In a country where chocolate is a prime food, it really is difficult to decide which one you want.

I have ben too busy having fun in Barcelona to spend time on the computer, but I guess it's time now, so here we go.

I love Switzerland. It's really beautiful with alps in every eyesight. as I have already said, the train ride was a beautiful journey in itself. I was also right to be concerned about the weather... I had 2 out of 3 days where it rained. It started to rain after I had arrived and checked in to the backpackers, but it was just a little sprinkle. I ha a really long train ride, and was using that day as a travel day, so I only went far enough to get food (and to see the Kapellbrücke (the Chapel Bridge) from a distance). I slept well that night, after Vienna I'm really not surprised.

Kapellbrücke

 

The next morning I actually had to check out of the backpackers, and go to another place. I didn't love the backpackers, but once I got the the B&B, I missed it so much. I ended up hating the place and spent as much time outside, despite the rain, as I could. So after checking in I went out with my map, in search for the Löwendenkmal  ('Dying Lion of Luzern') and to walk across the Kapellbrücke, and see everything else! I was really looking forward to Switzerland, an I wanted to make sure that I saw everything! I was so determine to see everything that i didn't care if I rained. Oh, how it rained! The Kapellbrücke is really cool, on the inside, at the top, there are triangle boards that have a painted history of Luzern on them. They show a mix between the Renaissance and farm country Switzerland. On the other side of the river I looked at the market full of cheeses, veggies and fruit and fish and wander up into a square and followed the streets. Seeing a it was raining I took every opportunity to stay dry by going into all the shops. By this time my feet were soaked through and my jeans were fairly damp, too. I took a walk up to the cit wall thinking that the Löwendenkmal  was there, clearly I misunderstood my map, but enjoyed the wall, and climbed up one of the towers and looked over Luzern from the city boarder.

walking across the Kapellbrücke

 One of many decorated walls in the city

 The city wall

The view of Luzern from the city wall

A lady instructed me where to go for the Löwendenkmal and also said, "it's not a good day to get lost on". I replied, "my shoes are already wet, so a little more isn't a deal". I found the Löwendenkmal and now understand why Mark Twain claimed that it was the "most moving peice of rock". It really is splendid, and possibly more, beautiful and amazing and breath-taking than Michaelangelo's 'Davide'. The Gletschergarten (Glacier Museum) was right next to the Löwendenkmal so I figured that I would go there, feel like I'm education myself about glaciers, weather, the alps and science, but really I just wanted to go I the mirror maze! It was nice feeling like I was learning something, not that I have really retained much (a lot of the descriptions were in German). I climbed a look out tower, took some photos and then went to the mirror maze. I felt like I was in a Goosebumps novel; it was kind of freaking, not knowing where to go, seeing 3 Emme(pl) (I'm sure some of you wouldn't mind 3 of me :) ). Despite going in the wrong way, and the goosebumbs-ness, it was pretty cool. Thankfully I didn't walk into a mirror (I was taking it pretty cautiously anyway) and there were some kids running around so I sometimes followed them. After the Gletschergarten I needed to go and by some new shoes. I figured that cheap would be good, as long as the would stay relatively dry. I found in H&M a pair of 10CHS sneakers a a pair of jeans for 15CHF. So I snapped them up along with a pretty groovy shirt for my own little kicks.

Rugged up and damp at the Löwendenkmal

I had trouble finding lunch, it's pretty much all chocolate, pastries and expensive self serve,  but I found a sandwhich and went back to the hostel to shower and be dry and warm again. I cooked some dinner, and that night I discovered how homesick I was. I felt 100% isolated in my hostel, there were about 16 girls to ONE shower/bathroom combined, and I  was kept awake by there chatting at 1130! I even had to wait 1/2 and hour to pee, so in the end I politely asked if I could cut in the line to use the bathroom, and the lady asked, "you have to pass urine?". That was pretty much breaking point. I finally got to sleep and then the next morning I woke up still feeling homesick. It get worse... Breakfast was fried rice and a fried egg, and they didn't have any cereal, milk or bread... Luckily I had brought with me my cereal from Wien, so I at least had dry museli and a cup of tea. I was really looking forward to having a full breakfast because I was spending the morning on Pilatus Klum.

So I was pretty looking forward to getting high away from the hostel, and with my EuRail pass I got a fairly reasonable discount on the 'golden round trip' ticket. But, no, I had to actually use one of my travel days to get the discount, despite my booklet saying otherwise. I worked out that I still would have enough travel days even if I used it for the Pilatus Klum trip, and I didn't not want to go up the mountain, so I (reluctantly) used a travel day and sat a waited reading Huckleberry Finn, and chat to a lovely old couple from England. It was nice to hea the English language, and it settled me a bit.

The boat ride along Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Luzern) was beautiful. It was a bit chilly though, and I didn't feel that I had enough clothes on. The boat took 90minutes and it went all over the river, picking up more passengers at a number of different ports. It finally got to the cogwheel rail stop, and I went and lined up to board the steepest ever cogwheel rail train. It was a slow and peaceful journey up the mountain, some times at a 47% incline. I looked back out the carriage and day the beautiful lake, with green mountains an a blue sky behind it. The ride up the mountain only got colder! It took about 30 minutes, and I really enjoyed it. We saw many bikers on out way up, and I felt a bit guilty for not hiking, but really, I am not a hiker and I don't not have a) hiking gear or b) 4hours to climb up a hill of 47% incline for over 2kms. That was a nice thought; I was comfortable and relaxed. We passed through a cloud and I was freaking cold after that. I really wanted a hot chocolate to warm me up, but instead I hit on of the trail walks for about 40minuts. I was freezing through, and I had trouble feeling my feet. I was all wrapped up, and had my Carlton scarf wrapped patriotically around my face (it is delightfully warm). I felt a little bit like Frodo and Sam walking around the mountains, with all the fod and cloud around me. It was very gloomy. It took about 2nd before I actually started to feel my toes again, and I reached the highest part of Pilatus Klum. I was in a cloud. The clouds started to part and I could see the top of a mountain with snow on it! That was pretty cool. Then I walked back to the cafe. When I saw the price of someones coffee I decided it was one to take the cable car back again. It was great being up there, but I was hungry and didn't want to spend my savings on the food there. The cable car was fun. First it was like a shuttle car, and it just moved ou of the top to the part where the proper cable cars were to take you to Kriens. A quick descent into the abyss, nah, just through the clouds, and then I got in the real cable car, alone, to journey back to ground level. It was a nice ride, through the trees and then I heard these familiar bells. I looked down into a small paddock and I see the cows merrily shaking the necks and about 20 bells dinging and donging. It was loud, but very cool. They are very cool cows!

On Lake Luzern

 All the cloud on Mt Pilatus

 Snow on the mountains, the view from Mt Pilatus

 

the cows and their bells!

I took the bus back into Luzern, and then walked around for only a little bit. It was hot back in civilization so I wanted to get changed before I did anything more. On my way back to the hostel I saw everybody sitting in the park, or playing ball games, racquet games, card games, and I though that it was excellent. I also really wanted to go for a run, and there is a althletics track not fat either. So I decided to compromise. I went home and changed into my running gear, took my book and my drink bottle to the track had a run (it felt so god) and then rewarded my self with Huckleberry Finn in the park. It was such a lovely afternoon and everybody seemed so happy and chilled. I wen home when it started to get a bit chilly and showered, had dinner and then sat by the lake reading until the sun was pretty far down. It was so peaceful by the lake. That night I went to bed after ever one else because then they wouldn't be keeping me awake.

I wanted to go to Bern on the Monday, and so I checked the tickets online for prices. It was only 36CHF return, so that was alright. I got up and rushed to the train station to buy a ticket, but then the lady said it was 72CHF for a return ticket. I was a little shocked, and said that on the Internet it was only 36 her reply was, "that's on the Internet". Switzerland, I really love you, but this inconsistency is costing you a bit of my love. I was not going to spend €61/AU$90 for 2 hours of train time in the same country, I don't care how amazing the SBB CFF  FFS is! So I told her that I couldn't go. So instead, and for only €24, I was a dork and went to the Verkehrshaus (transport museum), which is the most visited museum in Switzerland, by the way. I took a supposedly 30minute walk around to the other side of the lake to get there. I was a nice walk, but I was concerned about the weather. The museum was kinda cool, and it was very interactive; all the kids were having a blast. I spent a few hours there, looking at trains, trams, aeroplanes, boats... It started raining quite heavily while I was in there, and een when I decided to leavebit was raining, so I had to wait for it to calm down. I took my walk back around the lake, went by the lion again for the last time (or now) an then went back to the hostel. I had to get everything organized to leave the next day, but it didn't take long because I didn't even bother to unpack. I spent the evening by the river having an amazing dinner at a Swiss restaurant, and then picked up some Movenpick icecream on the way home to eat on my last walk of the lake.

 the Lake Luzern beach

the boats all docked on the lake

I had an OK nights sleep, but was good to get out of the hostel. I literally hated the peope there. I felt like I was being judged and talked about everytime I walked into a room with people. I was sick of getting woken up at 0445 by the rude lady who felt that it was ok to take phone calls at this absurd hour while in a dorm with 11 other people.

I took the train into Zürich, put my bags in a locker at the aeroport, and went back into Zürich city and walked around for a few hours. It is nice there., I liked the clocks. I have a fascination with clocks and watches. I was at the aeroport fairly early because I was having a mild freak out that I could print off my boarding pass. But I had a tea in a lounge there, and rea some of my book, successfully checked in, and went duty free shopping in Hermès and Burberry, before being able to board my flight to the sun, the beach, Barcelona.

 Zürich

Clocks in Zürich

 The main shopping strip in Zürich

XX

The Wienerschniztel may have got the better of me, but I wasn't letting the apfelstruddl get away!

Wien. The train ride went pretty well from Praha to Wien. I was sitting with a really lovely couple from Dubai, and we were chatting for most of the 5hr journey.

After arriving at Wien Meidling, and figuring out how to use the U-Bahn, I got my my hostel- Wombats at the Naschmarkt. While I was waiting in line, a girl who I saw at the train station also came in, so we started talking and she became my friend.

Isabella and I decided that we would go to the opera together, so after settling in we checked out the website (this ended up being wrong) and we walked to the Wien Staatsoper to get tickets for standing room. But when we got there we were told that we wait in line, and then get our tickets, and then we can't leave and must wait until the show started at 8pm... This was at 5:20! We were also inappropriately dressed for the opera (as we planned on going back to the hostel to get changed) so we decided that we would go the next day instead. So we went back home, via the supermarket for some snacks, and then I went back later to buy some dinner.

Upon check in I got a free drink voucher for the Wombar at the hotel, so I ventured down there, alone, figuring that it's more acceptable to drink on your own in a bar than be a loner in my dorm room. It turned out to be such a good idea. I was quietly siting at the bar, sipping my wein and then a girl came up to the bar to order her drink, and we started talking. This is how easy it has been for me to make friends. So I ordered another wein and joined Maddie and Emily, and the rest of their busabout crew. A few Bosnian boys came to make friends with us/Emily, and we were all just chatting, getting along, and drinking our drinks. I still didn't have a too late night, but that afternoon was fairly relaxed.

The next morning I got up early for a day of seeing Vienna. I was meeting up with Isabella, Maddie and Emily at 5 to go to the opera together, so I had to fit in as much as I could in the morning (I also wanted/needed to do my washing that afternoon). I started the morning by walking to the train station to reserve my seat from Wien to Zürich for the 10th. After realizing that I wasn't at the station that I wanted to go to, I realized I was at the station that I was suppose to go to. Phew!

I should have coughed up the €1.80 and bought a train ticket, but I walked, instead, to the Schloss Schönbrunn, the summer residence of the Habsburg. The palace was large and beautiful with immaculately kept gardens and lawns. I got there just in time to join the 11am guided tour, and it was worth spending the extra couple of euros. The tour guide was great, he was knowledgeable, witty and engaging. So far, out of 4 palaces, this is running top spot with the Palazzo Ducale in Venice as my favorite. It's decorated in a fee different style because of the changes it underwent when someone new took over, but it is primarily in the 'Rococo' style, and full of gold, and it's pretty. Some of the palace is undergoing restoration, which I think is a great thing, and we were told that one of the rooms that is already restored cost about €500,000! After an hour in the palace, I took a walk in the gardens up to the Neptunebrunnen and then further up to the what use to be the middle of the palace grounds; it now marks the end of the grounds. I trekked back to the hostel, figuring that I should get back, have lunch, do my washing and get ready for the opera.

 Schloss Schönbrunn

 

Infront of the Neptunebrunnen

 The view of the Schloss Schönbrunn through Neptunebrunnen

 In the grounds of the Schloss Schönbrunn

The outside of the opera house is beautiful, the onside is stunning. Once we finally bought our €4 tickets (costing about 1hour of our time) we got in and forced our cameras in to some poor boys hands so that we could have a photo at the opera! We had to do some more waiting but when we finally got in, and picked our spot, we were able to see the beautiful theatre. The opera we saw was 'Eugene Onegin'. I really enjoyed it. It was tough standing, but for €4 I should really complain. After 3 hours of opera we descended on our watering hole, the Wombar, but we were pretty exhausted after standing for so long, so we only lasted about 1/2 and hour.

 Mysef, Maddie, Isabella, and Emily at the Wien Staatsoper

 

 Inside the Staatsoper

 

At this point, I didn't love Wien. I had gone to the opera (which was top of my Vienna list) but I still didn't love it. I decided to go to the old town, to Stephenplatz, and hopefully fall in love there, at Stephansdom. On my way there I started to like everything a bit more. I found the cobbled streets, and imperial architecture. And finally I spotted the spire of Stephansdom. The church is veyry gothic in it's architecture, but so beautiful, the inside though is absolutely beautiful. Similar to S.Vitus's in Praha, Stephansdom is full of stained glass windows. These ones are more simple, of block colours, but when I walked in I was greeted with a rainbow of colours dancing through the dark interior. It was stunning; the light was more catching in here, than S. Vitus, so it's definitely up there with the most beautiful I have seen.

 Stephansdom

 

 The beautiful stined glass windows, with light streaming through, in the Stephansdom

 

The spire of Stephansdom

It was forecast to rain, and took my rain coat, but so far it was only a little bit. I walked around the Ring Road a bit, and then back to Stephenplatz, and finally across to the the Hofburg Palace. Here I decide not to wait 2 hours for a guided tour, so I did an audio guided tour instead. (The audio guide was as monotonous as some of my uni lectures; I definitely rate the guided tour higher). The first room was full of silverware, fine china, table decorations baking dishes... So much! A little too much. A lot of it was pretty, and I wouldn't mind eating off something that expensive, but there were about 27 audio tracks to listen to all about tableware! Next up was the Sissi Museum, about Empress Elisabeth. It was more interesting than a silverware collection. I liked most seeing her crown jewels and pretty gowns (all replicas) and hearing about her beauty regime and here crazy weight obsession (things were the same in the C19th). The exhibition emphasized how much she disliked being an empress and losing her freedom. After learning about Sissi, I moved in to the final rooms of the Imperial Plalace that displayed many similar things to the Schloss Schönbrunn, so I skipped through it a bit. I shouldn't have though, because I got stuck waiting at the exit point by the downpour of rain that was expected. After if calmed, probably 1/2 and hour, I braved the weather for the U-Bahn. Some of the roads had also flooded, so my feet go a little damp. I safely made it back to the hostel though, and journeyed to the Naschmarkt to forage for dinner. I had a hearty dinner of lamb chops, and a pikkolo of Henkel to make me feel better about the rain.

The flood in Wien

Later than night in the Wombar, we congregated for last drinks with the busabout crew. After sex on the beach, a tray of jäger shots appeared on the table, also with another tray of Captain Morgan and coke, and then some Rum and coke, and possibly another Cpt. Morgan... Suddenly it was 3:15am. The next day Vienna saw me suffer possibly the worst hangover in my life. But it was a great night, with great new friends.

Because it rained the daybefore, I missed out on seeing other things that were around the Hofburg Palace, so I went back, and saw Parlament, and the statue of Franz Josef after defeating Napoleon, I also found a beautiful garden, filled with roses of every variety, fountains filled with Lilly pads and sleeping ducklings, and statues. It was so pretty, I wished it wasn't cold and wet so that I could enjoy it more. I kept walking around the Ring Road, and found more beautiful buildings, halls, churches... I was also getting hungry (couldn't stomach breakfast that morning) so I took the U-Bahn home, via the Naschmarkt for food. I really want to have a Wiener Schnitzel, though, I wasn't leaving Wien without having one. So I made my way to the schnitzel place recommended by the Wombats. I thought I would be able to handle it, but when you order a schnitzel and get 2 schnitzels that fill up a huge plate, you know you are in trouble if you are me! I manage one. But I also really wanted some apfelstruddl (the stopped serving food in the Wombar when I wanted it the night before) so I stopped in there before I went to pack my bag. The apfelstruddl got demolished! Yumm!

 The beautiful garden that I found

 So many different Roses, and they all smelled devine!

The wiener schnitzel!

This morning I got up earlier than usual to get to the station and board my 8 hour train to Zürich. So far I have passed through Linz, Salzburg, and Insbruck, and now I'm in the hills with fog hovering above their tops, and the most beautiful (but cold looking) river rushing along the train line. It's very scenic, and it's not even a 'scenic' route! I'm a little concerned about what the weather will be like when I arrive in Luzern, I'm wearing shorts! But I am really looking forward to getting to Switzerland and eating all the Lindt that I can get my hands on!

Oh, and I can see the snowwww!

Love between Wien and Zürich, on the train, Emma xx

Dobry den, Praha, bohemia

Saying goodbye is something that I don't like doing, but is something that I have to do.

I left for Praha on Thursday, with Chiara and Davide, from Venezia Marco Polo, and it was really looknig forward to seeing a new city. But leaving Italy meant that I had to say goodby to my family. It was so nice being able to see them at least once a week, invece di once in my life. I will really miss them! We arrived in the afternoon, after the plane was delayed a little, and then I had to work out my way to my hostel. I felt 100 percent foreign in this city. I couldn't read any signs, I understood nothing of the language, and I really didn't know anything about the Czech Republic. So with carefully written out instructions in hand, we caught the 119 bus to the city metro Line A, and I got off at Staroměstská and located the Staroměstske náměstí (Old Town Square). There were no dramas finding my way (the street signs have pictures on them), and then I found Týnská, the street for my hostel. I found it and was greated with a map, and settled in within the hour.

My hostel was just behind Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem

I was meeting back up with Chiara and Davide at 6pm at the famous Orloj, Astronomical Clock. I arrived a little early, so while I waited I looked around the square for a little bit. Since I hadn't really eaten that whole day, my prime aim was to locate food. So we found a pub and got our first traditional Czech meal. Now, I was starving, so I don't know if that made my food taste so good, but it really was amazing. With food in our stomachs, we were ready to look around.

Oroloj

First up we went to Karlův most (Charles Bridge). We crossed over the Vltava and over into Malá Strana (Lesser town) and had a little wander around, before crossing over another bridge, and for amazing views of Karlův most. The weather wasn't amazing that day, but the grey sky provided an amazing sight of the bridge at dusk. The light contrasted amazingly. After Karlův most, we walked back to Staroměstske náměstí and had an icecream. There was some live music in the square (Chiara told me that they were Italian has-beens) but it was very nice, and we saw the Orloj and Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem lit up. It was beautiful.

 Walking on to Karlův most

 View of Karlův most

 At Staroměstske náměstí at dusk

Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem at night

Wake up was at 8am the next morning as we had plans to visit the Pražský hrad (Prague Castle). I also had to journey to the train station to validate my EuRail pass and buy my ticket to Wien. It wasn't to difficult to get to, but one wrong not turn made it a bit of a challenge. Luckily, though, I asked a gentleman if he knew where the station was, and he was going there, too. We got there, and I eventually found where to buy my ticket, and then I found the correct road, the one that I should have taken to the station in the first place, (I know for when I go today though).

Pražský hrad was great. We had a bit of a trek up to the castle, but we also had beautiful views of Praha to make it worth it. We wandered the castle, and found Katedrála svatého Víta. After realising that we needed a ticket to get fully in the cathedral, we joined the long queue (I'm used to them by now). The cathedral is beautiful though, There are beautiful glass stained windows that let light of many colours stream thought, and there is a huge organ that covers part of a wall. After the cathedral we went to Starý královský palác, had more beautiful views of Praha, saw beautiful rooms, and royal jewels and a crown. It was Marvelous. After the Royal Palace, we went to Bazilika sv. Jiří. I think that, out of all of Pražský hrad my favourite part was the last part, Zlata Ulicka, Golden Lane. It is really cute and narrow, and I felt as thugh I had walked into a fairy tale.The houses are small and of different colours, and some houses were set up as they would have been originally. Second storey spanned about 10 houses, and was full of glass cases holding sets of medieval armour, helmets, chain mail, jousting sticks, spears and medieval clothng. I found myself, again, in history nerd heaven.

Katedrála svatého Víta

The sun made beautful colours through the stained glass windows of Katedrála svatého Víta

I must note here as well, before we leave Pražský hrad, that some of the guards are mighty fine in thier guard suits. So far they are the finest men in uniforms that I have ever seen. I wouldn't mind one guarding my house.

After a long morning exploring the castle, we went for some lunch. After lunch we went on a hunt for the post office so that we could buy stamps and post our postcards. Then we went to Prašná brána (Poweder Tower). From here we dicided to have a rest for the afternoon, and on my way back to my hostel I decided to stop in at Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem, the church in front of my hostel. It is beautiful, and so peaceful after a day of taking in so much of the city. That night we met back up at 8 for dinner, and then we had a walk up Pařížská before having a sit down in Old Town Square, before say our final goodbyes, for this time.

On Saturday I had the day to myself; I could do anything. I chose to take a leisurely stroll around Malá Strana, and then back over Karlův most, but the other way. On my way back to the bridge I came across a medieval parade. It was really cool. The best thing about walking aimlessly is that when you come across something you don't expect, it makes it more exciting. It was a really cool parade, with boys dressed in knight and hourse costumes, fair ladies and merry men, being carried in horse-drawn carriages, and everybody else either on foot or on horseback, dress in beautiful medieval costumes. I shopped in a Czech supermarket for my lunch, my new favourite, ham and cheese rolls (cheap and delicious), and then spent the afternoon relaxing. I was really quite exhausted. For dinner I tried traditional Czech sausage. It was really nice, but I feared my arteries were clogging as I was looking at it. I had an early night as I had a day trip to Český Krumlov at 8:45am on sunday.

I was really looking forward to having a good breakfast, and being full for the morning; being hungry is getting tiring. But, when I got to the kitchen, eagerly anticipating my museli, I found it to be missing. I was furious. I was also disappointed. In all the years that I had left food in the fridge at Lowanna and RACV, nothing has ever been taken. Now, in my hostel, a whole box of unopened museli. I was sad, and hungry. Thankfully they didn't steal my milk, or my last bread roll, because then I had a glass of milk for breakfast, my apple, a ham and cheese roll, and lollies for during the day.

It was really good to get out of the city, and that was one of the reasons why I wanted to spend a little bit more time in each place I went. I joined a tour, so it was a little pricey, but with the our I had a guided visit to the castle and lunch at a very awesome medieval tavern. The bus took a little while to get to Český Krumlov, but on our way, our tour guide, Tony, told us about the Czech Republic, the difference between Bohemia and Moravia, about Czech garnets, and about Bohemian Crystal. He also told us about the uranium mine, and showed us where the last battle of WW2 was.

Český Krumlov is a nice quite town, even with the gazillion tourists, and it really is as beautiful as Praha. First Tony showed us the best two views of the town, and then we made our way to the castle for our tour. It was really nice inside, a little bit cold, but full of authentic Renaissance decorations and room furnishings. Our tour guide had really poor english, but she tried really hard and was really sweet. After the castel we went for our lunch. It was a very cool medieval tavern, and it felt like walking into a cave. weapons, axes, and animal skins decorated the walls, and we dined on traditional Czech food, three courses, too! It was definietly my best meal in The CR. We had some free time after lunch, so I took a nice walk along the Vltava, and watched people canoing down the river. I walked around the cobbled streets a little, and sat in the square for a little bit, too. Then it was time to leave. I had a bit of a catnap  on the bus, and we arrived back into the city at 6:30. It was a good decision to get out of the city.

Český Krumlov

I raced back to Staroměstske náměstí to see the clock at 7, when it made its hourly show. I saw it the night before, but I wanted to see it again, on my last night in Prague. I had to get back to the hostel and pack, and by the time I got everything organised, I was failry tired. Another early night.

This morning horrible. A very loud snorer. I think that he bacame a public nuisance when the whole dorm was awake becasue of him. So this morning, in order to stop my self thowing something at him, I got up at 5:30! and went with my breakfast (a banana) to Staroměstske náměstí  and sat in the nearly empty square. It was nice, but I was also a little chilly, and tired. So here I am. I leave for Wien mid morning. I hope, very much, to successfully catch my train, and you should hear from me again with sounds of music.

Photos will come up soon I hope.

Love from Praha, Emma XX

Day Trips

The term 'day trip', for me, is somewhat synonomous with 'school excursion'. I always liked them becasue it was away from school, though usually they involved some form of compulsory learning or homework, too. My day trips were full of fun and discovery, and I took my leisurely time doing so.

1. Treviso
I went to Treviso with Mum, back during week two of Italy. It was a really hot day, and we didn't have a map. Essentially, we just let our feet take us where they wanted to go. That was until we were completely lost! But during our time in Treviso I recalled many things from the time I was there last, back when I was in school.

2. Padova
I really liked Padova (we also had a map). It was a more pleasent day than in Treviso, the day before, and we knew where we were going. For me, it was also a new city to see, as I had seen many already. We started the day by walking by a bookshop (I tend to go in about 3 in every city i go to, I love them) and then started looking for some of the monuments that Chiara had told us to see. First up was a Church. There was also a Piazza on our list, an orologio (a clock), a park, and some other things that we went to find were recommendations on the map its self, such as San Antonio, which was stunning. We were also hoping to have lunch with Paride, but due to technilogical malfunctions, we were unable to meet. We also did some shopping, which always makes a day better than it already was.

3. Vicenza
Vicenza was my first day trip alone. It was a little bit lonely, as i waited 30minuti for a train da solo. Vicenza was really beautiful, and green, with many parks; upon leaving the ferrovia, there is a park, Campo Marzo. The streets were really pretty, with flowers hanging off balconies. Here I mainly walked around and browsed the shops. I couldn't find the way into Il Duomo of Vicenza but on the outside, it was very large. I also found the Teatro, but was feeling rather cheap that day, and didn't want to pay to get in, but the giardino was absolutely stunning, so I was happy just to be in there and sit for a little while. The Gardino di Scavi was also another beautiful garden, and i rested my tired feet there, too. While I waited for the train back home, I stayed in the Campo Marzo reading The adventures of Huckelberry Finn.

4. Venezia
I wanted to use this day just to walk around and to see more in more depth. I really wanted to return to Il Palazzo Ducale, so I walked along the winding parth to Piazza San Marco, and lined up. It was a shot queue, and I used my student card to score a discount. I love this palazzo, adorned in gold and the most beautiful tapastry. My favourite room is the room of Maps. It was the last time, too. It is really majestic. Sadly, though, I wasn't allowed to take photos, but I doubt any camera could see what the eyes see. I spent about one and a half hours in the palazzo. I explored every room. After the beautiful rooms of the palazzo, I moved in to the cells for ciminals, then crossed the ponte di sospiri for my last look at freedom... Just kidding, I came out alright. I also used my biglietto to get into the corner museum, which showcased many more artefacts of antiquity, medieval Europe and the renascimento. I didn-t recall a -no phot- sign, so i sneakily took a few photos. In Venezia, I also bought the most cool watch, from the most cool watch shop! Then I went to Venezia Mestre and did some more shopping/seeing a new city.

 Pretty Venetian houses

 Piazza San Marco

 Palazzo Ducale, clock

My dream library (the Corner Museum)

A very beautiful medieval book. 

I donated to the restoration and preservation of this wooden shield, so I feel that it is my right to have photo of it! (the Corner Museum)

 The very cool watch, that came in a can ('OClock', by 'FullSpot)

5. Castelfranco
Visiting Castelfranco was a half day trip, as it is very small, and I could see everything in a few hours. But the morning was relaxing, the weather was lovely, and I enjoyed a cafe con latte in a groovey cafe. I remember the castello from my visit there last time.

6. Ferrara
Ferrara is in la ragione di Emila-Romagna. It was exciting crossing the Po, not only because it is the most famouse fiume in Italy, but becasue it meant that we had left the Veneto, and we in E-R. Ferrara is the 'city of cyclists, Chiara told me, and it is not hard to believe when you are nearly getting hit and killed by i bici instead of le machine! There is a castello in Ferrara, and is very famous, becasue it has a self contained moat., the only in Europe. It's called Castello Estense. Also in Ferrara is the statue of Girolamo Savonarola, whos name I vaguely remember for Renaissance Italy. The Piazza was very nice, too, and there was a market there, where we bought some pane Pugliese, and some formaggio, yumm!

 Castello Estense

 Savonarola

   our pane Pugliese

7. Ravenna
Ravenna is famous for its Byzantine Churches, and they are absolutely stunning, as you look to the heavens, your eyes feast on the extraordinarily, detailed mosaics. They are really splendid mosaic, with tiles of many coulours, such as deep blue for the sky, gold, for the stars, green for grass. I couldn't stop looking, There were five monuments to see in Ravenna, and then another basilica to see a little bit out of the city centre. The best ones were San Vitale, and Mausoleo di Galla Placidia.  the mosaics were amazing. San Vitale was also very grand on the inside, with a mosaic floor, too. On our journey to the monuments, we also found Via Dante Alighieri, which also led to the tomb of Dante himself. I was very excited about this, and I knew that he wasn't buried in Firenze, I just couldn't remember where he really was. Dante bought back memories of the coolest 'study group' ever. After our day in Revenna, we stopped at Lido di Spina (the beach) on the way home, for a relax in the sand.

 San Vitale

 San Vitale

 the mausoleo

 the mausoleo

 the tomb of Dante Alighieri

 Dante's tomb

 Dante was burried here for one year

Basilia di San Apollinare in Classe

It has been great exploring the Veneto over the past few weeks, and also going to E-R to see Ferrara and Ravenna, but I know only have a few more days left in Volpago. Prague is awaiting me. 

Most likely, until then. 

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