roma update...drinking continues

So we are all currently in the athens airport where luckily everyone speaks english. But on to roma...after arriving we decide to see colleseum and other tourist sites in the area, again I'm terrible at remember all the sites. But the coliseum was cool . After that we stopped at a near by park and saw some ruins. That night we went to campo di fiore. Not a bad nightlife for the first night. The next night was going to be the party night since we decided to do the colliseum pub crawl with our new roommate, shiv. Open bar of the pub crawl was great and obvious got at Least luke,shiv,and I pretty well buzzed. Afterwards was pretty much a lot of meeting a lot of people and more drinking. There were probably at least 70people on the pubcrawl all drunk, so conversations were easily started by all. Hit up a few bars then the club. Apparently I danced a lot with most of the girls on. Crawl, but also had to change my shirt since mine was drenched. At the end of the night some how I walked a 31argentinian lady from the npubcrawl back to here hotel were I was effeciently left with just a kiss on the cheek. Ben I now know how it feels...(Just kidding, you probably didn't even have to read the end to figure out I'd get nowhere) back on topic. The day after was the vatican and sistine chapel which were cool even though I'm not into the whole religion thing. Sadly we forgot to climb to the top, next time I guess. Next couple night were nothinf special just myself getting drunk and followung the crew to where they wanted to go. Last day of roma we went to the beach which was beautiful. I have a nice red base for mykonos tomorrow. Most of it actually turned to tan already so I should be good, except for he peeling part. Also a recommenfation for everyone in the states, obviously alcohol related. Make a shot called the"chuck norris round house kick to the face" it is a third sambuka, teaspoon of tabasco, a third yagermeister, and finally fill up theshort glass to the top with absinthe. Best shotever. Well that's pretty much it for me. Sorry bout the spelling mistakes. The storm is being funky with me typing so quickly. So no real italys for anyone, hopefully greece will have better luck for us. -andrew

Buon Giorno Principessa, Andiamo il Treno!

That title is the most beautiful sentence in Italian (and also the only one I know how to say) .. it means good morning princess, lets go on the train! So Florence has been wonderful. We've been indulging in our free and delicious spaghetti dinners at the hostel as well as gelato which can be found every 5 steps on the streets of Florence. Last night we walked up to the Palazzo Michelangelo to see the best view of the city and watch the sunset. It was glorious. Today we went to the Galileo Museum which was just alright, but cool, and are now resting up to andiamo on il treno tomorrow morning for Roma!! We are all pumped for Rome, as we've hear it's going to be one huge insane party. I am anxiously awaiting the Italian man who wants to fall in love with me and commit, so hopefully that will happen soon. Ciao for now!

Sam

Barcelona has some competitzione

We have arrived in Florence as of June 12 and after another night spent in a fine hotel (courtesey of a mistake by the hoste) we have checked into our hostel, Archi Rossi. The hostel, along with Firenze, is beautiful! We have a private room with bathroom and a fan, a truly perfect place to come back to after a long day of seeing all that this beautiful city has to offer.

Yesterday we basically just walked around and tried to get a feel for our area, making our way to the Duomo and starring in awe at its size and the details that are almost too much to comprehend. Today we went on our museum stops, first going to the Academia where we saw Madonna with Child and of course Michaelangeolo's David, something which truly must be seen in person to appreciate. Following that the girls went to the Uffizi while Andrew and I went down to the Ponte Vecchio and wandered throught the rest of the city.

We're planning on going out tonight althought we don't really have any idea where. The hostel provides us with free breakafast and dinner so we have that much more money to spend on drinks; nice! Can't wait to see you all soon and tell you the stories from our trip in person.

Cheers!

Luke

pigeons galore

A little break from andrew's tales of drunken debauchery- right now we are all sitting on the veranda that's right veranda of the nice hotel thatruns our slightly less nice hotel across the street. We don't have to wear flip flops in the shower! And there is bar soap! And sheets on the bed. This veranda is glorious..there is an accordian player playing on the streetoutside while the girls nap after we split a bottle of wine and andrew works to polish off the first of his three boxes of wine. Internet cafes seem to be super costly here so I'm writing this from andrews phone and its taken me like 25 min so far. Not a big deal. Venice has been sunny and beautiful. We are learning to become one with the pigeons as we lounge on huge arm chairs outside, drink wine and enjoy the music. Viva italia!

rain rain go away

So here we are sitting in barcy train station in paris right now. I figured I'd throw an update of how paris went. when we first got here it was beautiful and the museums were free so we took advantage and went to the louvre and dorsay. Then went to the arc du triumph. Next day went pn a 3,5 hour walking tour and saw preTy much all the sights in paris. Worst part was that it rained all day. So when we got back to the hostel everyone just took a nap. The girls planned on going on a pub crawl but were "too tired." Round 925 I looked outside and it was some what nice so luke and I decided to wake the girls and head to the eiffel tower. Seeing as we are poor we tokk the stairs to the second level and got some good pics. After that luke had his first crepe experience which he loved. I had my first nutella experience which was delish.where has it been all my life? So next day we walk from the hostel to see more sights and mostly this big white church pn top of the hill. I'm terrible with names and spelling other languages so I'm not going to try. That night the girls planned again on doing the pub crawl. And again they ended up not going. Mean while luke and I decided to get some french wine and drink in the room and people watch the crowded street below. Since the girls still wanted to go out they headed to a bar down the street. Luke and I polished off our 3 bottles of wine only to get to the stairway and see a friend from cornell. Wally was on club lax with us last year and was staying in the same hostel. So we meet him a few min later in the common area of the hostel where he was playing kings with some girls. Luke and I joined in but obviously only after finishing the vodka that was left in our room from the previous guests. Shady but it worked. After kings we went o the bar up the street with wally and the other girls from the hostel. Apparently I fell somewhere in the bar and have a huge bruise on my side,but the night continued. This again is where shit got fuzzy. Apparently I stole a grolsh beer flag from the first bar and then followed a girl to a different bar, where luke came soon after to see me doing my first and likely last shot of absinthe. This is where again I split with luke. He stayed and made out with some french girl while I apparently pursued another to a different bar. Next thing I remember is being at the louvre at 340am. After taking a quick pic I proceeded to try and find my way back to the hostel. This failed miserably so I called my brother and had him google map me to the hostel. 42 min and 42$ later I was back to the hostel. Apparently it was a good night. Other than that today was more relaxing as we only went to a church close by then to the arc again to get some quick pictures. Next stop is venice for my birthday where it will possibly rain again for the entire time. As I write this it seems as thouth the blue skys are starting to roll in. Figures just hope we get to venice without the rainy skys following. Alright that's it for now. I love how all of these are mostly just my drunken tales so far, but someone has to update this jaunt. -Andrew

OH WHAT A NIGHT

Just going to throw you a quick update. So right now I'm in madrid and waiting for my train. The one that luke actually got haha. So we got to madrid yestersay afternoon and went straight to the hostel then to get our tix for today. We decided on the 8am and just not sleep. O how did that work, great for luke not so much me. As soon as we got our tix we then went to the bullfights. Which were sweet obv. Then got back to the hostel at ten and I was heavily persuaded to go on a pubcrawl by a girl walking round the thostel promoting it. So and hour later we meet the girl along with 8 other guys, typical the night we go 0 girls. So we decided with our new friend daniel to do three shots then beer then three shots unitl the next bar since it was the cheapest placw of the night. So second bar same shit obv... 9shots later obv having a blast. Get to the third bar /club which is the best we were told and shit starts getting fuzzy. Next thing I know is I'm waking up next to the girl who lead the pubcrawl...and its ten am. Said fuck it went to sleep and got to the train station at 4. So now ill get to paris tomorrow morning at ten am which is fine. Just goin to sleep. Other then that barcelona was sick. The clubs are sweet and open till 6 or 7am. Out of the three nights I probably got 12 hours of sleep not counting siestas. Other then that americans are doing something wrong. All the girls here are drop dead gorgeous. If they arw normal they dress really well and it sorta makes up for not being perfect like the girl to her left or right. Haha just figured I'd give you guys an update since I don't believe anyone updated the blog yet and this gives some more details from my perspective. Also I can't wait to get to france so I can fully be a tourist not knowing a word of the language. Haha you would think people eveywhere know english. Deff not the case in madrid. My mind hurts from remembering shit from highschool. Alright I'm out. Ill prob update you guys after paris
-andrew

3 Days Out!

Hello All!,

We are currently three days out from our European backpacking adventure and, speaking for myself, I am counting down the hours until we step foot onto that plane. My next post won't be until we touch down in Barcelona and begin to celebrate with our Catalan friends, pray that Andrew doesn't drink himself to death.

Luke