Today is December 31, 2008.
I just explored Florence.
And now I am going to get ready to eat dinner in the romantic Tuscan countryside.
Sigh.
And then,
clubbing to ring in 2009.
in Florence. Lets say that again.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! CONTIKI IS FAWESOME!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Hello from Europa!
Greetings from Europe. After almost a full day of traveling, I have safely arrived. Yesterday was a whirlwind of a jet-lagged day as the 21 other young, American travelers and myself were whisked around Munich, later to enjoy a private dinner seating at an exciting and warm (!!) Hofbrauhaus at night. Beer was sloshed, cups were clanked, songs were sung. It was a great and welcoming first night.
Today we are in Ahhhnold's home, Austria, where we rode swift gondolas up snow-capped mountains. Unfortunately we don't have enough time for me to strap on some skis and join the locals, but I'm taking a break from strolling through the quiant city to write this post in an internet cafe, which coincidentally is a cafe I've visited in 2006 with friends (it's next to the Magic Pizza Shop where we got in trouble for bringing the pizza onto the bus, haha!).
It's positively freezing, but I'm glad to have brought my thickest coat (it's still not enough though!). I'm off to Venice and Florence in a bit, then Switzerland and finally Paris. Updates soon and huge hugs from me to you!
Today we are in Ahhhnold's home, Austria, where we rode swift gondolas up snow-capped mountains. Unfortunately we don't have enough time for me to strap on some skis and join the locals, but I'm taking a break from strolling through the quiant city to write this post in an internet cafe, which coincidentally is a cafe I've visited in 2006 with friends (it's next to the Magic Pizza Shop where we got in trouble for bringing the pizza onto the bus, haha!).
It's positively freezing, but I'm glad to have brought my thickest coat (it's still not enough though!). I'm off to Venice and Florence in a bit, then Switzerland and finally Paris. Updates soon and huge hugs from me to you!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The Gift of Travel (I'm off to Europe with Contiki!)
Happy Holidays, everyone.
I've been truly blessed this year with an incredible opportunity to go on a trip with Contiki Holidays, a travel-vacation company for 18-35 year-olds with tours to Europe (Greek Island Hopping included!), Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, and Asia. Phew!
As I'm taking a break from helping my family with Christmas feast preparations, I wanted to update and let ya'll know where I'll be from 12/26-1/7 with Contiki.
I depart from LAX for Munich on 12/26 on a 6am flight (mmm, what an hour).
Sat 12/27 - Arrive Munich. Explore & check out the Hofbrauhaus beerhall for dinner. Yo ho.
Sun 12/28 - Munich to Innsbruck via Hopfgarten (Austria). We'll visit the ski village of Hopfgarten for lunch and then a trip to the top of the ALPS! Then we'll go to Innsbruck and wander this adorable town & soak in the snow-capped Alps that will surround us. I hope it'll be just like "The Holiday" - cute & quaint & warm (ya, I know. "Aww!").
Mon 12/29 - Munich to Venice. Gondola rides, St. Mark's square, delicious pizza & even better wine, and a little Italian romance, perhaps? Hah.
Tues 12/30 - Venice to Florence. Ah, Tuscany. Good thing my friends and I just watched "Under the Tuscan Sun"! Although it'll be a bit colder, we'll enjoy our cobble-stone strolls and reminiscings of the Renaissance.
Wed 12/31 - Florence. A full day! With my fellow Contiki go-ers, we will have a tour of this beautiful city, including the Piazza della Signoria. I'll have to watch my wallet as we'll have tons of free time to shop. Oh, and did I mention...
NEW YEAR'S IN FLORENCE, ITALY! It's pretty sweet, no? I'll be counting down 2009 in a very...bella..city...oh man do I need to start learning some Italian.
Thurs 1/1 - Florence to Lucerne, Switzerland - an absolutely BREATHTAKING place. Serene, medieval, LOVELY. I can't use any other words to describe it. I've been to Lucerne before, but never during the winter, and I'm tantilized by the opportunity to warm myself up with some Swiss hot chocolate. Mmm =)
Fri 1/2 - Luc
ern to Paris. We'll drive past vineyards and arrive to a sparkling Eiffel Tower. Sigh :)
Sat 1/3 - Paris. Another free day to explore! Perhaps I'll visit the Louvre, Notre Dame, or maybe stroll down the Champs Elysees? Dinner in the Montmarter district with my fellow Contiki go-ers.
Sun 1/4 - Au revoir a Contiki. But...
1/4 - 1/7 - Family time with my cousins in Paris!
Contact Info:
-I will not have a phone, but will use phone cards.
-I will be mostly communicating via email from the many Internet cafes available in Europe
-Email me at kristinaxlee@gmail.com!
______________________________________________
On the preparation note, my 44 lb. suitcase is packed with lots of layerable clothes to keep me *hopefully* warm and toasty in the foggy/rainy/snowy streets of Europe. Not sure if I'm prepared for this kind of cold, as the "California cold" is to be scoffed at by others, but hey - gotta live it up and experience new things, right?
The next time you'll hear from me, I'll be across the world. Look forward to new posts!
Merry Christmas.
Ciao,
Kristina
I've been truly blessed this year with an incredible opportunity to go on a trip with Contiki Holidays, a travel-vacation company for 18-35 year-olds with tours to Europe (Greek Island Hopping included!), Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, and Asia. Phew!
As I'm taking a break from helping my family with Christmas feast preparations, I wanted to update and let ya'll know where I'll be from 12/26-1/7 with Contiki.
I depart from LAX for Munich on 12/26 on a 6am flight (mmm, what an hour).
Sat 12/27 - Arrive Munich. Explore & check out the Hofbrauhaus beerhall for dinner. Yo ho.
Sun 12/28 - Munich to Innsbruck via Hopfgarten (Austria). We'll visit the ski village of Hopfgarten for lunch and then a trip to the top of the ALPS! Then we'll go to Innsbruck and wander this adorable town & soak in the snow-capped Alps that will surround us. I hope it'll be just like "The Holiday" - cute & quaint & warm (ya, I know. "Aww!").
Mon 12/29 - Munich to Venice. Gondola rides, St. Mark's square, delicious pizza & even better wine, and a little Italian romance, perhaps? Hah.
Tues 12/30 - Venice to Florence. Ah, Tuscany. Good thing my friends and I just watched "Under the Tuscan Sun"! Although it'll be a bit colder, we'll enjoy our cobble-stone strolls and reminiscings of the Renaissance.
Wed 12/31 - Florence. A full day! With my fellow Contiki go-ers, we will have a tour of this beautiful city, including the Piazza della Signoria. I'll have to watch my wallet as we'll have tons of free time to shop. Oh, and did I mention...
NEW YEAR'S IN FLORENCE, ITALY! It's pretty sweet, no? I'll be counting down 2009 in a very...bella..city...oh man do I need to start learning some Italian.
Thurs 1/1 - Florence to Lucerne, Switzerland - an absolutely BREATHTAKING place. Serene, medieval, LOVELY. I can't use any other words to describe it. I've been to Lucerne before, but never during the winter, and I'm tantilized by the opportunity to warm myself up with some Swiss hot chocolate. Mmm =)
Fri 1/2 - Luc
ern to Paris. We'll drive past vineyards and arrive to a sparkling Eiffel Tower. Sigh :)Sat 1/3 - Paris. Another free day to explore! Perhaps I'll visit the Louvre, Notre Dame, or maybe stroll down the Champs Elysees? Dinner in the Montmarter district with my fellow Contiki go-ers.
Sun 1/4 - Au revoir a Contiki. But...
1/4 - 1/7 - Family time with my cousins in Paris!
Contact Info:
-I will not have a phone, but will use phone cards.
-I will be mostly communicating via email from the many Internet cafes available in Europe
-Email me at kristinaxlee@gmail.com!
______________________________________________
On the preparation note, my 44 lb. suitcase is packed with lots of layerable clothes to keep me *hopefully* warm and toasty in the foggy/rainy/snowy streets of Europe. Not sure if I'm prepared for this kind of cold, as the "California cold" is to be scoffed at by others, but hey - gotta live it up and experience new things, right?
The next time you'll hear from me, I'll be across the world. Look forward to new posts!
Merry Christmas.
Ciao,
Kristina
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