Last Day in Rome

Well we flew out of Venice back to Rome for the last time. It was nice to be back in Rome since we had become quite accostomed to it over the course of the trip. So it was nice to be in a familiar place when we were really tired and preparing to leave.

But none the less, we still had items on our agenda for us to see before we left. The main one was Capitol Hill. On our previous trips we had passed it by, but never actually went into it or spent a lot of time looking at it. So we took a specific trip to go directly to Capitol Hill and walked all around and inside of it. By this time on our trip we were rather tired of site seeing, so we didn't spend too much time there.

Capitol Hill

The rest of the day and evening we spent revisiting our favorite Rome sites. We walked to the Pantheon, past the Trevi Fountain, stared at the Colosseum and the Roman Forum from Capitol hill, visited our favorite Plazas and just enjoyed the city. That evening we had our last italian meal in a back alley italian resturant. The food was delicious and it was nice to find a back alley away from all the tourist attractions.

Before turning in for the night, we had one last gaze at the Pantheon while we had dessert in a cafe nearby. It was a beautiful evening with a full moon and the Pantheon glowing in the back ground. I definitely miss this part of Italy.

The Pantheon...such an incredible structure!

The Sinking City

The following day, Lauren and I woke up and took a bus through the main canal. It was a lovely ride because we were able to just sit and look at the beautiful old buildings lining the canal. It was interesting to think of Venice during it's prime when it housed over a million people and was a major trade location. But I loved the old buildings, even though some had been neglected for many years, the still retained their original charm.

The Grand Canal

After the ride, we walked along the water to the main square, San Marco. During the day, San Marco is a whole different scene than at night. The dueling musicians are no longer there and the square is full of pigeons. Lauren and I were quite lucky that we didn't get hit by any pigeon poop or a pigeon for that fact. There were just so many of them! It was really insane!

Me infront of San Marco Square (Can you see all the pigeons?)

Later that day, we decided to go to Murono Island to see all the beautiful glass and hopefully find some beautiful pieces for ourselves and presents for our families. Murono Island was fun! It was a smaller version of Venice and full of glass shops! Lauren and I first scoped out all the stores and then decided what we wanted to go back for. I'd definitely say we bought a lot, but hey we were in Venice...who really cares. After shopping, we just wantered the city for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Since our Europe trip was quickly coming to an end, we decided to treat ourselves to a wonderful evening and sit in the outside cafes, eat a delicious dessert and listen to the music! It was a great evening to just relax and enjoy the atmosphere!

The Muscians...They were so good!

The Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge at Night

While we were eating our ice cream and enjoying the music, we overheard some people talking about fireworks. And as it turned out that night was some other type of holiday in Italy and there was to be a big firework display that night. We tried to ask some italians what the holiday was...but I don't know if they really understood what we were asking, but it might have been some sort of independence day (but not really sure). However, no matter what holiday it was, Lauren and I enjoyed our second fireworks display of our trip.

The fireworks...we always seemed to have something slightly blocking our view of the fireworks...oh well, they were still beautiful

Below are just some other great photos from Venice.

The Rialto Bridge

One of the smaller Canals

This was the ceiling of our room in Venice. Lauren and I found it slightly discerning...especially since there is a rock up there helping to transfer some of the load...

The Grand Square

We arrived late in Venice to find a transportation strike taking place. Therefore instead of taking the bus "boat" to our hostel, we shared a cab (which again was a boat) with two Australians. They were very nice and definitely helped reduce the cost of the expensive ride.

I loved the boat ride through the canals. During the cab ride I really fell in love with Venice. It was just so different from all the other places we had visited with all of its canals and small bridges. The houses along the canals were quite run down (which was slightly sad) but they still were very charming as their front doors stepped into the canals or padios lead to their boat docks. It was definitely a beautiful entrance to make into Venice.

Once we arrived at our hostel, I took off alone to wander through the streets of Venice. It took me a little while to get oriented, but I was finally able to find myself to Venice's main square "San Marcos." When I arrived I found a beautiful scene where tables were crowded around musicians and many people enjoying the wonderful music.

I took my time to meander by the different Musicians and eventually found a nice place to sit, write and enjoy the beautiful evening. That night in Venice just relaxing and listening to the music was definitley one of my favorite moments. I can't wait to return.

The Return to the Eiffel Tower

The day we were prepared to leave Paris, we took one last visit to the Eiffel Tower. We wanted to make an attempt to visit the very top, but unfortunatly ran out of time. But even without making it all the way up to the top, I had a fabulous time relaxing on the tower. We actually walked up to the 2nd level this time (the walk was suprising easy...perhaps by this time in our trip we were becoming accustomed to stairs).

While on the tower, we took the time to write postcards, relax and enjoy the beautiful view of Paris. Picture of the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower

Me from the Eiffel Tower overlooking Paris

The Firework Show

That evening when we returned to our hostel, we ran into a few of our new Paris friends. It turned out that they were getting ready to head out to go watch the fireworks, so we decided to join them. So we set out with our new group of friends in search of a prime locaiton to watch the show!

We ended up being led to a very crowded area where the Eiffel Tower was hardly in our view (well, at least mine...thanks to me being so short). So four of us left in search of a new location. As we trotted through crowds, down the streets and over small pedestrian bridges we finally found a location we were satisfied with.

The location ended up being right along the river with the Eiffel Tower directly in our view. So we ended up just sitting there for a few hours waiting for the show to start. When the fireworks start, it was an AMAZING show! It was so beautiful to wathc the fireworks with the Eiffel Tower as its backdrop! Unfortunatly we were viewing the show from the side, therefore we were not able to get the full effect, but I still thought it was pretty incredible!

I loved it when it sparkled! It was so beautiful!

The Eiffel Tower alone is impressive, and when you add fireworks...it is even better!

The Long Walk

After the Louvre, we decided to walk down Champs-Elysees Ave to the Arc de Triomphe. I didn't know what was in store for us as we walked down the street. I think I was expecting to take a walk down history to a place where Napoleon's funeral took place. However, instead we found a beautiful park and a street full of shops.

So we took our time and shopped in a few of the crowded stores. And then we finally reached the Arc de Triomphe and decided it wasn't necessary to cross the large round-a-bout to be able to stand directly under it. Not only is that round-a-bout one of the most dangerous in the world, but it was super crowded underneathe the arch. So we passed and after taking a few photos decided to walk back down the street in search of food.

Me infront of Arc de Triomphe

However, of course when you are in dire need for something, you can NEVER find it. So we just kept walking...and walking...finally our adverturous selves took hold and we saw a glittering gold dome and decided to check it out. It ended up being the golden dome of which Napoleon is buried and there was also a large army celebration taking place outside. However, instead of checking out those festivities, we kept walking to find Rodin's Museum.

At Rodin's house we found many of his famous sculptures. "The Thinker", the "Prisoners" and "The Gates of Hell." He also made some very beautiful sculptures of men and women. But the museum was very nice because it was small, quiet, simple and very beautiful. It also had a lovely garden where Lauren and I were about to find some food and rest our tired feet.

"The Thinker," the original is actually very small

After leaving Rodin's House, Lauren and I walked back to Notre Dame. This time we just sat infront of her. This was one thing I loved about Europe...just being able to sit and stare at the magnificient and beautiful buildings like Notre Dame.

The HUGE Museum

While in Paris, we knew we HAD to go to the Lourve. Not only is it the museum of all museums, but it houses some of the most famous paintings (the Mona Lisa). So we woke up early and quickly made it to the Lourve to try to beat most of the crowds. We were actually kinda worried that it wouldn't be open since it was France's Independence day...however we soon discovered that it wasn't only open, it was free.

Me infront of the Lourve Entrance

It was quite lucky that the museum was free...but at the same time unlucky because it was bound to be more crowded than normal. So once inside the museum Lauren and I made a mad dash to get our view of the Mona Lisa. I found the painting to be quite incredible (no wonder it is so famous) and I especially loved her smile! It makes it seem as if she is hidding something and will not let you know what it is...because she is just having too much fun keeping you guessing. I also really liked the painting because she wasn't a beautiful lady, yet instead displayed an air of confidence and contentment with who she was. Basicially over all it is an incredible painting...but everyone in the world knows that.

The Mona Lisa

After viewing the Mona Lisa we walked all over the gigantic museum! As we walked past isles and isles of artifacts, paintings...etc I kept finding myself looking at the building itself. I found it to be a very beautiful building and actually used to be the old palace before it was moved to Versailles by King Louis XIV.

The Lourve definitely was my favorite museum. It had such an incredible collection with everything from Egyptian, Greek, Italian, French, Napoleon's Rooms and crowned jewels! I could have easily spent all day there!

Another Famous sculpture, "Aphrodite"

Sculpture by Michelangelo, I think it was titled "A Slave" (at least as far as I can remember...)

I really like this one. It was called "Winged Victory"

The Lourve

The Sacred Heart

After Versailles, we headed straight to the church of the Sacred Heart. It was a beautiful smaller church, fantastically situated on a hill. The church was great because it had a very different architecture than all the rest. Inside was also very beautiful because it had several domes which created amazing spaces in the church's interior.


At the base of the church, we sat in the grass and rested our weary feet. Once again we were lucky enough to be sitting near musicians. All the outdoor musicians is definitely something that I love about Europe! All the wonderful music you can find playing in the plazzas is just incredible!

A Grand Palace

Versailles, now that is a palace! The palace in Madrid does not even begin to compare! This palace was so large, lavishly decorated in gold and just so incredibly beautiful!

The front of the Palace

Versailles reminded me a lot of King Ludwig's palace and castles in Germany. Everything was just decorated in gold and absolutley EVERYTHING is decorated, it is so beautiful! It definitely would have been so much fun to have lived during that time and parade through the palace and its grounds in all your grandure!

If I recall correctly...I think this was his chapel...

My favorite room was the Hall of Mirrors. However unfortunatly it was slightly dissapointing because it was half-way under restoration, but the half that was showing was incredible! And then there was the magnificient grounds! The garden was enourmous! Not only could you have easily gotten lost and perhaps never found, but you could spend days there and probably still not see everything! And the grounds were just incredible with their flowers, fountains and statues! Lauren and I took a 2 hour walk through parts of it. The whole place was just so incredible!

The Hall of Mirrors

The Palace from the garden

Picture in the Garden looking back at the Palace

Another picture of the gardens...these were actually Orange trees that they only bring out when the weather is nice...and the rest of the time keep them inside in the nursery (those crazy rich people can do anything)

The Eiffel Tower

Later that evening, Lauren and I headed to the Eiffel Tower to catch the sunset! We arrived a little early, so we relaxed on the great lawn with the tower in our sight. It was such a perfect setting because near us two guys were playing the guitar, so we just sat, enjoyed the music and stared at the Tower. It was so perfect!

Instead of walking up all the stairs (we were getting tired of stairs by that point in our trip), we took the elevator to the 1st level. On the first level I walked around gazing at all the magnificent views of Paris. I also learned some of the history of the Statue of Liberty. I never knew the same structural engineer designed the Eiffel Tower, designed the structure undernearth the Statue of Liberty. And then we watched a very unimpressive sunset.

As we were leaving the level, the tower lit up and began to sparkle! It was so incredible! Luckily we made it down just in time to snap a picture. All I can say is that the Eiffel Tower is such an incredible site at night! I definitely loved it!

The Sparkling Eiffel Tower