less than a week

So, I will be home on Sunday...7 in the pm, but my phone has low energy and I think my momma has my charger in IA, so I will do my best to get in touch with who I can when I can...

I am spending Sunday night with some friends, and then will return to KY on Monday, I'll be moving in to my apartment at Stephen Foster over the following weekend:)

I think I'm gonna miss Europa:(

Ciao for now,
Grace

Today, I'm in Prague, tomorrow...

I'm still in Prague!

So, for the fam and friends who might like to know where I'm heading and where I've been and to the rest (who should humor me) here's my itinerary:

July
18: Krakow
19: Auschwitz/ Krakow
20: Roznov (A little mountaintop village)
21: Litomysl castle and then to Prague
22: Prague City tour
23: Karstegn Castle and more Prague
24: Free Day in Prague
25: Prague, then to Konopiste Castle, then to Cesky Krumlov
26: C. Krumlov Castle, then to Salzburg
27: Salzburg City tour
28: Salzburg to Melk to Vienna
29: Vienna City tour
30: Vienna
31: Vienna Free day
August
1: Vienna to Lednice Castle
2: Lednice
3: Lednice to Bratislava City tour
4: City tour of Budapest
5: Free day in Budapest and Gala dinner
6: heading home!!! So, when will I be in America...no clue...I'll look at my plane tix and let my peeps know.

I'm partially wishing I was home. Mostly so that I can wash my clothes...well, second to hugging my fam.

I'll update as often as I can. I'm really missing you ALL, so drop me a line when you can.

Today, I had beer at the best bar in Prague: the Golden Tiger...it was more than a pint for 30 Crowns...$1.50 American dollars. I love the Czech Republic.

Love,
Grace

North of Italy...

it is still hot.
they don't speak italian.
I look like the natives.
Polish money is still worthless and euros don't get you anywhere.

That was a fun little game, don' t you think?

Well, I made it to Krakow and tomorrow we leave for the Czech Republic. I don't have an exact itinerary because they don't even have one to give us...talk about frustrating.
Plus, what am I supposed to do about this class I'm taking. No one will tell me what coursework is expected of me. Tell me to breathe, somebody! Go with the flow, Grace, take it easy...

K, well I'm gonna go have a dark beer and call it a night. LOVE YOU GUYS!

Ciao for now,
Grace
(I don't even know how to say goodbye in Polish. I feel useless.)

Mixed feelings

Moving on is good.
Leaving is hard.
I will most definitely miss Italia.

I'll be in Poland next time you hear from me!
Grace

p.s.
Sarah,
How does the 14-16/17 of August sound to you?

Ahhhhhhhh, Roma

I've been waiting to write that title line for some time now. Well, now that I've indulged, I would like to announce that I think I am allergic to Rome. Or cities. Or dirt, I guess if you get right down to it. In the hotel room, I'm GREAT. Once we hit the streets, I'm a big sneezing mess. So, after years of denial, I can only say that I am allergic to stuff.

Rome is a great city. It's also a very hot city with lots of big buildings and churches and art in those buildings and churches. Favorite thing thus far: Mom and I went to a Vivaldi concert the other night, very near the Piazza Navona, we heard his Gloria and some orchestral pieces. (That was some serious good worship time after being away from my church for this long) The concert was indoor, but actually in the courtyard of a bigger building, so there was no roof and the sound was just bigger than life from this rather small ensemble. Something I will remember.

Mom and I have been lucky to catch up with some really good tours at the sights that we have been going to see. Tomorrow we'll try the Vatican again, we'll be going at about 7 in the morning, before the heat of the day, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and 3 bottles of water in my purse to make sure that I don't pass out while waiting in line...this time around.

Tuesday, Mom and I part at the airport. She is leaving for America and I will be flying to Krakow where I will meet up with my second group from school for a tour of more Northern Europe. I'm looking forward to cooler temperatures, friends from school, new languages (regardless of how incapable I will feel not being able to speak to ANYONE), and less italian food. I love pasta, but I've had my fill. BASTA PASTA! (that means "enough pasta" in Italian:)

Love you guys. I really wish you were here and I'm looking forward to seeing all of you in only a few weeks!

Ciao for now,
Grace

I told you there was more.

Okay, so these are backwards, but...
Me and the sign at the school that I went to...this is VERY far from the hotel my mom and I are staying in. Which, while we're on the subject, is called Hotel de la Pace (or the Hotel of Peace), but OH NOOOOOO. There are no hooks, you have to put your card in the freaking wall to turn on the lights/AC, the fridge is not frigid, and the entire bathroom is like one big kiddie pool after you take a shower. More like Hotel de la Hell if you ask me and Mom.




Well, what did I expect right. We were in Venice. They save people by boat there.












Thus, the streets of Venice. Just like you imagined, huh?


Dad! Italian CORN! And a little irrigation. All from the train. Just for you! I learned some italian, but the words for "rotate picture" didn't seem like necessary material to my teachers.










Miss you all! Only about 4 weeks left! I'm like the little engine that could here..."I think I can, I think I can..." August 7th is closer every day!

Ciao for now,
Grace

in vacanza...not beach style.

My mom and I dined "in style" on the train from Milan to Venice...she's so happy!

Me and Gucci in Milan...yeah, we walked in with authority, said "Don't touch ANYthing," and strolled back out.
My mom was worse than a little kid in a candy store when we flew over the alps!

Okay, Josh and Tyler and Alex and Justin and Micheal and Jason (if you're reading), this tree and the little white sign are for you. Josh will have to translate. The tree has different megaphones in it that make sounds according to the heat of the moment...like it's solar powered/sensitive.

The sewer plates have all of the sights of Berlin on them...Rather than uploading all the pics, this is what you get! (I keed, I keed)







More to come...