rome. The hostel was nice set up an old historical apartment about a 15-minute walk from the coliseum. Although we only had two days in Rome we thought it both necessary to take a short nap before journeying back into the city. 

It's even better on the inside

The next day and a half in Rome was spent walking between all the landmarks and sights. Our feet were tired but our hearts full. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you are standing face to face with buildings and historical places you have spent your whole life learning about and seeing in films. It’s a feeling that I will absolutely never get over. Walking the streets of Rome and visiting places like the Coliseum and Trevi Fountain is such an unreal feeling. The old buildings in Rome are huge the Romans built building as if they were gods. Which they kind of thought they were. Overall Rome was beautiful and the weather while we were there was fantastic. 

In Florence

On the fourth morning we journeyed from Rome to Florence. My only knowledge of Florence before going was what my cousin Jenny has told me. In fact she gave me an entire itinerary for my day in Florence. If you ever need to know what to do in a city ask my cousin if she has been because she gives great recommendations on attractions and restaurants! In Florence we went to the leather market where I indulged myself and bought a purse, I couldn’t resist. We saw the Duomo, which unlike most churches I have visited; outside architecture was more impressive than the inside. 

Watching the sunset over Florence

By far though my favorite part was watching the sunset over the city of Florence from Michelangelo Plaza. We were probably there for two hours. We wanted to see the view in the daytime so we got there just before sunset, watched the sunset and then waited for the night to come to life. Watching the sunset over the city was very peaceful and I couldn’t help feeling super content with not only my time in Italy but also my time in Europe. I feel more than ready to face the so-called “real” world now after my time here. I feel more mature, less nervous about others thoughts about me, and ready to make a difference in the world no matter how small. I would have been completely happy to watch the sunset over Florence for the rest of my life. Unfortunately our time in Florence came to an end and our time in Italy soon followed. Our last day in Italy mirrored the way I felt. 

Standing with Juliet

For our last day we visited the city of Verona the setting for William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet. The weather, having been so wonderful the entire trip was the worst. It rained the entire day and was very cold. The city of Verona was very beautiful, peaceful and romantic and I’m sure I would have enjoyed it the most if I hadn’t been cold and wet all day.  We were able to go to Juliet’s balcony but unfortunately due to the rain I was not able to write my letter to Juliet. I’ll just have to come back, next time hopefully with my very own Romeo.  Italy was wonderful, with the best food I have eaten in Europe and more gelato than a girl could ever want. I don’t think I have ever been more exhausted than the time I spent in Italy and upon entering the night train back to Linz I was more than ready to be back in my dorm bed. Little did I know my Italian adventure was not yet over. 

We now enter into the tale of the great train robbery. A thrilling tale about a young mid-western girl who travels upon the night train from Venice to Linz with little thought in her mind besides her wonderful time spent in Italian cities. The night started like any other, the girl found her way to her seat. Met her very nice companions from the Philippines who were interested about her time so far in Europe. As the night continued on, the girl grew sleepier and sleepier until she could no longer keep her eyes open. At first knowing the dangers of the train she clutched onto her purse as she slept but, alas in the night she slowly took the strap off from around her body because it was chocking her. Farther into the night the bag fell to the floor. Seeing as she was at the back of the compartment and her new friends legs blocked the door she thought little of it and fell back asleep. When she awoke 30 minutes from home she was struck with panic as her purse had gone missing. As she freaked out about her lost passport, money, kindle, and id her new friends from the Philippines calmed her down and found the authorities. The authorities found the bag in the near by bathroom and to her utter relief the only thing missing was 25 euros and some American dollars. Lucky for the mid-western girl her newfound friends were generous beyond belief and offered her some money to use to buy breakfast when she reached Linz. After her tears had dried and she realized how lucky she was she accepted the gift and returned safely back to the city of Linz. The End. 

I think I was most embarrassed about my misfortune because I knew the dangers of thieves and pickpockets on the trains. I’m so grateful for my new friends from the Philippines who took pity on a mid-western girl. 

standing just outside the ice cave

After my journey through Italy, I am beyond ready to spend more time in nature because I am not a city person and for the last 4 months that is all I have seen. I did get a taste of nature this past Sunday when I journeyed to Werfen a small village near Salzburg where I visited the largest Ice cave in the world. We were able to eat lunch with a beautiful view of the Alps. That day I also walked the equivalent of 96 flights of stairs, and after walking five days straight in Italy my legs were shaking by the end of the day. I hope that my last month in Europe can be spent with more time enjoying the beautiful nature and scenery of Austria. I am excited to journey once again back home the United States but I will cherish every last moment that I have in Europe. In the words of Saint Augustine, 

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Love, Alex