London, England

London, England

History, Beauty, & Expensive Things

June 2014

Thinking about heading to the land of the royal? Perfect, this place is filled with beauty and history everywhere you go! Just make sure to budget enough money, as the prices may look the same as in the USA, but are actually twice the cost as they use the British Pound. Don't let that stop you, this beautiful land is definitely worth your visit!

If you're staying for 2 or more days and are up to walk, it's definitely doable to walk the entire area. Maybe grab a tour along the way. However, if you only have one day to visit this place, go online and buy the "Hop on, Hop off" bus tour! This way you will be able to see everything you want and learn about it along the way! You even get free river cruises, and if you're lucky, your tour guide on the river will be as awesome as ours!

Click here to buy tickets online!

If you don't buy them online, you can simply buy them at any of the bus stops for a little bit higher price. Aim to sit on the top deck to see the entire city!

Through this tour, you'll be able to pass the giant horse statue, my personal favorite.

You'll also see and learn about many important historic statues and places like the arch below.

You'll pass the first ever TV advertisements...

The famous Burberry clock on the old building...

A blue cock (don't ask me the significance... still not sure how important this could be)

You'll obviously get to see the famous BIG BEN!!!

The London Eye (you can buy tickets to go on this if you have time, it takes about an hour to go all the way around...)

Take the river cruise included in the bus pass and see the famous "wibbly, wobbly bridge" (I'm not sure the real name, our tour guide told us when it first opened, you could see it moving when people walked on it and it had to be closed down until it had more structural support. It is now open to walk across)

You'll see the famous TOWER BRIDGE in London.... no this is not "London Bridge" (sorry to the people in Arizona who bought the old "London Bridge" thinking they were getting this beautiful bridge.

Walk across tower bridge & even climb up one of the towers if you want to pay more money... not sure why people love climbing up things in every city they visit, but hey, if that's your thing, why not?!

Walk closer to Big Ben.... yes, I'll never cease to be amazed by this beautiful place.

Obviously, get your picture taken inside one of the famous red telephone booths, as every tourist does when they visit London, because why not?!

Now for my personal favorite... If you've been traveling forever, like I have, and need your Chipotle fix, there are five of them throughout London!!!! Of course, those 7 pounds you'll be paying is actually twice what you pay in America, but if you're anything like me then it's 150% worth it!! 

Happiness is just a Chipotle Burrito away!

Be one of the fabulous tourists, and get your picture taken with a cop! They just look so much cooler in England with those hats! =]

Don't miss out on Buckingham Palace! It is a beautiful sight to see and you can't visit London without coming here!

If you go at the right time, you can even watch the changing of the guards! It is a cool marching routine that you don't want to miss!

Each and every detail surrounding the Palace is absolutely beautiful! You won't regret this visit!

London, England is a beautiful place! Best of all, people speak English here! However, don't be alarmed when they use funny words with funny accents, you'll get used to it and learn to love it! 

Check out this great Buzzfeed on "British Slang as Guessed by an American" to catch up on your British terms!

British Slang

Cheers mate!

As always,

-Lexi

Getting Lost in the Passageways of Venice, Italy

Getting Lost in the Passageways of Venice

My Adventures & Suggestions

May 2014

Venice, Italy is one of those "must-visit" destinations in the world, and for good reason too! This island has no cars or streets, simply boats, rivers, and small passageways to get around.

Looking for a place to stay? If you're down to stay a small distance outside of the city with a shuttle bus to take you there and back, why not stay at the PLUS Jolly campsite? You can stay in a house-tent with a bunk bed and another twin bed, or your own camping device, or a nice bungalow for anywhere from 7-15 euros a night. There is a pool, restaurant, laundry room, free Wifi, and a mini store! Although not in the most convenient location to go out on the town, it is a cheap place to stay just outside of Venice in a great atmosphere!

Click here to go to their Website!

What to Do in Venice?

1. Get Lost & Explore of course!

This city has so much to offer outside of the typical tourist areas, wonder around and enjoy the scenery & atmosphere of this beautiful place!

The sights you will see are absolutely breathtaking from the rivers, to the colorful buildings, to the restaurants, to everything in between! The only way you'll ever come to a dead end is when you hit a river so keep going!

The passageways are all very different and exciting to see...

2. Pick up some fish for dinner! 

Have a place to grill out? Why not pick up some fresh fish from the markets all throughout the town! If you don't have a place to grill, at least admire the fish markets... they're very different than any you will find in the USA!

3. OK, now that you've explored, you can hit up the main tourist square!

From the clock tower, to the beautiful church, to the shops, to the restaurants, this square is sure to impress! Hop on one of the many Gondolas from here or wait in line to see the inside of the church! Many different historic things hidden throughout this square!

Make sure to admire the beautiful architecture while you're there!

4. Hop on a Gondola for a short ride!

Yes, I know it's expensive, but just do it! You won't be disappointed! You can see the city from an entirely different view that you wouldn't get otherwise! Some gondoliers will tell you a bit of information about the city- but don't expect it! They are solely there to propel your gondola through the rivers! 

Tip: Gondolas can have up to 6 people in a boat, if you have less than this stand by the takeoff points and ask if anyone is looking for extras to split the cost! Many people will already have the amount they want, but you will most likely find someone else who wants to hop in & split the cost... plus you might even get them to take a lovely photo of you and your friends if you're lucky! (make sure to return the favor)

5. Check out the Bridge of Sighs!

Although there is a sad history of convicts seeing the city for the last time while passing over this bridge, it has a more positive significance today! It is said that if lovers kiss while passing under this bridge at sunset on a gondola while the bells of St. Mark's Campanile ring, they will be granted eternal love and bliss. The legend became the plot line for the movie A little Romance. 

Make sure you enjoy the amazing Italian Pasta & Pizza while there!

There is no place else in the world with such good Pizza & Pasta... don't miss out on the opportunity to try it fresh from the best!

PS: Don't forget the Lemoncella! It's the best lemon flavored liquor you will ever find and most likely for only about 6 euros a bottle in the grocery stores (touristic areas sell them from 10-20 euros).

Enjoy Everything you do in this city & take pictures!

As Always,

Lexi

When in Rome: Tips & Tricks of things to Do & See!

When In Rome...

(The typical title of a blog on Rome)

What do you do when you're in one of the most well-known cities in the world with two friends?... Plan ahead, well at least that's what I would do now if I could do it all over! Rome is an absolutely amazing city with so much to do and see that it's hard to fit it all into a couple of days if you don't plan ahead! Book your tickets online and print them off before you go! If you do not, you will be paying much more &/or waiting in long lines when you could be resting or exploring the rest of the city!

Looking for a place to stay?

Check out the PLUS Camping Roma campsite! It has everything you need and more for the most reasonable price you'll find! Schedule an airport pick up a week in advance and spend much less time and money than using public transport! Tired of exploring? Relax by the pool with a bar and sand volley ball court. Looking for food? They have their own supermarket and there's another one across the street! Need to do Laundry? They have washing machines! Choose between a house tent, bungalow, or your own camping device & you won't be let down! I stayed in the house tents which are tents they have there with a bunk bed and another bed! Perfect for 3 people to have a cheap place to sleep! Wifi all throughout the campgrounds! Definitely exceeds expectations of any campground I've been too!

Check out their website here!

How to start the trip?

1. The Vatican City! What better way to celebrate your first day in Rome than by leaving Rome & heading to another country? Sounds weird, but worth the trip! Plan ahead, buy tickets online & get your 3 hour tour of the vatican city early in the day so you have time to see the Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Basilica right when it opens! Without the tour, you will have no idea what you're looking at or the meaning behind it. I highly recommend taking a tour... it makes everything much more meaningful! When you're going through the hall of tapestries in the Vatican Museum, look at the tapestry of Jesus and watch it as you walk past! You will notice his eyes and bent leg follow you wherever you go! WHOA! If you're brilliant and pay attention to details you may notice that without a tour, however, for the rest of us: take a tour and make sure to note these things! (LADIES &GENTLEMEN: please wear appropriate clothing for this tour (i.e. appropriate length skirts, no shorts, and shoulders must be covered). You must wear appropriate clothing in order to be able to enter into the Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica or they will not let you in!)

Before the tour, you will see beautiful things like this: (see below)

And once inside you get to see statues upon statues of famous men & women who have no meaning without a tour... (see what I'm trying to convey here... hint hint)

Or beautiful wash bins..

and the beautiful colored ceilings, which are painted in a very unique way (find out on your tour)

Or, my favorite part, the ceilings that are painted to look like statues are coming out, even though it's just paint! (See example below)

Or the beautiful colored ceilings that amaze you beyond belief!

2. Visit St. Peter's Basilica! This beautiful basilica opens around 1pm everyday, so it's best to start your tour around 9am and head straight on inside afterwards without waiting in line! You can see statues of all the past popes everywhere you go!

Once inside prepare to be amazed at all of the beautiful and unique details in each and every place you look!

From the statues..

To the paintings...

To the main exhibit in the center...

To the famous funny looking guards outside...

To seeing it from the outside...

To standing in the middle of the street to getting a picture with it in the background... daredevils! haha! Every part of this trip is absolutely worth it!

3. GO TO THE COLOSSEUM! Some may say it's not that cool because it's just an old building... but that's awesome!!! This thing has stood through so many centuries!!! The history there is unbelievable and the site itself is incredible! They built this back before all of the crazy technology we have now a days!!!

Make sure to get your picture of you there for proof you didn't find the pictures online!

And the typical picture on the outside of the incredible building!

Wow! I still can't believe I actually went here!!!

4. Afterwards, take a walk through Rome towards the Trevi Fountain! You will see so many amazing things on the way! From the unbelievable street performers... (see below)

To the unbelievable roman ruins all throughout the town...

To the gorgeous city as a whole!

To the cops riding horses everywhere! This city has so much to offer just through a simple walk through town!!

5. Visit the Trevi Fountain & make a wish! This gorgeous fountain is known for all of the wishes people make by tosses a coin into the fountain. It is showed in many different films and is a site to see! However, it is also possibly the most crowded place in Rome so watch your bags and be ready for the crowd!

6. Finally, visit the Piazza di Spagna & Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti! It is a monumental square with sights scattered all around! Check out the fountain and the French Church and the Spanish steps! Don't miss out on this opportunity!

When in Rome.... Explore, Enjoy, & Take Photos!!! Don't forget to plan ahead!

-Lexi